Here's another one of those odd-sounding gifts, avocado oil. And yes, I asked for this.
I've wanted to try avocado oil for a while, but it's just so expensive. So, I put it on my wish list this year. Often, I am able to try something relatively costly by requesting a small amount as a gift for a special occasion.
I received two bottles of avocado oil for Christmas from my son and daughter-in-law.
The smaller bottle (on the right) is organic cold pressed, extra virgin avocado oil (EVAO). It's flavor is subtly avocado-y with a tiny bit of fruity, yet overall mild. Online descriptions have included "grassy" and "buttery" in the flavor profile. It doesn't taste "grassy" at all to me.
Avocado oil is thick like olive oil and has a green-yellow color.
The larger bottle is not organic or EVAO, but is glyphosate-free. The label in this bottle indicates that the flavor is mild and could be used in baking as well as cooking.
Avocado oil has a high smoke point, so it's suitable for sautéing. So far, I've just used it in vinaigrette-style salad dressings.
I like to diversify the fats that I consume. I include meat fat, butter, olive oil, vegetable oil, coconut oil, and now avocado oil. Different fats have different benefits. Avocado oil is high in monounsaturated fats, which may lower LDL cholesterol. A large study indicated that people with diets high in monounsaturated fats had a lower likelihood of death from heart disease and cancer. Nutrients in avocado oil may also boost immune function and decrease inflammatory response.
Anyway, you can perhaps understand why I wanted to try this oil.
Have you tried avocado oil? What did you think?
Cool! Glad you are able to try some things you were wishing for!
ReplyDeleteYes, we use avocado oil frequently. In fact, I've transitioned our household to pretty much all organic EVOO and avocado oil, along with some grass-fed butter, over the past several years. I even use the "light tasting" olive oil in cakes, waffles, or anywhere I might have once used "vegetable" oil. I do still use the bacon fat judiciously for flavor in certain dishes, and a bit of sustainably-harvested palm oil shortening for very occasional frying.
P.S. I am thinking you mentioned you can go to Costco occasionally with your daughter-in-law? If avocado oil ends up being something you enjoy, you might check the pricing there. That's where we purchase it at a very fair price, along with avocado oil mayonnaise.
DeleteHi Cat,
DeleteSo far I've just tried the extra-virgin avocado oil. I like the flavor of this one. But I'm also curious if the other bottle will be significantly lighter in flavor for use in baking. Thank you for sharing your experience. And great idea about checking Costco with my daughter-in-law!
The kind I've most recently purchased at Costco was the Chosen Foods brand that you have shown on the left. I have not tried avocado oil in baking, just the "light tasting" olive oil. But it might be worth a shot?
DeleteHi Cat, '
DeleteI'm sorry, I misread. The label on the Chosen Foods does say it's suitable for baking.
Thank you for correcting me here.
I have never used avocado oil, but I'm also curious. I may have seen it at Aldi's. I'll check next time I'm there. That's where we get our olive oil.
ReplyDeleteHi Live and Learn,
DeleteIf Aldi is a good place, price-wise, for buying olive oil, I would expect their price on avocado oil would also be pretty good. So far, I've enjoyed the avocado oil on salads very much. I'll be interested to hear what you think if you give avocado oil a try.
I haven't tried it, either. I'm wondering if you notice a taste change in your food with using this.
ReplyDeleteHi Kris,
DeleteSo far I've only had it on our salads (mostly slaw type salads this time of year). So I'll comment on that. This is the extra-virgin avocado oil (I haven't opened the other bottle yet). In vinaigrette salad dressings, I can taste the avocado oil, but it's a pleasant taste. To me, it's like adding a new flavor to my homemade dressings.
Non-EVAO may have less of a flavor. Cat, above, said she uses a light-tasting one where she might otherwise use vegetable oil, like in baking. When I open the other bottle, I'll let you know how the flavor compares. That one's label says that its flavor is neutral.
Hi Kris,
DeleteI misread Cat's comment. She has used light tasting olive oil in baking, not the avocado oil. Sorry about any confusion from me.
I have been getting mostly consumable gifts, like candy and goodies. This is a good idea, I am going to try it next year.
ReplyDeleteHi Amy,
DeleteOther members of my family have benefitted from asking for specific food items that are on the pricier side, too. My daughter-in-law wanted some organic, more exotic fruit for her smoothies this year. Both my daughters and my son gave her a few pieces in their gifts to her. One daughter wanted a specific brand of tea this year, one that is out of her regular budget. So she put that tea on her wish list. Wish lists have worked out very well for our family. It sure makes shopping for each other a lot simpler, and we receive fewer gifts that may not get used by doing gifts this way.