There was a time when vegetable or sunflower oil would be the only oil to grace my cupboard. Since writing this blog, I’ve slowly begun to accumulate a growing collection of olive oils, some given to me at events and some bought. With so many different oils to choose from it can be hard to know what one to go for. Oils burn at varying temperatures, some with higher burning points than others. High burning ones are oils such as; vegetable, groundnut and rapeseed, which are useful for cooking things like chips. Lower burning oils are ones like; extra virgin olive oil, which is good in salads, and sesame oil which is better for flavouring.
Olive oil has been the cream of the crop for a number of years, but that title is slowly being toppled by the growing popularity of rapeseed oil, which has come a long way from its previous usage as lubricant for steam engines in the 19th century. Now seen as a healthier alternative to olive oil, a make that’s hitting the spot at the moment is Bell and Loxton Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil, which was awarded 3 gold Great Taste Award earlier in the year.
I’m all for championing British produce and this one is pressed and bottled in a family farm in South Devon. Their oil is rich in omega-3 and has half the saturated fat of olive oil. Flavour wise it has a grassy, nutty flavour with a slight bitter aftertaste. The colour is vibrant yellow with a good pouring consistency. The bottle is strikingly cool and environmental friendly. I have no bad things to say about this rapeseed oil, it’s very versatile and worth well worth a try!
A 700ml bottle of Bell & Loxton’s Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil retails at approximately £5. It is available in delis, independent stores, Harrods and select Waitrose stores and also available to buy online.
Many thanks to Bell and Loxton for the sample.
(*Image from Bell and Loxton’s PR)
