| Alternative names | Nonstick spray |
|---|---|
Cooking spray is a spray form of an oil as a lubricant, lecithin as an emulsifier, and a propellant such as nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide or propane. Cooking spray is applied to frying pans and other cookware to prevent food from sticking. Traditionally, cooks use butter, shortening, or oils poured or rubbed on cookware. Most cooking sprays have less food energy per serving than an application of vegetable oil, because they are applied in a much thinner layer: US regulations allow many to be labelled "zero-calorie"; in the UK sprays claim to supply "less than 1 calorie per serving". Popular US brands include Pam, Crisco, and Baker's Joy. Sprays are available with plain vegetable oil, butter and olive oil flavor.
Cooking spray has other culinary uses besides being applied to cookware. Sticky candies such as Mike and Ike that are often sold in bulk vending machines may be sprayed with cooking spray to keep them from sticking together in the machines. Coating the inside of a measuring cup with the spray allows sticky substances such as honey to pour out more easily. Vegetables may be sprayed before seasoning to make the seasonings stick better.
References
- Corriher 1997, pp. 131, 151, 182, 184, 205, 228
- Corriher, Shirley (1997). CookWise: The Hows and Whys of Successful Cooking (1st ed.). New York: William Morrow & Company, Inc. ISBN 0-688-10229-8.
- "Fry Light" by MH Foods (UK) packaging claims "less than 1 calorie per serving"
- Baker's Joy Non Stick Cooking Spray
- "Olive Oil Sprayer DIY: Why and How". Natural Living. Oily Oily. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- "Guy Survival: 24 Unusual Uses for Cooking Spray Other Than Keeping Food from Sticking to the Pan". The Bachelor Guy. 4 November 2010. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2013.