Fats and oils

Learn about fats and oils

Fats and oils are important ingredients.  They are made by plants and animals.

At room temperature oils are liquid and fats are solid but they have the same basic chemical structures.  They are long chain molecules (esters) made up of two sections, a glycerol part joined to a fatty acid part.

Fat and oil molecules may be saturated or unsaturated.  Unsaturated fats contain carbon-carbon double bonds.  Saturated fats do not.

Fats and oils play a vital role in our bodies essential biochemical processes which keep us alive and well as well as storing energy and insulating us.

More information

BNF presentation: Fat and its functional properties in food products

BNF worksheet: Functions of fats

BNF experiment worksheet: Comparing foods for energy

BNF experiment worksheet: Comparison of melting points of fats

BNF experiment worksheet: Testing food for fat

BNF experiment worksheet: The water content of fats and spreads