Avocados are everywhere! Take one look at Instagram and you’ll see a plethora of perfectly styled photos, from avocado toast to avocado fries and even avocado milk. It’s a favored fruit in many households and restaurants, mostly because of its pleasant, buttery mouthfeel. In addition to being pretty and delicious, though, avocados are highly regarded for their health benefits. A good source of fiber and rich in healthy fats, there’s a lot to love about avocados. But can the same be said for avocado oil?
Avocado oil benefits
Avocado oil is made by mashing avocados, and then separating the oil from the pulp of the fruit. The fat found in avocados is primarily monounsaturated fatty acids – known to be beneficial for promoting a healthful ratio of good cholesterol in the body.
If your love for avocado toast is waning, know that avocado oil is rich with benefits. In every bite of breakfast, you get healthy omega-3 polyunsaturated fats. Wait, there’s even more good news! Avocado oil is rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin E and lutein. Some early research on avocado oil indicates it may be beneficial for alleviating oxidative damage to mitochondrial cells in the body.
Cooking with avocado oil
Expeller-pressed avocado oil has a smoke point of around 520 degrees Fahrenheit, which is actually quite high for a plant oil. This means it is safe to use at a relatively high heat for roasting, broiling, sautéing or stir-frying. Its flavor is pretty neutral, unlike many other popular oils, so it won’t overpower any of your favorite dishes. Avocado oil can be used cold, too, such as in salad dressings or blended into dips like hummus. Note: if using cold-pressed avocado oil, the smoke point is 400 degrees, similar to olive oil, and this would be unsuitable for very high-temperature cooking methods.
Avocado oil beauty uses
In addition to using avocado oil for cooking, you may try it in your daily beauty regimen. The use of various oils on the skin and hair has become increasingly popular. Coconut oil, in particular, has gained a positive reputation for these applications. Use it on your skin as a moisturizer and reap the benefits of its vitamin E content in more ways than one – this antioxidant is known to fade scars and promote healthful, youthful-looking skin. You can also use this multi-functional oil on your hair as a leave-in moisturizing treatment, or rub a small amount into the ends to smooth them down.
Going avo-crazy? Read about 10 crazy uses for avocados.