Can you use butter in place of vegetable oil cooking not baking?

You can use butter in place of vegetable oil for cooking, but it's not always ideal. Here's why:

Advantages of Butter:

* Flavor: Butter adds a rich, buttery flavor to your food.

* Texture: Butter can create a slightly crispier crust on things like pan-fried chicken or vegetables.

Disadvantages of Butter:

* Smoke Point: Butter has a lower smoke point (around 350°F) than most vegetable oils. This means it burns more easily at high temperatures, leading to a smoky flavor and potential carcinogens.

* Fat Content: Butter is about 80% fat, while vegetable oil is typically 100% fat. This means you'll be adding more saturated fat to your food when using butter.

* High Heat Cooking: Butter is not as suitable for high-heat cooking methods like stir-frying or deep frying.

Here are some tips for using butter in cooking:

* Use it for lower heat cooking: Butter is perfect for pan-frying, sautéing, and baking.

* Clarify the butter: Clarifying butter removes the milk solids, increasing the smoke point and making it more suitable for high-heat cooking.

* Combine it with oil: You can use a combination of butter and vegetable oil to get the best of both worlds - the flavor of butter and the high smoke point of oil.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your recipe and personal preference. If you want a richer flavor and are cooking at lower temperatures, butter can be a great option. But if you need a high smoke point or are concerned about saturated fat, vegetable oil might be a better choice.