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Recently, new products have been added to the edible oil section of the supermarket, and the dazzling array of blended oils made me, an old housewife, scratch my head.
In the past, I used to buy soybean oil and peanut oil, but now it's good, what "Jumbo Three-in-One" and "Five Constants and Four Treasures" listen to bluffing, the price is still cheap, I don't know if it's reliable.
Blending the past and present of oil
If you want to talk about blended oil, you have to start from the dining table of our people. In the seventies and eighties of the last century, the oil used at home was simple, either rapeseed oil or lard squeezed by yourself. At that time, no one cared about unsaturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids, and it was good to be full.
Later, the living conditions improved, and there were more edible oils on the market. Soybean oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, you name it. However, the price of these single vegetable oils is not cheap, so smart manufacturers came up with an idea - mixing cheap and expensive oils, this is not blended oil.
As soon as the blended oil came out, it became popular. The price is much cheaper than a single vegetable oil, and it is also claimed to be more nutritionally balanced. However, the good times did not last long, and some people began to question the composition and quality of the blended oil. In order to reduce costs, some manufacturers use inferior oil blending; Some even add flavors to imitate the taste of high-grade oils. This is good, so that everyone doesn't know what oil to buy.
According to an authoritative media report, more than 70% of the edible oil on the market is blended oil. It can be seen that blended oil has become the main force on the people's table. But is blended oil any good? This issue has been controversial.
Blend the rights and wrongs of oil
When it comes to the advantages and disadvantages of blended oils, it is really a matter of opinion. Proponents believe that blended oils combine the best of a variety of oils and are nutritionally balanced. Opponents argue that the blended oil is unadulterated and its quality is difficult to guarantee.
Some experts have pointed out that blended oils can indeed balance the nutrients of various oils to a certain extent. For example, blending peanut oil, which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, with soybean oil, which is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, can make the fatty acid ratio more reasonable.
However, some experts have questioned it. They believe that there is a lack of uniform standards for the formulation and production process of blended oils, and it is difficult to guarantee the quality of each bottle of blended oil. What's more, some unscrupulous manufacturers may add low-quality oil or even non-edible oil to the blended oil, which seriously endangers the health of consumers.
Let's put it this way, blended oil is like a "hodgepodge", and no one can say what is in it. You say it's okay, it's cheap; You say it's not good, and there's no real evidence. Anyway, I think it's quite tangled.
How to choose a reliable cooking oil
In the face of a variety of edible oils, how should we people choose? I consulted a few knowledgeable friends and summarized a few suggestions:
- Look at the ingredient list. Regular blended oils will indicate the proportion of various raw oils, such as "50% soybean oil + 30% corn oil + 20% peanut oil". If you only write the word "vegetable oil", then be careful.
- Smell it. A good blended oil should have a faint vegetable oil fragrance, if there is a pungent smell, it may be added with flavor or inferior oil.
- Look at the price. Blended oil that is too cheap must be greasy, after all, raw oil also costs money. But the most expensive is not necessarily the best, so shop around.
- Choose a big brand. Well-known brands generally pay more attention to credibility, and product quality is more guaranteed.
- Look at the expiration date. Harmful substances can be produced after the oil goes bad, so try to buy fresh ones.
What is the future of blended oils?
In recent years, with the improvement of people's living standards and the enhancement of health awareness, the demand for edible oil is getting higher and higher.
Single vegetable oils are back in favour, especially "high-grade" oils such as olive oil and flaxseed oil.
However, blended oil still occupies an important position on the people's table because of its price advantage.
According to data from a market research agency, the market share of blended oil in mainland China reached 65% in 2022, although it has decreased from previous years, but it is still the mainstream.
Actually, blended oil itself is not a flood beast. The key is to standardize production and ensure quality. Now some big brands have begun to launch high-end blended oils, such as adding nutrients such as fish oil and algae oil, or blending with physically pressed raw oil. These new blends may be able to regain consumer trust.
But then again, what kind of cooking oil to choose still depends on personal needs and preferences. In my family, for example, we usually use blended oil for stir-frying, corn oil for frying, and olive oil for cold dressing. Anyway, as long as you eat happily and healthily, it doesn't matter what kind of oil you use.
Overall, the topic of blended oils is a real love-hate topic. Cheap is cheap, but I always feel unsure.
Maybe there will be a better choice in the future, but until then, we still have to keep our eyes open and choose carefully. After all, a slap in the face is not loud, unscrupulous merchants and confused consumers are the root of the problem.