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Peanut oil , which may be called groundnut oil in the UK, is a highly desirable oil for deep-frying. It is made from the legumes called peanuts, and it is known for its high smoke point, the point at which the oil begins to give off smoke and start to burn. Refined peanut oil , the type you’d buy in most grocery stores, has a smoke point of 450 degrees F (232.22 C). Others oils comparable to peanut oil in this respect include ghee, sesame oil, refined safflower oil , extra light olive oil , and most versions of canola oil.
You’ll find peanut oil used quite a bit in the US, especially to fry French fries or make fried chicken, and most experts on deep frying turkey recommend it as the oil of choice. It also has numerous applications in Asian cooking. In authentic Asian cooking, especially in places like China, the peanut oil used is less refined, retaining a little bit more of the protein of the peanut and producing a stronger peanut flavor. Most US shelf brand versions of peanut oil , unless they are sold as organic, tend to filter out much of the taste of the peanuts, and all of its protein.