Move over, olive oil – you’ve had your place in the sun for years. Now it’s time to make room for other oils of intrigue -walnut, white truffle, avocado and even blends such as avocado with coconut and safflower oil.
According to Whole Foods’ predictions for the hottest food trends of 2021, America is ready for an oil change as at-home chefs look for new ways to add sparks of flavor to their recipes. Grocers are making room for oils that go beyond vegetable, canola and olive – the standards for years.
“While customers will still continue to love more-traditional oil offerings like olive and canola oil, we predict they will branch out to try new alternative oils in the coming year,” says Tiffney Stuart, category manager for Whole Foods Market. “Since the beginning of COVID-19, we’ve seen a rise in people cooking at home and being more adventurous in the kitchen.
“With this trend, consumers are recognizing that different alternative oils – walnut, pumpkin seed, sunflower seed and avocado oils, among them – can bring unique flavors and properties to their meals.”
It’s no secret that some oils are better than others for certain things. Olive oil is wonderful in dressings and for dipping, but not good for the high heat required for frying, where canola, peanut and vegetable oils shine. But what kind of recipes are these emerging oils good for?