The pomace olive oil wave is spreading. That’s because of the product’s versatility and sharp price. But what can you use it for? First, we’ll briefly explain what pomace olive oil is, and then we’ll gladly tell you why pomace olive oil is so great for cooking!
What is pomace olive oil?
Okay, first a quick introduction. Our pomace olive oil is made from the fresh olive pulp left over after pressing our (organic) extra virgin olive oil. We do this in a completely natural way without chemical processes. Then we add 10% organic extra virgin olive oil to give it more flavor and nutrients. This way, nothing of the original olive is lost—ideal!
The pomace olive oil you get in the end has a milder flavor and a sharper price tag compared to, for example, our organic olive oil. You can read more about what pomace olive oil is, how pomace olive oil is made, and whether pomace olive oil is healthy!
Can you cook with pomace olive oil?
Oh yes, here’s another advantage of pomace olive oil: because of the production process, you can safely heat this type of olive oil up to 260 degrees Celsius. Our extra virgin olive oil can handle up to 207 degrees Celsius, so that’s quite a difference. Additionally, the milder flavor is sometimes a reason to cook with pomace olive oil. For example, if you’re preparing an Asian dish where you want to add a less pronounced olive oil flavor, heating pomace olive oil is a great option.
Anyway, long story short: you can cook with pomace olive oil. Of course, taste is subjective, so it’s up to you when you want to use it. Generally, the following factors matter: first, whether you want a strong olive oil flavor in your dish, and second, whether you’re cooking at very high temperatures.
Cooking with pomace olive oil: what are the alternatives?
There are quite a few! Above, we compared pomace olive oil to our extra virgin olive oil. Now you know when to choose each type of olive oil.
However, there are other alternatives as well. The most commonly used oils, for example, are coconut oil, sunflower oil, and rapeseed oil. We wrote an article comparing these options. Of course, we use scientific research as a fair guide. You can find the article here: pomace olive oil versus coconut, sunflower, and rapeseed oil.
Finally, there is butter as an alternative. We once looked into is olive oil healthier than butter? The conclusion was yes. This also applies to pomace olive oil. Ultimately, the decisive reasons are the same in all cases:
According to science, pomace olive oil contains a lot of unsaturated fats (about 75%). In addition, scientific research concludes that pomace olive oil contains many polyphenols (a type of antioxidants). An important note is that you should produce pomace olive oil in the most natural and beautiful way. Finally, pomace olive oil is part of the Dutch healthy diet guidelines (“schijf van vijf”). The health score is hard to pinpoint since it applies to olive oil in general (a 8.3). For pomace olive oil, this score will likely be somewhat lower. Let’s estimate it between 7 and 8!
Heating pomace olive oil, let’s go!
So, now you know that among the different types of olive oil, pomace olive oil can be heated to the highest temperatures. With a mild flavor and friendly price tag, this olive oil is perfectly suited for frying and roasting. You now have enough information to decide when you want to use it. Would you like to try our pomace olive oil? Our 1-liter tin is now available at Albert Heijn. For more intensive use, there’s also a generous 5-liter tin available via our shop. Enjoy!
