Which Cooking Oil Is Best For Thai Food?

Types of Oil in Thai Cooking

Thai cuisine is renowned for its vibrant flavors and diverse ingredients, and the choice of cooking oil plays a significant role in achieving authentic tastes and textures. Various oils are used in Thai cooking, each contributing unique qualities to different dishes.

Here are some of the most common types of oil used in Thai cooking:

Palm Oil

Palm oil is well-suited for Thai cooking due to its high smoke point and neutral flavor. It’s especially popular for deep-frying and stir-frying, making it ideal for crispy fried spring rolls and stir-fried noodles. Its stability at high temperatures ensures it doesn’t break down easily, preserving the food’s natural flavors.

Soybean Oil

Soybean oil is a staple in Thai kitchens. It has a neutral taste that makes it versatile for frying, stir-frying, and sautéing. Often used in dishes like pad thai, it provides a consistent and reliable cooking medium without altering the dish’s intended flavors.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is also popular in Thai cooking thanks to its rich flavor and aromatic qualities. Extracted from mature coconuts, it adds a subtle sweetness and distinctive aroma to dishes. Commonly used in curries, soups, and desserts, it elevates the overall taste and authenticity of the cuisine. While it has a lower heat tolerance than palm and soybean oil, it is suitable for moderate-heat cooking.

Peanut Oil

Peanut oil is great for frying, stir-frying, and sautéing. Its nutty undertones complement many Thai dishes, such as satay, peanut sauce, and various stir-fries. Its stability at high temperatures makes it an excellent choice for achieving the perfect crispy texture in fried foods.

Canola Oil

Canola oil is a neutral-tasting oil with a high heat tolerance. It allows the spices and other ingredients to shine without adding additional flavors. Often used for sautéing and stir-frying, it provides a light cooking medium.

Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil is another light, neutral oil similar to canola oil. It is ideal for those who prefer an oil that doesn’t interfere with the distinct flavors of Thai cuisine. Commonly used in frying and sautéing, it locks in the natural tastes of the ingredients.

Sesame Oil

While sesame oil is not typically used as a primary cooking oil due to its strong flavor and low smoke point, it is often added as a finishing touch to dishes. Its nutty aroma and rich taste are perfect for drizzling over stir-fries, noodles, and salads, adding flavor and fragrance.

Which Cooking Oils Do Thai Restaurants Use?

Palm oil and soybean oil are commonly used in Thai restaurants. They are ideal for frying and other high-temperature cooking methods.

The high smoke point of these oils allows them to withstand the heat required for frying without breaking down and producing harmful compounds. In busy Thai restaurants, chefs prefer using high, fast heat. Palm oil, in particular, can endure very high temperatures due to its rich saturated fat content.

Chefs frequently use palm oil to deep-fry spring rolls and crispy chicken. Soybean oil is excellent for frying perfectly tender vegetables and meats. Additionally, soybean oil’s polyunsaturated fat content offers some health benefits, making it a versatile and practical choice for Thai cooking.

Coconut oil is also commonly used in Thai restaurant kitchens both in Thailand and worldwide. Although coconut oil has a lower smoke point than palm and soybean oil, it is still suitable for moderate-heat cooking.

Peanut oil is another popular option for frying, stir-frying, and sautéing, making it a versatile option in Thai kitchens.

Overall, the choice of cooking oil in Thai restaurants depends on the specific dish and the cooking method required.

Which Cooking Oil is Best for Thai Curry?

The beauty of cooking a Thai curry lies in its simplicity; you only need a small amount of oil to sauté the vegetables and meat. Generally, any light cooking oil with a relatively high smoke point works well.

Despite its health benefits, olive oil is not ideal for Thai cooking as it oxidizes when heated, causing the beneficial compounds to degrade.

Here are some of the best options for cooking Thai curry:

Canola oil
Sunflower oil
Soybean oil
Peanut oil
Grapeseed oil
Coconut oil

For an exceptional Thai curry, we also recommend trying our range of Thai curry pastes. If you aim to create an exceptional Thai curry, Nittaya Thai Curry Paste is the ideal choice. With a legacy of producing curry paste since 1964, each recipe is meticulously crafted to deliver perfectly balanced, authentic flavors. Our herbs, spices, and aromatics have been rigorously sourced and tested for chemicals and pesticides, which is why Nittaya Thai Curry is favored by top chefs in restaurants all across Thailand.

Nittaya Thai Curry range of curry pastes is also available in vegetarian and vegan versions so everyone can enjoy the perfect taste of homemade Thai curry!