Oil is an essential griddling component. It keeps food from sticking to the cooking surface and can enhance the taste of your food. Since there are so many types of cooking oils, have you ever wondered whether you could use vegetable oil on a Blackstone griddle?
Vegetable oil is ideal for griddling, thanks to its high smoke point. It is available in most grocery outlets and is cost-friendly. But, how healthy is vegetable oil?
Vegetable Oil on Blackstone Griddle
Vegetable oil is often a blend of different plant-based oils like canola, olive, soybean, and sunflower. This oil is neutrally flavored, chemically processed, and affordable. It has a high smoke point of 400 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, thus excellent to use on a Blackstone griddle.
Understanding Vegetable Oil
The word ‘vegetable’ is quite misleading because this oil is not from vegetables alone.
Vegetable oil is more generic and often a blend of different types of oil. It is extracted from seeds, grains, fruits, and nuts.
This oil is an inexpensive and preferable choice by many people for griddling and everyday cooking.
Some of the common and healthy vegetable oils include:
- Canola oil
- Olive oil
- Sunflower oil
- Coconut oil
- Soybean oil
- Peanut oil
- Corn oil
- Safflower oil
Although vegetable oil is a perfect griddle seasoning oil, you should use it in moderation since it is high in fat and calories.
First, when cooking on the Blackstone griddle with vegetable oil, consider its fat composition.
Vegetable oils contain either of the following fats:
Monounsaturated Fats
These fats are also referred to as oleic acid and omega-9 fatty acid. Vegetable oils with high monounsaturated fats enhance good cholesterol levels in the blood and minimize the risk of cardiovascular and heart diseases.
These oils are perfect for griddle seasoning and cooking. They include; olive oil, canola oil, almond oil, sunflower oil, and hazelnut oil.
Polyunsaturated Fats
They are also known as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Vegetable oils with polyunsaturated fats are good and healthy to use on a Blackstone griddle.
They help your body effectively absorb fat-soluble vitamins and manage cholesterol metabolism in the bloodstream.
Saturated Fats
These fats come from animal sources like butter and lard. They increase the cholesterol levels in your blood when consumed in large quantities. When purchasing a vegetable oil, consider one that is low in saturated fat.
Note: The ratio of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats varies depending on the oils included in the blend.
Health Benefits of Using Vegetable Oil on Blackstone Griddle
Even as you enjoy outdoor cooking on your griddle, don’t forget the nutritional and health aspect. Your outdoor cooked food should be rich in nutrients.
Using vegetable oils from plants for your cooking has several benefits. It does not only enhance texture and flavor but also has other benefits.
They include:
It improves heart health
Vegetable oils such as soybean oil contain essential fatty acids known as Omega 6 and omega 3. These essential fatty acids are excellent in keeping cholesterol levels low.
Using vegetable oil in your griddle cooking means that you incorporate these acids. Consequently, it lowers the chances of you suffering from any heart ailments.
Enhances the flavor of food
Although the appearance of food is essential, for me, it’s the flavor that determines the quality of the food. I love to enjoy that sweet aroma combined with a sensational taste.
Seasoning your Blackstone griddle is one way of adding flavor to your food. The other sure way of adding flavor is by using vegetable oil.
Some edible cooking oils such as olive, peanut, and soybean oil are great in enhancing the flavor of the food. It’s no wonder that many food enthusiasts prefer using them.
My favorites are groundnut and peanut oils, which I use as filtered oil. These two produce a sweet aroma and are excellent for dressing, cooking, and sauteing.
They relieve menopausal symptoms
Are you already experiencing hormonal swings because of menopause? Using vegetable oils as you cook on your Blackstone griddle is greatly helpful.
Research on the benefits of rice bran oil found that it can reduce symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes.
Imagine enjoying your outdoor griddle delicacy and at the same time taking care of such symptoms. That would definitely be great!
If you are a woman who has suffered from menopausal symptoms, use rice bran oil next time you cook on your griddle.
They are rich in Vitamins
Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients in our bodies. They perform many roles, such as allowing our bodies to grow and develop. They are also crucial in facilitating bodily functions such as digestion, metabolism, and immunity.
Vegetable oils carry numerous vitamins such as Vitamin A, D, E, and K.
