Butter Smoke Point | Butter vs Oil to Cook Your Meat (2024)

FAQs

Butter Smoke Point | Butter vs Oil to Cook Your Meat? ›

When you start cooking steak - it is best to cook it in. oil on high heat. Then when the steak is nearly done, you can add a piece of butter.

When you start cooking steak - it is best to cook it in. oil on high heat. Then when the steak is nearly done, you can add a piece of butter.

Butter also has a smoke point of 350°F, so it's another good baking and sautéing fat. Refined canola oil and vegetable oil both come in at 400°F and are neutral in flavor, which is why they're commonly used for deep-frying, along with baking, but also heat-free preparations like salad dressing.

Much to our surprise steak cooked with olive oil brought out the natural flavors of meat and helped maintain a desirable texture much better than butter.

Conclusion: A Matter of Taste and Technique

While oil offers versatility, health benefits, and a wide flavor spectrum, butter holds its ground with unmatched richness and depth. Ultimately, the choice may vary from dish to dish, cook to cook, reflecting the diverse and dynamic nature of cooking itself.

Can you cook chicken with butter instead of oil? You have to cook chicken at a lower temperature if you bake or pan-fry chicken using butter instead of oil. This is because butter has a lower scorching temperature. Your chicken will cook more slowly, but it's also likely to be juicier and full of more flavor.

The reason lies in the fat-soluble flavor compounds found in both butter and meat. When combined, these compounds create a richer, more intensified taste experience.

Sure, smoke is pesky, but that's not why you should be concerned. Heated past its smoke point, that fat starts to break down, releasing free radicals and a substance called acrolein, the chemical that gives burnt foods their acrid flavor and aroma. Think watering eyes, a stinky kitchen, and bitter, scorched food.

But butter and oils make food taste better and even enhance texture and appearance They are essential to some methods of cooking and to some foods. Reasonable amounts of them once in a while are not harmful.

Butter's natural smoke point is around 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Direct heat over this temperature will result in burnt butter. Whereas, clarified butter can be heated to 450 degrees without risk of burning, making it a more suitable option for searing proteins or making sauces.

Should I cook filet mignon in butter or oil? ›

The vegetable oil has a higher smoke point. You can add that great butter for flavor at the end! Check the temperature of your meat before you transfer the skillet to the oven. If the filet mignon is within about 5-10 degrees of your desired temperature, you may need even less than 3 minutes in the oven.

By basting (spooning hot butter) your steak on a hot skillet, you'll get an evenly seared, golden-brown crust. Plus, butter basting helps distribute flavors from aromatics for an even more delicious steak.

Because olive oil comes from a plant, it has unique health benefits from nutrients like polyphenols — which aren't found in butter. These polyphenols help make olive oil a more nutritious choice. Using butter every so often — or even a small amount each day — isn't likely to harm your health.

"When they are fried, it gives them a little toasted brown butter flavor, which only adds to the eggs," she says. "Butter also makes everything better!" Butter certainly works for fried eggs, but oil is the fat of choice for cooks who want a runny yolk with a satisfying crispy white.

Best Oil for Steak

When cooking steak in cast iron skillets, you want to use oils with a high smoke point like peanut, canola, grapeseed, and avocado oil. These oils all have smoke points over 400 degrees Fahrenheit that can withstand the high heat needed to cook steak.

You do need oil to cook your skillet burger. Some preferred to use butter to cook a skillet burger, however we choose olive oil. Cook your burgers on medium high heat and do not flip until about 5 minutes of cooking on the first side. If you want a cheeseburger, wait till after you flip the burger.

For that reason, it's not always the best choice for baking at high heat. Butter, on the other hand, has a higher flash point which makes it better suited for things like sautéing and frying. So, if you're looking to make a healthier choice that doesn't sacrifice taste, olive oil is the way to go.

Heat the pan and coat with oil.

The oil helps prevent the ground beef from sticking and scorching in the pan, especially if you are using a stainless steel skillet. Use a little extra oil if you're cooking lean beef.

Now, before you accuse restaurants of butter sabotage, let's talk about the "tenderizer" effect. The fat in the butter can help soften the meats' protein fibers, resulting in a more tender steak. It's like giving your steak a spa day, minus the fluffy robes and cucumbers on the eyes.

Olive oil is considered the slightly more beneficial choice when it comes to fats, but that doesn't mean you should disregard butter altogether. As long as you choose organic butter and keep an eye on the portion sizes, it can be used for weight loss.