Annie: I am concerned about indoor air pollution, and wonder if I should get a kitchen stove hood. Is this necessary? A kitchen stove hood/vent is a very good idea. Smoking cooking oils is a little addressed form of indoor air pollution, but it can be very serious. I’ve put together a chart, adapted from research done by Spectrum Naturals, that gives the smoke point of many oils. Try to never heat oils to their smoke point. Even if you do get a stove hood, using the right oil for the right heat is important. Below 212 F --Cooking Methods Boil, steam, scald, stew, simmer, steep, parboil, salad dressings --Oils You Should Use Unrefined canola oil (smoke point is below 225 F) Unrefined flaxseed oil (smoke point is below 225 F) Unrefined safflower oil (smoke point 225 F) Unrefined sunflower oil (smoke point is below 225 F) Below 320 F--Cooking Methods Low-heat baking, light sauté, pressure cooking --Oils You Should Use Unrefined corn oil (smoke point is below 32 F) Unrefined peanut oil (smoke point is below 320 F) Semirefined safflower oil (smoke point is below 320 F) Unrefined soy oil (smoke point is below 320 F) Unrefined high-Oleic sunflower oil (smoke point is below 320 F) Unrefined walnut oil (smoke point is below 320 F) Below 375 F --Cooking Methods Baking sauté, stir-fry, wok cooking --Oils You Should Use Semirefined canola oil (smoke point is below 350 F) Refined canola oil (smoke point is below 400 F) Refined corn oil (smoke point is below 450 F) Unrefined olive oil (smoke point is below 320) Refined peanut oil (smoke point is below 450 F) Refined safflower oil (smoke point is below blow 450 F) Unrefined sesame oil (smoke point is below 350 F) Semirefined sesame oil (smoke point is below 450 F) Semirefined soy oil (smoke point is below 350 F) Refined soy oil (smoke point is below blow 450 F) Semirefined sunflower oil (smoke point is below 450 F) Refined high-oleic sunflower oil (smoke point is below 450 F) Semirefined walnut oil (smoke point is below 400 F) Below 500 F --Cooking Methods Sear, brown, deep-fry. --Oils You Should Use Refined avocado oil has a smoke point of below 520 F, the highest temperature of all the plant oils.