How to make your own spray oil for cooking?

jebus1967

OK the title says it all really. How would one go about making a spray oil for cooking, rather than pay the vastly increased prices in the supermarkets for what seems like a very basic product?

I have seen several Youtube videos that recommend 'mixing' the oil with one parts water and 2 parts oil etc. But anyone with even a very basic understanding of chemistry will know instantly that this is a dumb idea because the way oil/lipids are formed prevents the oil from mixing with the water. (Or in short oil doesn't mix with water).

However when using cooking oil sprays in the past, I've always been struck by an 'alcohol' type smell that comes from most of them. So I figured that alcohol was probably used as a solvent in these oils to make them 'spray(able)'. [Oils unlike water] readily do mix evenly with alcohol. (In their raw form, most cooking [and other] oils are just too viscous to spray from most average spray bottles.)

So I thought about using this: https://amzn.to/2CF4LLX

However the question is is it safe to use in this way - and if so just how safe is it? Also has anyone got any clear ideas on what the correct mixing proportions might be? Presumably the alcohol all just boils off during cooking, so there should really be any risk to human health?

However as I'm not a chemist, or a food technician, I'm curious as to exactly how I should mix it and in what proportions? If anyone can recommend anything, could you possibly also state your sources for the info (if any) too. Would I risk damaging myself if I did things this way? Spray cooking oil is expensive compared to the normal bottled varieties. So this could definitely prove a money saver and would save on the over use of oil in my diet too.

[purplesignup][/purplesignup]

jeanmd

Not sure if this is any help, but an interesting read,
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/11/03/truth-about-what-s-really-in-cooking-sprays.html

melanzana

Why would you need to? Olive oil and rapeseed oils are good.

Just put either on a bit of kitchen roll and smear around the pan.

redfox

we move threads if we think they’ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL]

caronc

I bought small (100ml) spray bottles and use these filled with oil don't add anything- works a treat.

-taff

Get yourself one of those oil pouerers, for salads etc, and just dribble a spot or two of oil in the pan, then smear with a pastry brush.
I know someone who used to work in a dairy where they made those horrible spreads that are supposed to be healthier [?!] and I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

bouicca21

I don't get the problem. I bought a spray bottle and filled it with olive oil. Never knew there was such a thing as spray oil.

jebus1967

OK, it's my partner who insists on buying them. I already have a spray bottle and it works, but because the oil is so viscus it makes it very hard for my partner to pull the trigger. I just thought that if I could figure out what solvent to use, in what proportions then she could have the real deal for much cheaper. Not sure what section this has been moved to? But I thought saving money on supermarket purchases was the best bet? Also a spray oil is a much better bet for completely coating chips (fries) and other things in a a thin film of oil for use in an airfryer. (Which is how this topic arose.) An oil soaked cloth wouldn't work so well in these circumstances. It's simply easier and more convenient to use in most instances like this and less hassle too.

The point of the question anyway was quite specific - which was how are these spray cooking oils are made? Which alcohol/food solvent is used to facilitate this and in what proportions? Also is the product I pointed to likely to be safe to use for these purposes? I'll read the link above, thanks. But if anyone has any more specific information it would be highly appreciated. Thanks!

VfM4meplse

jebus1967 wrote: »

OK, it's my partner who insists on buying them. I already have a spray bottle and it works, but because the oil is so viscus it makes it very hard for my partner to pull the trigger.

Mix it with a flavourless oil of a lower viscosity, eg sunflower oil (thin in comparison) or fractionated coconut oil, which is the lightest part. It's a long time since I earned my chemistry stripes, and I have no idea where you would get food grade fractionated coconut oil from in the UK.

rach_k

The Tesco spray oil I use (rapeseed) is just oil in a spray bottle. I re-fill it with standard oil and it sprays just fine, so maybe you just need a bottle designed for the oil you want to use. The spray bottle I use isn't meant to be refilled but it's easy enough to pop the spray bit off.

bouicca21

You do have to wash the spray bit regularly or it gets clogged up and difficult to use. I wash mine every time I refill it.