Can olive oil be used for cooking? Can olive oil be consumed directly?

Can olive oil be used for cooking? Olive oil has many uses, but you may know very few of them. So, did you know that olive oil can be used for cooking? Let’s take a look at it together.

Can olive oil be used for cooking?

1. Fry all kinds of food with olive oil

Unlike herbal oils, olive oil's antioxidant properties and high content of unsaturated fatty acids allow its chemical structure to remain stable at high temperatures. When using ordinary cooking oil, when the oil temperature exceeds the smoke point, the chemical structure of the oil and fat will change, producing carcinogenic substances. The smoke point of olive oil is between 240 and 270 degrees Celsius, which is much higher than the smoke point of other commonly used cooking oils. Therefore, olive oil can be used repeatedly without deterioration and is the most suitable oil for frying. When cooking with olive oil, food takes on an enticing aroma that makes you salivate. It is especially recommended to use olive oil to make fried rice with eggs or for barbecue.

2. Use olive oil to make sauces and condiments

The purpose of using sauces is to bring out the flavor of the food, not to cover it up. Olive oil is the best fat ingredient for making cold and hot sauces, and it can protect the color of fresh sauces. Olive oil can be directly used to mix various vegetarian dishes and pasta, can be used to make salads and various mayonnaises, and can be spread on bread and other foods. Foods mixed with olive oil have bright colors, smooth taste, fragrant smell and a strong Mediterranean flavor.

3. Marinate meat with olive oil

Marinating food with olive oil before cooking can add a delicate feel to the food and also enhance the taste of other spices.

4. Use olive oil directly

When extra virgin olive oil is used directly, it will bring out the best of the dishes. Use olive oil like you would salt, as extra virgin olive oil adds richness and flavor to dishes. You can also add extra virgin olive oil to any dish to balance higher acidic foods such as lemon juice, wine vinegar, wine, tomatoes, etc. It can also make the various seasonings in food taste more harmonious. If you add some olive oil to dishes with seasonings, you will find that it tastes better. Extra virgin olive oil can also make food more fragrant, smoother and more mellow in taste.