I've read a lot of articles about seed oil that's not available like it used to be, and everything's gotten more expensive. Lately I've been using whatever I find at Lidl, but I'm wondering if there's a better alternative or if I just have to accept the current prices.
With three kids to feed I can't afford to be too picky, so I also just grab whatever's at Lidl or Coop and that's it - works great for frying. If you want to save a bit, look at sunflower oil rather than seed blend, sometimes it costs less and does the job well. Some people use peanut oil but it costs more, so it doesn't really make sense if your budget is what it is.
Me too at Lidl when I'm in a hurry! 😄 Honestly after 14 years of ambulance shifts and lots of quick dinners, I don't notice huge differences between one brand and another when I fry - the main thing is that it doesn't smoke too much and it's a good price. If you want a slightly cheaper alternative though, try bulk sunflower oil at some local markets, maybe it costs a bit less compared to the nicely packaged bottles and it works just the same for frying quick stuff 👍
Prices have really gone up in recent years, I notice it too when I do my shopping. Anyway, for frying, what you get at Lidl works just fine - the point is that for this specific use you don't need anything fancy. The important thing is that it has a good smoke point, otherwise you risk burning it and ruining everything. But one question: how many times a week do you fry, more or less? Because if you do it rarely maybe it's still worth picking something good quality, but if it's something you do often then the reasoning changes.
Like others have said, Lidl and Coop are fine, but if you want to try something else without spending a fortune, you could consider sunflower oil instead of the classic mixed seed - it often costs about the same but tends to be a bit more stable to heat. I personally use whatever I find at the store closest to the office when I remember, and honestly I've never had any problems. There are periods when it's worth stocking up a couple of liters if there's some deal on, anyway.
For the rest, don't kid yourself that the more expensive brands make much difference for normal frying - if you're not a restaurant frying all day, the savings are better spent on something else. The only thing I'd advise is not to reuse the same oil too many times, because that's when you really start ruining everything.
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