The right fry made healthy

MANILA, Philippines - With a healthy diet in mind, TV host Tessa Prieto-Valdes says she is very particular with the food she prepares for her family.

It’s one of the reasons why she chose Golden Fiesta Palm Oil as it contains Omega-9, which is good for the heart.

Golden Fiesta Palm Oil also has a higher “smoke point”— the temperature at which the oil begins to degrade and visible fumes or smoke appear.

Contrary to popular belief, smoking oil is not an indication of its readiness for frying. In fact, it’s a sign that the oil is deteriorating.

When oil starts to smoke, its flavor and nutrition quality also decrease. This produces chemical compounds like trans fats that are bad for the health. Oils with high smoke points are less likely to lose their quality easily.

Unlike coconut oil — which has a low smoke point — palm oil does not burn easily when it reaches its smoke point. This makes it more versatile for frying foods requiring high frying temperature.

This quality also makes it less likely to get meals burned or overdone.

Palm oil’s high heat tolerance also allows the food to cook evenly inside and out at its proper frying time and temperature.

Before using Golden Fiesta Palm Oil, Tessa confesses that she didn’t even know how to cook. While she claims that she is a self-confessed fan of cooking shows, she admits that she didn’t do any cooking herself.

At their home, her family is used to having their cook prepare their meals. That was the case for a long time, Tessa says, until she briefly hosted a cooking show herself last year. She decided it was time to learn how to fry, just for fun.

“I like to try frying because I saw that it’s easier to learn. But being clueless about cooking, I was worried about getting my skin burned accidentally, or worse, set the kitchen ablaze. Not to mention serving a bad tasting meal,” she explains.

Fortunately, Tessa says she discovered a good frying partner in Golden Fiesta Palm Oil that suited her needs right from the start.

Aside from having a higher smoke point, another benefit of using Golden Fiesta Palm Oil is that it produces fewer spatters during frying, and this is something that cooking novices like Tessa welcome as they need not fear experiencing the dreaded “tilamsik.”

“This makes frying easier and much safer. As I was clueless about cooking, it was nice to use something that made it less taxing for me to cook,” Tessa says, sharing that she has been on a frying spree lately.

Tessa shares that she is very happy with how her dishes have turned out.

“Golden Fiesta Palm Oil actually made me look like a decent cook at home,” the 46-year-old mom says with a laugh.

Even with her busy schedule, Tessa says her family carries on the custom of having dinner together at home. Going home to an appetizing, mom-cooked meal every now and then certainly makes those dinners even more special.