Basting oil
Basting oil – official name Wegmans Organic Basting Oil – is an exclusive oil-and-shortening item sold by Wegmans.
For just 0.56 US dollars per fluid ounce, the Wegmans Organic Basting Oil is an extremely popular Wegmans exclusive item.
Founded in 1916, the Wegmans Food Markets is a privately held supermarket chain whose first owners were John a d Walter Wegman. This family held supermarket chain has stores in New York, North Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Worth over 9 billion dollars, the store has been ranked number 3 on the Fortune List.
Other than being a typical supermarket, Wegmans is a bakery, a deli, a butchery, a sushi place, a cheese shop, a pizzeria, a coffee shop, and a sit-down restaurant. The supermarket is also a brand that makes and sells its very own line of exclusive items. One of these items is one of their best selling Oil-and-Shortening item called the Wegmans Organic Basting Oil.
The Wegmans Organic Basting Oil is USDA approved, and according to their site, their product is organic, gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegan.
The Wegmans Organic Basting Oil is basically a flavoring oil that uses sunflower oil (or extra virgin olive oil) as a base and incorporates other flavoring agents like garlic, parsley, and thyme.
Olive oil
Olive oil is the liquid fat obtained by pressing/grinding whole olives. Olive oil – the most common vegetable oil – is made from olives which are the traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean basin. The top five producers of olive oil are Italy, Turkey, Spain, Greece, and Morocco.
There are two categories of olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, and common olive oil.
Having a lower smoke point of 320 degrees Fahrenheit, the extra virgin olive oil is made through a process called cold-pressing. To keep the product pure, extra care is taken when choosing perfectly ripe olives because under-ripe and over-ripe olives can result in a product that is either bitter or rancid.
Cold-pressing is a process in which the olives are pressed at temperatures below 80.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Heating at temperatures no higher than 80.5 degrees Fahrenheit produces olive oil that has more antioxidants and monounsaturated fats. Having a large number of antioxidants and monounsaturated gives the extra virgin olive oil a far more robust and complex flavor profile.
Pressing olives at temperatures higher than 80.5 degrees Fahrenheit yields more oil. This version of olive oil has fewer antioxidants and monounsaturated fats, a higher smoke point of 465 degrees Fahrenheit, and a flavor profile that is extremely monotone and bland.
Extra virgin olive oil is used as a dipping sauce for bread, a base component for salad dressings, etc. You should never use extra virgin olive oil for sautéing because high heat destroys the antioxidants and monounsaturated fats present within the oil. And as a result, you’re left with less buttery, grassy, fruity flavor.
The common olive oil is just like any other cooking oil. It can be used for pan-frying, sautéing, salad dressings, etc.
Basting Oil vs Olive Oil
Which is better, Wegmans Organic Basting Oil or Wegmans Pure Olive Oil?
Wegmans Pure Olive Oil is just 0.16 US dollars per fluid ounce, whereas Wegmans Organic Basting Oil is 0.56 US dollars per fluid ounce. Even though the basting oil costs more than the olive oil, but if we add the prices of Wegman’s garlic, thyme, and parsley, the Wegmans Organic Basting Oil becomes a lot more affordable.
So if you’re a busy person and you’re buying a bottle of Wegmans Pure Olive Oil just to use as a dressing or dipping oil, then buying the Wegmans Organic Basting Oil is the best option. But if you’re a person who likes versatility and control, then buying the Wegmans Pure Olive Oil is the best option.
How to make basting oil at home?
Making a basting oil is just like making a salad dressing, it’s extremely easy. To make the Wegmans Organic Basting Oil you’ll need to have olive/sunflower oil, dried thyme, dried parsley, and fresh garlic.
Grate 1 large clove of garlic into ½ cup of olive/sunflower oil – use extra virgin olive oil for best results. Add 2 teaspoons of dried parsley and 1 teaspoon of dried thyme into the garlic and oil mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste and mix everything to make your very own basting oil.