2021 Trend: Alternative Culinary Oils

Consumers are more interested than ever in the ingredients used at their favorite restaurants, and one of the restaurant industry trends predicted for 2021 is increasing customer interest in alternative culinary oils, both for their health benefits and the unique flavors that they impart to dishes. Using a variety of oils delights patrons with the experience of novel aromas and tastes and demonstrates that your chefs are interested in both the customer’s health and their dining pleasure. Some lesser-known oils with outstanding profiles as far as health properties and flavor are avocado oil, sesame oil, sunflower seed oil, pumpkin seed oil, walnut oil, and hemp seed oil. Let’s explore these options with a focus on health-related qualities and the best ways to incorporate them into your restaurant’s dishes.

When it comes to the nutritional profile of plant-based oils, there are a couple important features to keep in mind. One is whether the oil is composed of primarily saturated…