For one thing, butter is made up of 63% saturated fat, whereas olive oil only has 14%. Olive oil also contains heart-healthy monounsaturated good fats and antioxidants. Butter's high saturated fat content, on the other hand, is shown in studies to lead to heart disease and other health issues.
In a nutshell, butter is much higher in saturated fats than olive oil, made of 63% saturated fat as compared to approximately 14% for olive oil. As olive oil is also high in vitamins E and K, beneficial fatty acids, and antioxidants that help reduce inflammation, olive oil is considered to be healthier than butter.
In Italy, meat consumption was forbidden during Lent, so people reached for fish and vegetables instead. To prepare these foods, they began using olive oil since it was the only fat not sourced from animals.
Butter contains a lot of artery-clogging saturated fat, and margarine contains an unhealthy combination of saturated and trans fats, so the healthiest choice is to skip both of them and use liquid oils, such as olive, canola and safflower oil, instead.
When used in cooking, both butter and olive oil help carry the flavors of the food, and warming them accentuates this property. Butter is smooth and creamy, adding a dairy richness that no oil can match. Olive oil provides a unique flavor and aroma. Together, they enhance the flavor of your foods.
Olive oil in Italian cuisine
Although Italians do eat butter, particularly in the north of the country, olive oil is the undisputed foundation of Italian cuisine.
While the TV chef does love to drizzle a bit of olive oil over a nice salad, he says that rubbing it all over his body is what keeps his skin looking so youthful. Jamie, 42, is a "massive believer" in swapping extra virgin olive oil for expensive moisturisers. And he's even used the trick on three of his five children.
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. Extra-virgin olive oil is most popular, and yields a satisfyingly crunchy bottom that will soak up luscious flavor.
02/4Butter
Butter comprises of saturated fats in the form of milk protein and butter fat. These fats are heart healthy fats in comparison to poly-unsaturated fats in oils, which are unwanted fats.
Nutrition and cooking experts agree that one of the most versatile and healthy oils to cook with and eat is olive oil, as long as it's extra virgin. “You want an oil that is not refined and overly processed,” says Howard. An “extra virgin” label means that the olive oil is not refined, and therefore of high quality.
But, the general consensus is that it does more harm than good. It can prevent the sauce from sticking to the pasta. Since oil is less dense than water and is composed of hydrophobic molecules, it creates a layer across the top of the water.
Cooking eggs in olive oil gives better results! The fried eggs have perfectly crisp edges, and scrambled eggs have a silky smooth texture. Plus, you'll also get the health benefits of olive oil.
Which Should I Buy? Typically, olive oil is a safer bet when cooking because of the higher smoke point and neutral flavor, and extra-virgin olive oil is ideal for a flavorful dressing, a dip for bread, or a last minute pour over a cooked piece of meat.
Like any other oil, olive oil is a processed, concentrated fat extract and thus has lost most of the nutritional value of its original form (the olive itself). If you want some nutritional value, you will find it by eating the whole olive—not by consuming it in its almost unrecognizable extracted oil form.
Olive oil actually has a relatively high smoke point and is a safe, reliable option for frying. On top of that, it is one of the healthiest cooking staples around. Olive oil has been named “the healthiest fat on Earth,” in part because of its unique ability to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Olive oil has significantly less saturated fat than butter. It is better for frying. The burn point of olive oil is about 410 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter's burns at about 300 degrees.
Avocado oil, unlike butter, offers a vitamin-rich option for cooking and is much lower in calories. If a recipe requires butter, substitute equal parts avocado oil for the same portion of butter. Baked goods will come out softer and moister too!
The healthiest oils are those that are high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, such as vegetable oil and olive oil. These types of fats can help lower your risk of heart disease when used instead of saturated fats.
Both olive oil and avocado oil are considered good fats and are an excellent source of monounsaturated fatty acids, which can help improve heart health. On the other hand, olive oil is slightly more nutritious on the whole because it contains more potassium, calcium, iron and vitamins.
Like butter, olive oil has a distinct taste and low smoke point. It also offers immense moisture and character depending on what kind of oil you buy. Even modestly priced olive oil can give flavour to a steak and if you like that flavour, this is definitely the way to go.
Butter is ideal for continually basting a steak and lends itself perfectly to some cuts and for those who like to be there tenderly managing the cooking. Being there and continually basting means the butter is less likely to burn and mar the flavour.
Nearly every Ramsay recipe, from his early days on Boiling Point to Uncharted and the current critic's darling, Scrambled starts with "just a drizzle" of his beloved EVOO. Ramsay knows that "liquid gold" packs flavor and healthy fats into every bite; he does not miss an opportunity to use it liberally.