> The biggest game changer is actually just using a cooking oil - there are plenty of alternatives that will have absolutely no impact on the final taste...

I'm pretty sure I can taste the difference between popping corn in peanut oil vs. olive oil. In any case, I can certainly smell the difference which affects taste.

> and olive oil actually has a relatively low smoke point compared to other cooking oils.

I'm pretty sure I've popped corn with olive oil on multiple occasions without hitting the smoke point.

And for things like pasta sauces or roasting potatoes it's not even close to the smoke point.

There's also a fringe health benefit. Because high quality extra virgin olive oil is so difficult to find-- and so expensive-- relying on it as one's sole cooking oil essentially adds a tax to frying the hell out of all one's foods. This encourages healthier eating. :)

What is cooking oil?

Seed oil?

Cause no thank you!!

Luckily everyone seems to think animal fats are no good, so my family gets grass fed tallow for $30 a gallon tub.

Tallow and lard are excellent for frying or fattening bready items.

Grass fed and finished or just fed? A lot of "Grass fed" is then "Corn finished".

I'd love to get "grass finished" tallow for anywhere near that price.

Nah just fed.

It's a local farmer. Only the last two months are grain.

I was getting Grass fed and Finished before I moved.

Grass fed and grain finished meat tastes better though the health benefits may be lesser. IDK

Tallow and lard are definitely excellent alternatives - but yea I was suggesting seed oils like peanut, safflower, sunflower or canola/rapeseed. Rendered fats have a weird reputation as there were health crazes that demonized it in the past but it's like most other oils - use in moderation... it's excellent to keep on hand though as it really makes a difference in baking.

You don't generally cook with EVO. EVO is what you use to dip your bread in but you don't necessarily want cook with it. Virgin olive oil or refined is better and has higher smoke points.

I think that's a popular misconception

Why too many? I'm convinced it is healthier, so I think too few use olive oil where possible.

What's a plant-based oil that is a good refined (not EV) olive oil substitute? Coconut imparts a flavor, peanut is good but pricey, canola is no bueno for health reasons?

I like avocado oil for its high temp, light flavor. It's pricey, but generally it's good to minimize oil consumption for caloric purposes anyway.

Sunflower, safflower, grapeseed are all healthly and have at least a medium temp smoking point.

It's moreso health than taste for me