Extra Virgin Olive Oil

When To Choose Extra Virgin Olive Oil

These days, cooking has become something of a fad. In a society obsessed with the quick fix and known for its overuse of processed and prepared foods, at-home food preparation is something of a novelty for many. But it is certainly making a comeback, and with all the cooking shows on TV people are better educated than ever in how to use different ingredients.

An important ingredient frequently used in gourmet cooking is the olive oil. Often it is clearly defined as extra virgin olive oil, with one “foodie” dubbing it EVOO for short. But how exactly is the oil best used and what is so great about it?

Extra virgin olive oil is considerably more expensive than other vegetable oils. It has a very distinctive flavor and aroma. Among the various types of olive oils, extra virgin olive oil has the best flavor. It would appear, then, that price would be the only thing keeping you from choosing extra virgin olive oil for all of your cooking uses. This is not exactly true, though.

With its superior flavor and quality it's the best for use on salads, bread, spreading on cooked meats and vegetables and other fresh uses. There are a few reasons that using extra virgin olive oil isn't the best choice in heavier cooking such as frying or sautéing.

Extra virgin olive oil is not refined. This means that there are actually very small unrefined particles in the oil. When heated to high temperatures, these particles actually burn which can give an unpleasant flavor. Also, a less flavorful oil is preferred for many frying purposes anyway. The higher your cooking temperature, the better refined oils will fit the bill. So save your good EVOO for fresh uses.

Olive oil comes with many health benefits, and extra virgin olive oil is the grade that provides the most. It has a high level of monounsaturated fats. These serve to actually lower cholesterol in the blood and also can have a lowering effect on both blood sugar levels and blood pressure!

Levels of phenol are highest in extra virgin olive oil and contributes to the elasticity of the arteries. This decreases the pressure on the heart which in turn lowers your risk of developing heart disease or suffering a stroke.

Olive oil contains vitamins that are beneficial to the skin, too. You can actually just rub it right into your skin, and extra virgin olive oil is the best type to use this way as well.

While extra virgin olive oil has the best flavor and most nutritional benefits, it isn't the best in all uses. This means you can save this special oil for specific purposes and keep some refined olive oil on hand for others.

 

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