smoke point

noun

variants or smoking point

plural smoke points or smoking points

: the temperature at which an oil or fat (especially one used for cooking) begins to emit smoke

When choosing an oil, you want one with a higher smoke point than your cooking temperature … since surpassing the smoke point "can cause undesirable burnt aroma and flavors," says [Jason] Ginsberg, in addition to filling your kitchen with smoke.

—Laurel Randolph

Cold-pressed oils have a smoking point of less than 300° F and should not be used for high-heat cooking.

—Jane Salzgass Freiman

Film the pan with peanut oil or canola oil (which have higher smoke points than other vegetable oils).

—Harvey Steiman

Examples of smoke point in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Vegetable, canola, and corn oil are good bets for baking and have a high smoke point and neutral flavor. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2024

The best oil for seasoning a cast iron pan is one with a high smoke point and a neutral flavor, such as vegetable oil, flaxseed oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil or canola oil. —Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024

For the fat, try ghee, coconut oil, avocado oil, or any other cooking fat that has a medium to high smoke point. —Jessica Harlan, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2023

This recipe calls for vegetable oil for frying purposes, but any oil with a higher smoke point (like canola or peanut oil) works great. —Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2023

Clarifying the butter gives it a higher smoke point—meaning it can be used for high-heat applications where regular butter would brown or burn—and has a longer shelf life than regular butter. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2023

This increases the smoke point and will fortify the butter to keep it from burning. —Jessica Furniss, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2023

One of its special characteristics is a high smoke point of nearly 500 °F, making the oil great for cooking with at high temperatures. —Good Housekeeping, 4 June 2023

Use oil with a high smoke point and neutral flavor. —Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 2 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above