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If you want a subtle way to add more flavor to your dish without much effort, then try sesame oil! It can add an earthy taste to your food with just a few drops. Sesame oil is mainly known for its fragrant and nutty aroma, which is why it is often used to drizzle over or marinate dishes.
There are actually other varieties that make it far from being just a seasoning oil as it can be used to fry, bake, or even sauté! In this article, we will run through the types of sesame oil and what they are best used for as well as our top picks! Be sure not to miss our buying guide as it's fact-checked and reviewed by registered nutritionist-dietitian Samantha Morales!
Samantha began her career in clinical nutrition and weight management at a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines. Her practice allowed her to give nutrition counseling and plan modified diets for patients with medical conditions. Presently, she does private practice to focus on true holistic wellness - an approach that believes in aligning one's mind, body, and spiritual well-being.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Here are some key points to consider:
It may seem surprising, but sesame oil actually has different varieties. Did you know that you can use it for shallow frying? To better understand their uses, let us explore each one. This way, you could expand your recipes for them.
If you want to obtain the benefits of sesame oil, then go for the cold-pressed variety. This means the oil is extracted by pressing without the use of heat. This way, the oil is able to retain most of its nutritional content than if it were heated.
You would be able to benefit from its vitamin E and fatty acids. In addition, the antioxidant sesamolin protects it from oxidation and increases its shelf life. It also has a higher smoke point, which means it can be used for deep frying, especially if you want your dishes to have a slightly nutty aroma and flavor.
Also known as dark or black sesame oil, roasted sesame oil has a dark brown appearance, as it has been toasted before being expelled. Keep in mind that the darker the oil, the more prominent the flavor.
When recipes call for sesame oil, this is usually the kind being referred to as it is mostly used as finishing oil, for flavoring, or for sauces. This is partly due to its strong and nutty aroma and taste and because it has a low smoke point, which makes it rather delicate to handle.
This makes it unadvisable for frying, as the flavor tends to diminish, so it will be rendered rather tasteless. Because it has been previously roasted, exposing it to heat for a longer period of time will make the oil taste burnt.
Unroasted, light, or white sesame oil does not undergo any roasting before extraction as it uses raw sesame. This gives it a lighter color. It is milder in flavor and therefore can be used for sautéing or frying.
Think of it as all-purpose oil as it has a relatively high smoke point and can be used just like you would any other vegetable oils such as canola. If you want an alternative to your other oils, then try unroasted sesame oil.
If you find yourself without sesame oil, there are other types of oil that you could use. If you want something similar in flavor, then go for perilla oil. It is the closest substitute as it is almost identical in nuttiness and flavor profile if the taste is an integral factor.
On the other hand, if that proves to be rather difficult to source out, then you could always go for similar nut or seed-based oils such as peanut, walnut, avocado, or canola. This is especially helpful when the recipe requires frying.
In the event that you have a peanut allergy, consider going for olive oil. Like sesame, olive oil is also packed with heart-healthy fats. It is rich in mono and polyunsaturated fats, which can decrease the risk of heart disease.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lee Kum Kee Pure Sesame Oil | ₱170 Mid | Experience Sesame Goodness From a Trusted Brand | ||
2 | Bibigo Sesame Oil | ₱199 High Mid | Rich Flavor Without Overpowering Your Taste Buds | ||
3 | Ottogi Sesame Oil | ₱144.95 Low Mid | Enhances Your Stir Fry's and Stews | ||
4 | Mua Yu Sesame Oil | ₱141.5 Low Mid | Affordable Sesame Oil for Everyday Frying | ||
5 | Beksul Premium Sesame Oil | ₱139 Low Mid | Small Amount That Packs a Punch of Flavor | ||
6 | Kevala Extra Virgin Organic Sesame Oil | ₱390 High | A Wholesome Alternative for Your Oil Needs | ||
7 | Pantai Sesame Oil | ₱225 High Mid | Blend of Sesame and Soybean for Marinades and Seasoning |
Known for its wide array of tasty yet affordable products, Lee Kum Kee has firmly established itself as a kitchen staple. Rarely will you find a household devoid of any of their products!
Now you can experience sesame goodness in their Pure Sesame Oil. Made from roasted sesame seeds, this gives off a nutty aroma that will instantly permeate your senses. From using it as finishing oil to seasoning, this sesame oil is one that can instantly elevate your dishes with just a couple of drops!
It has been noted to be slightly sweeter in taste, which makes it great for adding just the right boost of flavor. Switch up weeknight meals and marinate chicken to make easy chicken teriyaki. It also makes for a great accompaniment to your at-home Korean barbecue, so you can still get the full samgyup experience.
