Yes you can mix peanut and vegetable oil. When you mix peanut oil and vegetable oil, the two oils will combine to create a new substance. This new substance will have properties different from either of the original oils.
For example, blending peanut oil and vegetable oil will make the oil less likely to smoke than pure peanut oil or pure vegetable oil. It will also have a different flavor than the two original oils.
Some people believe that blending oils can also help improve the oil’s health benefits. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim.
The smoking point of peanut oil and vegetable oil
Smoking point: The smoking point or burning point is the temperature at which the oil starts producing a continuous bluish smoke visible to eyes, depending upon the conditions. Different oils have different smoking points.
One of the main reasons people blend oils is the smoking point. The smoking point is the temperature at which an oil begins to smoke and catches fire.
When you mix peanut oil and vegetable oil, the smoking point of the resultant oil will become the smoking point of the oil with the lower smoking point.
Most of the deep fryers come with a smoking point of 375 °F. So, if you are planning to use your oil for deep frying, it is essential to know the smoking point of your oil.
The flavor of peanut oil and vegetable oil
Another reason people blend oils is for the flavor. For example, peanut oil has a robust and nutty flavor that can be overwhelming in some dishes.
On the other hand, vegetable oil has a very neutral flavor, which makes it a good choice for cooking when you do not want the oil to impact the dish’s taste.
Can you mix peanut oil and canola oil for frying?
Yes, you can mix peanut oil and canola oil for frying because both oils have a high smoking point. However, the smoking point for canola oil is 400ºF, while for peanut oil, the smoking point is 450ºF. These high smoking points make the mixture a good combination for deep frying.
A high smoking point helps keep the oils stable and not catch fire while deep frying.
Will mixing oil change the taste of food?
I have never felt any change while deep frying or even cooking with a mixture of oils. I always mix a little vegetable oil with olive oil or mustard oil while sauteing vegetables.
Mixing vegetable oil helps minimize the flavor imparted by peanut oil or mustard oil. For example, I always cook cauliflower using half mustard and half vegetable oil. It tastes good, and I cannot find any pungent smell in the cooked cauliflower.
Can you mix butter with oils?
Mixing the butter with oils is not a good idea. Oils have a higher smoking point, whereas the smoking point for butter is around 300° F. Lower smoking point makes it unsuitable for deep frying or mixing with oils. Butter is a good option for pan frying but not deep frying and mixing with oils.
Can you mix olive oil and vegetable oil?
Smoking point of oils is a crucial characteristic to consider while mixing. It should be okay to mix olive oil and vegetable oil. The only problem is that you should not mix extra virgin olive oil due to its lower smoking point of 350° F.
Conclusion
You can mix oils that have similar smoking points or characteristics. Peanut oil and vegetable oil can be combined for deep frying due to higher smoking points.
