The Greasy Trail

Navigating the Cooking Oil Landscape

Photo by Roberta Sorge on Unsplash

Cooking oil has been greasing the gears of culinary history for thousands of years, but it wasn't until the 19th century that it became widely used. In the early 1800s, the Industrial Revolution led to the development of new technologies for extracting oil from plants, such as the hydraulic press. This made cooking oil more affordable and accessible, and it quickly became a staple in kitchens around the world. Exploring the historical evolution of cooking oils provides valuable insights into their cultural, economic, and culinary significance. Let’s take a deep dive into the history of these slippery substances and see how they’ve shaped the world’s cuisines.