Bibigo offers quite the array of food products that showcases the culture of Korea, ranging from frozen dumplings to seaweed. And they also make one mean sesame oil. Similar to olive oil, sesame has different kinds. This particular variety is cold-pressed, which means the oil was extracted without heat.
This way, you are able to make the most of its benefits. In contrast to toasted sesame oil, cold-pressed is milder in taste, so it is not as overpowering. This is great for those who want a rich flavor without it being nakakaumay or mahanglay. But it still exudes the fragrant sesame aroma we are familiar with!
Fancy cooking up stir fry or recreating your go-to Korean dishes? Then try sesame oil. It is ideal for adding depth of flavor to your ulams, this way, you don’t get tired of the same taste. Use it to color side dishes or add more oomph to stews to subtly enhance their taste!
Ottogi’s sesame oil comes in small packaging. It is great if you haven’t quite gotten the hang of mastering sesame oil, so you could start with small amounts. And just as fitting, too, as adding too much sesame oil could overpower your dish and make it taste off-putting.
Most recipes pertain to dark or roasted sesame oil as a flavor enhancer or finishing oil. Rarely do you see it used in the actual cooking process. However, light sesame oil such as this one is excellent for frying or sautéing as it can tolerate the heat better. This way, your dishes will still be able to have that distinctive nutty flavor.
And if you're lamenting their admittedly pricey nature, Mua Yu's sesame oil is one that fits into your budget! What's good about this variety is that it is not as strong-tasting as the roasted kind. So, you can use it to enhance veggie stir fry or when you want to subtly infuse your prito dishes!
Enhance your dishes with Beksul’s sesame oil. They are a household name in Korea, offering up kitchen products ranging from flour to pasta sauce. And this oil is made from 100% roasted sesame seeds, which provide that much-needed bit of flavor to your dishes, whether stir fry or barbecue.
Roasted sesame oil is rather delicate to handle, as it cannot be used under high heat, lest the oil tastes bitter. It also has a potent flavor compared to sesame’s other varieties, so keep in mind that a little goes a long way! When buying sesame oil, it is better to purchase in smaller quantities to avoid having it taste maanta.
Looking for other wholesome cooking oil options? This Extra Virgin Sesame Oil might be just what you need! Kevala only uses the finest sesame seeds, which are carefully selected to ensure a quality and premium oil. It is then cold-pressed, which carefully preserves its nutrition content.
Being cold-pressed allows the oil to be used in numerous ways. For one, it doesn’t have a low smoke point, so it can tolerate high heat, making it a versatile companion in the kitchen. It also has a subtler taste, so you can use it to substitute salad dressings, for baking, and for sautéing!
For some people, sesame is an acquired taste and that’s fine! Pantai’s sesame oil is blended with soybean oil, so its taste isn’t as prominent but provides just the right hint of nuttiness. This makes it rather versatile as it renders the oil suitable for cooking, as the oil isn’t likely to burn as quickly.
But you are still able to use it as finishing oil for noodles and satay. You could even use it as marinade and seasoning sauce for your ulams! Just remember to use a little bit first. It is easier to add more if you find the taste matabang than to make up for it by adjusting the entire recipe.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Aside from adding a distinctively Asian flavor to food, sesame oil has numerous benefits, too. For one, it's a heart-healthy oil because it contains both Omega-3 and Omega-6. It is classified as polyunsaturated fat, which is a wholesome type of fat, as this means it has the ability to lower the risk of heart disease when consumed in moderation.
Sesame oil is also high in antioxidants. Aside from vitamin E, it also contains sesamol and sesaminol, both of which can help reduce cell damage from free radicals.
Both of these oils are unsaturated fats and are considered healthy oils. However, olive oil has the edge over sesame oil because it contains more monounsaturated fat, vitamin E, minerals, and other nutritional compounds.
Yes, although keep in mind that it has a very strong flavor. This is why cooks and chefs mostly use sesame oil as a finishing or flavoring agent.
Do you have everything you need in your pantry? How about condiments? Check out these other products whether you want to stock up on some sawsawans or nifty toppings for when your next cooking inspiration hits.
Author: J. Cuizon
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Lee Kum Kee|Pure Sesame Oil
No. 2: Bibigo|Sesame Oil
No. 3: Ottogi|Sesame Oil
No. 4: Mua Yu|Sesame Oil
No. 5: Beksul|Premium Sesame Oil
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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