Olive oil has multiple benefits to your body. Several studies show that olive oil is therapeutic for your heart, brain, and general body health. Olive oil has made its way into the culinary circuit to be one of the most precious oils because of cholesterol and its excellent digestive purposes. Its umpteen health benefits can be relished by people of all ages and races. Olive oil is also linked to the reduction of depression and enhance your brain health. It has a decent amount of omega-3 and omega-6 that are essential for your brain tissue growth. Currently, many people use olive oil for mild cooking and general family meals. You also need to know the grade types and which type to use for which food. There are three grades of olive oil. They are:

  • Extra Virgin olive oil
  • Standard Virgin olive oil
  • Refined olive oil

These grades are extracted differently and are further defined by the use of chemical solvents during processing. Here is a guide on using the different types of olive oil to make a healthy and memorable meal.

Extra Virgin and Standard Virgin Olive Oil

These two grades of olive oil are extracted directly from the olive fruit. To make them, you need to grind the fruits without the addition of any additives during the grinding process. The natural process helps to preserve the authentic taste of the oil, flavor, fragrance, and pungency. The two grades also have numerous health benefits since they are naturally acquired from the fruit. By grinding the fruit to extract the olive oil, manufacturers use a method known as cold pressing.

Cold pressing is essential to help the oil maintain its flavor even when subjected to high temperatures, which fluctuate over time. After extraction, the oil needs to be processed further. It is blended with chemical solvents, which results in the reduction of its original quality. The newly formed oil is clubbed in the next type of olive oil known as refined olive oil. The original olive oil has a subtle golden-green color and a slightly peppery taste.

Since it is taken directly from the fruit with no additives, its small quantity is intense and beautifully crude. These grades of olive oil have low heat potential and may require you to use them only for light cooking and frying. They have the best health benefits you will relish for using them accordingly. It would be best to use the two grades for raw or cold cooking. Use it effectively on salads, dressings, and baking bread and dips. You can also use the extra olive oil for light sautéing.

Olive Pomace Oil

It is another type of olive oil available in the market with numerous health benefits. After the first two grades of olive oil have been extracted from the olive fruit, there is some percentage of oil that remains that the cold pressing method does not deplete. There is about 5 to 8 percent of the oil that still can get from the same olive fruit that has undergone cold pressing.

The leftover oil remains on the olive pulp or commonly known as the pomace. The oil that can be extracted from the olive pulp is referred to as pomace oil. Manufacturers use olive pomace oil extraction to get the rest of the oil from the olive fruit pulp. The pomace oil has a higher heating point than the original two grades that are extracted first. You can use it for more carried cooking options.

However, the most famous olive oil is pure olive oil. Manufacturers make pure olive oil by blending the standard virgin oil and other refined olive oil. The refined olive oil is mostly used for cooking in several places in the world. It has a higher burning point and can be used for a variety of cooking options. You may not use it for deep frying, roasting, and stir-frying since its heating point is low for the type of cooking.

Tips for Handling Olive Oil

To handle olive oil effectively, you need to get acquitted by the way to use it in several meals that you can prepare for yourself or your family. Here is the top tips compilation for the incredible oil.

Use in Salads and Pasta

Olive oil can balance the acid in the high-acid meal ingredients such as tomatoes, lemon juice, and vinegar. Add a considerable amount of the oil to your salads and make a perfect meal. You can also drizzle it on top of your salad as a dressing and spruce up. You will find a more satisfying feeling when you use it to spruce up your greens, noodles, and cooked pasta.

Use it for Marinades

It is of equal importance to use olive oil in the preparation of marinades for your well-cooked meat, fish, poultry, or any vegetables.

Use as Dressing and Post Cooking

You can get the best flavor on your meals by drizzling some olive oil after you have served your meal. It offers you a unique fragrance and remarkable taste.

Use It to Make Appetizers and Sauces

For appetizers, you can make them and drizzle some of the olive oil on top to give it a different flavor. You can also make healthy sauces by using olive oil. It will provide you with a full burst of flavor and health benefits.

Olive oil is full of health benefits and is perfect for your heart, hair, skin, and veins. Get it now and enjoy the help of this wonder oil. For more recipes and uses of olive oil, visit Mealfan.com