The dangers of used cooking oil for health, don't be underestimated!

Fried food tastes more of a tongue-in-cheek. It's no wonder that most of the types of side dishes you consume are usually fried first. Because you often cook fried foods, you may rarely replace cooking oil. Many fried food sellers also usually don't replace used cooking oil, even for days. Even though used cooking oil, or cooking oil that is not replaced for frying, is very risky for health. What are the dangers of used cooking oil? Read on for the explanation below.

What are the dangers of used cooking oil when used for frying?

In fact, the more often you eat fried foods cooked in used cooking oil, the greater the harm to your body. Here are some of the dangers of used cooking oil for health.

1. Bacterial infection

Oil that has been used many times will become a breeding ground for various types of bacteria. One of them is Clostridium botulinum, botulism disease-causing bacteria. These bacteria will eat from the particles and crumbs left over from the fried food in the pan or oil. So, even frying with used oil will make you more susceptible to bacterial infections.

2. Increase the risk of cancer

Apart from bacteria, used cooking oil is also a source of free radicals. Free radicals will also be absorbed into fried foods and enter your body. In the body, free radicals will attack cells in the body and become carcinogens, which cause cancer.

The more often you fry with used cooking oil, the more free radicals will accumulate in the body and cause gene mutations. Cells in your body are more prone to turning into cancer cells.

3. Increase the risk of degenerative diseases

According to research by experts from the University of the Basque Country in Spain, used cooking oil contains organic aldehyde compounds. These compounds are known to turn into carcinogens in your body. In addition, aldehydes can also trigger chronic degenerative diseases. For example heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.

4. Being overweight or obese

The danger of used cooking oil that is often not realized is that the calorie and trans fat levels will increase. According to a study in the journal Food Chemistry in 2016, olive oil that does not contain trans fats before frying will eventually release trans fats as well after being used for frying many times.

Excess calories and trans fats will lead to being overweight, even obesity. Obesity itself can cause serious complications such as diabetes and heart disease.

Tips for frying to be healthier

Relax, that doesn't mean you shouldn't eat fried foods at all. You can fry but try to always use fresh oil. However, if you really have to, you can fry it again with the used oil. So that you can avoid the various dangers of used cooking oil, consider the following healthy tips for frying.

1. Filter it first. Before frying again, sift out the black crumbs and dregs that are usually at the bottom of the pan. The more crumbs and dregs left, the more calories and fat that is released when frying.

2. Don't overheat. Try not to get the oil hotter than 190º Celsius. You can use a special cooking thermometer to measure the temperature.

3. Turn off the heat when it's cooked. Don't let the oil heat up too long, as the chemical structure will change more quickly.

4. Store the oil in a cool, closed place. After frying the first time, cover the pan until the oil has cooled slightly. Then transfer to a special closed container and store at room temperature.