What is the difference between heating cooking oil versus water?
Heating water is easier because the molecules are less dense and it will heat faster. It cannot be heated to the temperature that oil can. Cooking oils are more dense and have a higher boiling point, up to and above 500 degrees F. Water evaporates faster than oil and has no burning or smoking point. Oil, can smoke, burn and catch fire. Water can be heated to higher temperatures, up to 750 degrees F +, but must be contained in an airtight system because at this temperature, water is considered not to be a solid, liquid or a gas therefore it is a plasma. See the related link for more information.