Pregnant women and their unborn children have a high demand for vitamins. Cooking your food using vegetable oil is a sure way of getting a sufficient supply of these vitamins.
They are Trans-fat free
One great benefit of using cooking oil is that, unlike animal products, they are naturally trans-fat-free.
Consumption of trans-fats puts one at risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or even death.
You can avoid these risks by using refined oils such as palm oil and other vegetable oils.
They protect our brain cells
Good food is not just about the taste and flavor but also about the health benefits we get in return.
One significant benefit of using vegetable oils is that they contain vitamin E. This vitamin helps in body cell protection and the proper functioning of the nervous system.
It also helps to improve the immune system and is an antioxidant that protects different body tissues. Vitamin E is essential in preventing heart diseases and other cardiovascular ailments.
What is the Best Griddle Seasoning Oil to Use on a Blackstone Griddle
The type of oil you use when seasoning your Blackstone griddle plays a significant role in the effectiveness and efficiency of the process.
While some oils have a neutral taste, others add a particular taste to your food. Also, different oils work best at different temperatures.
When determining the best griddle seasoning oil, the key point to consider is its smoke point. Ideal griddling happens at high temperatures, so an oil with a high smoke point is a massive bonus.
Vegetable oils top the list. They have a high smoke point, are widely available, and are cost-effective.
Other excellent seasoning oils include:
Avocado oil
It has a ridiculously high smoke point of 520 degrees Fahrenheit. This oil is ideal for cooking meat dishes on a griddle because they require high temperatures to cook thoroughly.
Sunflower Seed Oil
This oil has a super-high smoke point of 440 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a perfect initial griddle seasoning oil and great for high-temperature cooking.
Canola Oil
With a smoke point of 400 degrees Fahrenheit, canola oil works great on Blackstone griddle seasoning.
Which Oil is Best for High Heat Cooking?
Cooking on a Blackstone griddle is done at extremely high temperatures. Such a temperature is ideal, especially when cooking meats and vegetables.
Because of such a high temperature, choosing a cooking oil with a high smoke point is essential. Any oil with a high smoke point can cope effectively with high heat cooking.
Another importance of a high smoke point is that it keeps the flavor of the food neutral. Moreover, it prevents your food from being on the cooking surface.
One of the best such oils is avocado oil. It has a high smoke point of 520°F. However, it’s not always readily available.
In the absence of avocado oil, you can comfortably use vegetable oils. They have a smoke point that ranges between 400 to 450°F.
When using your Blackstone griddle for cooking, you realize that most of your cooking will happen around 400 to 450°F. As such, vegetable oils will work relatively well.
The table below shows some of the oils you can comfortably use with your Blackstone griddle and smoke points.
| Type of Oil | Smoke Point |
| Avocado Oil | 540°F 280°C |
| Safflower Oil | 510°F 265°C |
| Rice Bran Oil | 490°F 260°C |
| Refined Olive Oil | 465°F 240°C |
| Soybean Oil | 450°F 230°C |
| Peanut Oil | 450°F 230°C |
| Corn Oil | 450°F 230°C |
| Sunflower Oil | 440°F 225°C |
| Vegetable Oil | 400-450°F 205-230°C |
| Canola Oil | 400°F 205°C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use vegetable oil on your Blackstone griddle?
Yes, you can use vegetable oil for cooking on your Blackstone griddle. Vegetable oil has a smoke point of 450°F, which is ideal for the high heat cooking of a griddle.
Is canola oil better than vegetable oil?
Generally, plant-based oils are preferred to animal fats because they are healthier. However, canola oil is a far much better option thanks to its lower concentration of saturated fat.
Is olive oil considered a vegetable oil?
Technically speaking, olive oil is considered a vegetable oil. However, the generic meaning of the term vegetable oil refers to any oil that has a neutral flavor.
Wrapping it up
You can comfortably use vegetable oil on your Blackstone griddle. Besides having the right smoke point of 450°F, it has many other health benefits.
Outdoor cooking is not complete without infusing an aspect of flavor and aroma into your food. Using vegetable oils such as groundnut and peanut oils does an excellent job in giving a combination of these.
Why not go ahead and use your most preferred vegetable oil today?