Discover the cooking oils Michelin Star chefs swear by to bring out the best in every dish — and how they can elevate your home cooking to the next level!
Key Takeaways:
Want to know the secret ingredients top chefs use in their kitchens? Michelin Star chefs — some of the best cooks in the world — have favorite cooking oils they swear by. These oils help make their dishes taste amazing and cook just right.
From smooth extra virgin olive oil to a new kind of oil made from algae, these chefs choose oils that are healthy, delicious, and perfect for every recipe. Fun fact: The right oil can handle high heat, boost flavor, and even make your meals healthier.
In this article, you’ll discover which oils chefs love most and why they trust them in their five-star meals. Let’s get cooking!
Top chefs don’t just grab any cooking oil from the shelf. They look for oils that bring out the best flavor, stand up to heat, and are good for you, too. Let’s check out the top picks from chefs who really know their stuff.
Algae cooking oil might sound a little unusual, but it’s becoming a favorite in some of the world’s top kitchens. This oil has a clean, neutral taste, which means it doesn’t take over the flavor of your food — it just makes everything taste better.
Chef Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in New York City, uses Algae Cooking Club's chef-grade algae cooking oil in his kitchen for things like dressings and delicate sauces.
He loves how well it performs with both simple and fancy dishes, especially since it can handle very high heat — up to 535°F — without burning or smoking. It’s also full of omega-9s, especially oleic acid, which supports a healthy heart and gut.
Zero Acre cooking oil is made using fermentation, a natural process similar to how foods like yogurt or sourdough bread are created. The result is a light, neutral-tasting oil that works well in all kinds of recipes, from sautéing vegetables to baking desserts.
Chef Stuart Brioza of State Bird Provisions in San Francisco is one of the top chefs who’s added Zero Acre oil to his kitchen. He appreciates its clean flavor and how well it performs under high heat — up to 485°F.
Whether he’s frying, roasting, or finishing a dish, this oil helps him create meals that taste great and feel lighter. Other chefs love that it’s versatile, heart-healthy, and better for the planet — thanks to how little land and water it takes to produce.
Extra virgin olive oil, or EVOO, is a classic favorite — and for good reason. It’s made by cold-pressing olives without using heat or chemicals, which helps keep its rich flavor and healthy fats.
World-famous chef Gordon Ramsay is a big fan of EVOO. He often uses it to finish dishes or drizzle over fresh ingredients to bring out their best flavors. In fact, his favorite olive oil comes from a small region in Croatia called Istria, which is known for its high-quality olives and bold, aromatic oils.
While EVOO isn’t ideal for super high-heat cooking, it’s perfect for sautéing, drizzling, dipping, or making dressings that taste like they came from a five-star kitchen.
Related: The Best Olive Oil Substitute and Other Alternatives
Michelin Star chefs are always on the lookout for the best ingredients to elevate their dishes, and cooking oils are no exception.
Oils like algae oil, Zero Acre oil, and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) are favored for their ability to enhance flavor. Algae oil, for example, offers a clean, neutral taste that works well in delicate dressings and sauces, but it’s also versatile enough for other cooking methods like frying and sautéing. On the other hand, EVOO adds richness and depth when drizzled over salads or used in dips. These oils allow chefs to bring out the best in their ingredients to make sure each dish tastes fresh and balanced.
In addition to flavor and performance, these oils also offer numerous health benefits. Rich in heart-healthy fats like oleic acid, they promote a healthy heart and digestive system.
EVOO is especially praised for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. As chefs become more mindful of their environmental impact, Algae oil and Zero Acre oil also stand out for their sustainability. Both require less land and water to produce compared to traditional oils, which makes them an eco-friendly choice in top kitchens.
These oils are all versatile, ideal for sautéing, frying, or drizzling. Algae oil, though, takes the lead with its high smoke point of 535°F. While EVOO and Zero Acre oil add great flavor and depth, algae oil’s ability to withstand high heat gives it an advantage in more intense cooking methods.
Algae oil, Zero Acre oil, and EVOO represent the next generation of cooking oils. These oils are prized for their ability to enhance flavors, withstand high temperatures, and offer impressive health benefits.
For home cooks who enjoy crafting meals like those from Michelin-starred kitchens, the right cooking oil can transform any dish. Algae oil — especially the chef-grade option from Algae Cooking Club — offers a clean, neutral flavor and high smoke point that make it a standout choice for everyday and elevated cooking alike!
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