Does Olive Oil Release Toxic Smoke During Cooking?

QUESTION:
I have heard cooking with olive oil can be toxic when it smokes from the pan. I have also heard that the NON extra virgin is better for cooking because it can take high heat better and the cold pressed extra virgin should be used for salad eaten raw. What do you think?

ANSWER:
All the various oils withstand heat in different ways. There is an excellent guide on which oil to use for which temperature at Spectrum Oils Kitchen Guide.

As to whether olive oil is toxic when it smokes, well, it's burned, and most things produce toxic substances when they burn. For high heat cooking, coconut oil is an excellent choice.

Debra :-)

This answer was provided by our friend, Debra Lynn Dadd. Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a pioneering consumer advocate since 1982, specializing in products and lifestyle choices that are safer for human health and the environment. She is the author of Home Safe Home.