Can Sesame Oil Be Used To Pop Corn?

Can Sesame Oil Be Used to Pop Corn?

Jul 6, 2011 | By Chance Woods

The main concerns for choosing which type of fat to use for popping corn are temperature, flavor and relative healthfulness. Although it is far from the only option for popping corn, sesame oil stands up to the challenge on every front.

Temperature

According to an investigation performed at Kansas State University and published in the January 1983 issue of "Journal of Cereal Science," popcorn pops at around 177 degrees Celsius, or 350 degrees Fahrenheit. To accommodate the necessary temperature, the oil you select must have a smoke point higher than 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Refined Vs. Unrefined

Unrefined sesame oil has a smoke point of 350 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning that the oil would begin to smoke and break down at the same temperature that the corn pops. It is likely that the flavor of the oil and the resulting popcorn would suffer, especially if the temperature drifted above 350 degrees. Refined sesame oil is a better choice for popping corn because its smoke point is 450 degrees Fahrenheit, well above the necessary temperature for popping corn.

Flavor

Oils have flavors that are unique, and they bring those flavors to the food cooked in them. Popcorn that is prepared in sesame oil tastes different than popcorn prepared in butter, lard or olive oil. Sesame oil carries the slightly nutty flavor of sesame seeds.

Relative Healthfulness

Although all fats should be limited, some are healthier than others. Fats that are solid at room temperature, like butter and lard, are higher in saturated fat and are connected with the development of heart disease. Highly unsaturated fats, like the essential omega fatty acids, are connected with lower incidence of heart disease. Sesame oil is made up of a combination of mono- and polyunsaturated fats, with less than 15 percent as saturated fat.