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christyandmuddy
New Member
| Joined: | 5 May 2008 |
| Location: | Florida USA |
| Posts: | 248 |
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Posted: 8 October 2008 02:00 pm |
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| Can I substitute olive oil for vegetable oil when making one of those boxes of cake mix from the store? Or would that just be really gross?
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MidgeH
Senior Member
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Posted: 8 October 2008 03:08 pm |
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My guess is that it will, probably quite radically, change the taste of the mix. Unless this is just an experiment I would stick with canola oil (one of the better veggie oils).
If you use it though let us know how it turns out.
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cportwine
Senior Member
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Posted: 8 October 2008 05:54 pm |
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| I use olive oil in almost everything that I bake. But, then I am usually making some god awful healthy thing. lol
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christyandmuddy
New Member
| Joined: | 5 May 2008 |
| Location: | Florida USA |
| Posts: | 248 |
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Posted: 8 October 2008 06:28 pm |
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On second thought, since the cupcakes are for a birthday, it would probably be best if I didn't experiment too much. Maybe the olive oil is best left to cooking instead of baking...
I've never used canola oil before. Does it taste the same as regular vegetable oil?
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MidgeH
Senior Member
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Posted: 8 October 2008 08:05 pm |
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Yes, it's pretty indistiguishable (it's just another vegetable oil, just one that is a teeny bit better for you. It's also priced about the same as vegetable oil - so you won't be wasting a 1/2 cup of expensive olive oil on a cake you're going to give away anyway!)
Cindy - I think you bring up a good point though. If you are making something with a stong flavor - a whole oat nut bar or something similar - instead of something delicate like cake you're probably a-ok.
There are a couple of professional bakers on the site though, maybe they'll chime in)
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christyandmuddy
New Member
| Joined: | 5 May 2008 |
| Location: | Florida USA |
| Posts: | 248 |
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Posted: 10 October 2008 11:48 am |
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| I'll have to get some canola oil for sure. Now if I can just stay away from the frosting...
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cportwine
Senior Member
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Posted: 10 October 2008 01:17 pm |
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| I know they are starting to make oils that have omega 3 in them and stuff. So, there are at least some healthy alternatives.
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christyandmuddy
New Member
| Joined: | 5 May 2008 |
| Location: | Florida USA |
| Posts: | 248 |
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Posted: 10 October 2008 05:24 pm |
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cportwine wrote: I know they are starting to make oils that have omega 3 in them and stuff. So, there are at least some healthy alternatives.
I didn't know that. I'll have to check at the store for that. Oil is unhealthy stuff, so if they can make it just a little less bad for you, I'm all about it.
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CrimsonAnimus
Moderator
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Posted: 10 October 2008 07:27 pm |
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Oil has very significant health benefits.
When people think of oil, they automatically think of other terms like "grease" and "deep-fried", which is typically unhealthy.
However, many non-hydrogenated oils, such as olive oil, have many benefits, such as lowering your bad cholesterol, acting as anti-oxidants, helping to prevent cancer, and greatly lowering your risk of heart disease.
For best results, you should refrain from frying in oil whenever possible, and consume oil that is minimally processed.
Oil is high in fat, but remember that fat is not a bad thing. Without fat, your body cannot survive. You just have to watch the types of fats you are eating, and as with everything else, consume fat in moderation.
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christyandmuddy
New Member
| Joined: | 5 May 2008 |
| Location: | Florida USA |
| Posts: | 248 |
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Posted: 11 October 2008 03:33 pm |
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CrimsonAnimus wrote: For best results, you should refrain from frying in oil whenever possible, and consume oil that is minimally processed.
Oh, man! Pretty much the only time I use olive oil is when I use it to fry something. Does that make it less healthy?
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CrimsonAnimus
Moderator
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Posted: 11 October 2008 05:57 pm |
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It depends on the oil.
Olive oil, in particular, is not suitable for cooking, because it breaks down more easily than other oils.
Believe it or not, saturated fats are actually the healthiest to cook with, because they are more stable under heat than unsaturated fats. Still, that's not apt to make me go out and start cooking in butter, although that is tasty...
Polyunsaturated fats release free radicals upon cooking, which is not healthy at all.
I will say that during the majority of my weight loss, I did fry one chicken breast a day (pan fry, then bake) in Smart Balance Omega oil, which is a blend of olive, canola and soybean. It was a good source of both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat. I still did lose weight, but that doesn't mean it was healthy. Looking back, I would have elected to fully bake it instead, and then just pour the oil on afterwards. This is a much healthier way to eat it.
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cportwine
Senior Member
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Posted: 12 October 2008 01:07 pm |
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I find grilling is a great way to replace frying.... 
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Dara
New Member
| Joined: | 15 October 2008 |
| Location: | New York USA |
| Posts: | 25 |
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Posted: 19 October 2008 04:10 am |
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I'm a few days late here...
Replacing the oil with unsweetened applesauce and reducing the water by about 1/4 cup (for a standard box cake mix) will not change the taste significantly but will lower the calorie and fat content.
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