Extra Virgin Olive Oil – A Way Of Life
Extra Virgin Olive Oil has always been closely associated with many people’s daily life and dietary habits worldwide. Over the past several decades, its popularity has grown and spread far beyond the sunny regions of southern Europe around the world. The secret of his success is clear. The many benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and its versatility, including in cooking, religion, ancient traditions, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, make it, in our opinion, one of nature’s greatest gifts.
In the writings of Hippocrates (460-370 BC), the father of modern mesdicine, there are references to the use of olive oil in more than sixty (60) ways, from medicinal uses to its role in personal hygiene as pure olive oil soap. Olive oil has been used as a nourishing moisturizer and nourishing mask for skin and hair from the Minoan era to modern times.
Olive is a fruit, and natural, fresh olive oil can be enjoyed from the moment it is pressed. Throughout the use of the oil, it retains its delicate aroma and all its nutritional properties. Olive oil does not need to be chemically treated like many other vegetable oils.
Culinary Tips:
Using fresh extra virgin olive oil
- Use oil directly by adding it to fresh salads and stewed or fried vegetables.
- Use as a light sauce with fresh lemon, red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper as a dressing for vegetables and salads.
- Serve with breakfast or as a light snack at any time of the day by mixing olive oil, lemon, a pinch of salt, and dried oregano or other fresh or dried herb, as a great alternative to butter for bread, but without cholesterol.
- Good quality olive oil is an essential ingredient for making pesto with basil, garlic, lemon zest, grated cheese, and pine nuts.
- Serve bread, olives, and feta cheese with olive oil for a Greek-style snack, sprinkled with dried Cretan oregano for wine
- Consuming fresh, pure unrefined olive oil is the best choice in cooking and has many health benefits. Olive oil ensures the best absorption of all nutrients contained in the body.
The use of extra virgin olive oil in cooking
You can cook almost anything in olive oil. Olive oil can replace oil in most recipes, including baked goods, cakes, biscuits, etc.
Use 3/4 cup olive oil instead of 1 cup butter.
We offer you the following tips for cooking with olive oil:
- Potatoes, any vegetables, meat, poultry, or fish can be baked with olive oil.
- Rice will become lighter with a Mediterranean flavor if cooked in olive oil instead of butter. Try adding some freshly squeezed lemon juice for a delicious Cretan-style pilaf.
- Cretan chefs use olive oil as a condiment for food. They have used it for centuries in lentils, beans, vegetables, and herbs such as dandelion, Swiss chard, spinach, and other wild herbs.
- By adding olive oil to soups and stewing in it, dishes are enriched with aroma in the same way as using fresh and dried herbs such as oregano, parsley, and thyme.
Frying in extra virgin olive oil
Contrary to popular belief, it is better to fry in olive oil than other vegetables or butter. At high temperatures, most oils begin to oxidize and become dangerous for consumption due to the emissions of harmful substances. Olive oil at similarly high temperatures does not oxidize. It does not emit harmful substances since it contains a large number of antioxidants and unsaturated fats. Using extra virgin olive oil for frying is the best health option.
The temperature at which olive oil evaporates is believed to be approximately 365 º F to 400 º F (185 º C to 204 º C), depending on its free fatty acid content. Here’s what the International Olive Oil Council (IOCO) has to say about frying food in olive oil:
“Olive oil is the most persistent fat when heated, which means it can handle high frying temperatures well. Its starting temperature (410 º F or 210 ° C) is well above the ideal frying temperature (356 º F or 180 º C). The digestibility of extra virgin olive oil does not change when heated, even if it has been reused several times for frying. “
Canning and pickling with extra virgin olive oil
- Olive oil has been used for food preservation for thousands of years, as evidenced by archaeological research from the Minoan civilization in Crete and many other Mediterranean cultures. Pouring olive oil onto food creates a protective layer that inhibits oxidation and deterioration of the product.
- Olive oil is ideal as a marinade for meat, poultry, fish, or vegetables and is especially recommended for barbecues. When we barbecue meat, sometimes harmful carcinogens are formed, but olive oil can neutralize them due to its high antioxidants levels. You can use extra virgin olive oil seasoned with garlic, onions, lemon, and herbs like oregano, thyme, or rosemary for better results.
- Three or four tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil a day can change your taste and protect your health!
So we ask you … what kind of oil is on your table?
How to store extra virgin olive oil?
The flavor, aroma, and all the nutritional elements of olive oil can remain unchanged if some simple storage rules are followed. Light, oxygen, and high temperatures should be avoided.
- Olive oil should not be exposed to light and should be stored in a dark cabinet.
- The oil should not be exposed to temperatures below 5 ⁰ C (41 ° F) or above 20 ⁰ C (68 ° F).
- The oil should be stored in a dark glass bottle, stainless steel jars, or ceramic vessels. Avoid using plastic containers as they can release substances harmful to human health that spoil the delicate olive oil.
We have discussed How To Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil And Keep It Fresh, hope you will follow the instruction and use it properly. You can visit our website to buy high-quality extra virgin olive oil!