Peanuts are a closer relation to the bean or pea than they are to actual nuts, but none of that really matters once you turn them into an oil and bring your cooking game to the next level.
Peanuts
Peanuts originally developed in South America, probably North-West Argentina, with locals making pottery in their shape as far back as 3.5 thousand years ago.
It spread throughout the continent and was cultivated as far north as Mexico by the time the conquistadors arrived, who then brought it back to Spain.
From there it quickly spread throughout Europe, then the rest of the world, eventually becoming an agricultural backbone of Southeast Asia.
Health benefits of peanuts
Where do you start with the health benefits of this incredible legume?
As one of the healthiest oils in the world, it comes with a myriad of positive effects, with nutritionists and dieticians backing up ancient claims from various cultures around the world.
What makes peanut oil so healthy is its high smoking point. Most cooking oils turn into trans fats when you heat them, but with a smoking point of around 160°C, peanut oil can cook at high temperatures where other oils will start to burn.
By cooking in an oil that’s gone past its smoke point, you’re not just giving your food a “burnt” flavour, you’re breaking down the oil’s natural fats, and this can be hazardous to your health.
This high smoking temperature results in health benefits such as…
Decreased risk of heart disease
Peanuts are packed with monounsaturated fats, which help lower the bad type of cholesterol, while at the same time raising the good type. They have low amounts of saturated fat, and zero amount of trans fats.
These heart benefits have been found in all ages, in male or female, and even in those with various medical conditions, such as diabetes.
Decreased risk of stroke and lower blood pressure
Peanuts oil contains resveratrol, a compound that interacts with various hormones that negatively affect blood vessels. By fighting these hormones, resveratrol can help lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of a heart attack.
Peanuts are also high in magnesium, with a single bag per day resulting in a 9% decrease in rates of stroke, according to a recent study published in the BMC Medicine journal.
Food for thought
Peanuts are packed with Vitamin E, an antioxidant shown to eliminate or slow the onset of cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. In fact, 25 grams of peanuts contain 20% of our daily recommended allowance of Vitamin E.
How to use peanuts in cuisine
A lot of people tend to be fussy when it comes to olive oil – something we completely understand – but when it comes to Asian cooking they’re happy to use cheap vegetable oil.
Asian cookbooks don’t help the situation. They usually simply read “vegetable oil”, but in Asian cuisine, this is generally expected to be peanut oil.
There is a reason why peanuts are such a staple of Asian cooking. They are incredibly versatile, and can be eaten raw, salted, or roasted. As an ingredient, they can be made into oil, peanut butter, or made into margarine, and can be used in baking to add that something special.
Satay sauce is made from peanuts, and chopped peanuts served as a garnish on noodles and stir-fries are very common in Southeast Asian cooking.
Our delicious peanut oil
Oil is not just a cooking medium; it flavours food and should be chosen carefully.
Our extra virgin peanut oil is quite simply the best on the market. Pressed in Australia using the cold-pressed method, all the nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants found in peanuts are kept instead of being lost to heat like some other extraction methods. This allows us to preserve all the natural goodness of raw, unroasted peanuts and deliver it straight to your plate.
Similarly, once we extract the oil, we don’t refine it. Non-refined means there are no additives, preservatives, or artificial ingredients, just the healthy, delicious peanut oil mother nature intended.
And of course, all this adds to the taste. Our extra virgin peanut oil is a light golden colour, with a mild peanut flavour, adding a touch of Southeast Asia to any kitchen.
If you would like to know more about our extra virgin peanut oil, or any of our products, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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