Which olive oil is suitable for cooking?
Olive oil is incredibly versatile and can be used in many dishes, both cold and hot. When it comes to frying, sautéing, or deep-frying with olive oil, it’s important to choose the right type. Let us assist you!
Which olive oil is suitable for frying?
You’ve probably heard that you shouldn’t cook with extra virgin olive oil. But that’s not entirely true. Let’s delve into history. In the past, it was common to produce unfiltered extra virgin olive oil. Unfiltered simply means that residues from the pressed olives and small amounts of water remain in the oil. These floating particles aren’t filtered out. You can tell when an oil is unfiltered because it appears cloudy.
However, nowadays, almost all olive oil, including our extra virgin olive oil, is filtered. The main reason: these olive residues burn more quickly when heated, which can be harmful. Gkazas Olive Oil is naturally filtered. After harvesting, our oil undergoes a self-filtering process for several months. The residues settle at the bottom and are filtered out. Because of this, you can safely heat our olive oil up to 207°C. For comparison, butter can only be safely heated up to 177°C.
Since deep-frying typically occurs at 180°C and baking or sautéing rarely exceeds that temperature, our olive oil is perfectly suitable. If you need to heat beyond 207°C, consider using pomace olive oil, which has a smoke point of 260°C!
Which olive oil is suitable for hot preparations?
So, you can use all types of olive oil for cooking. But why choose ‘regular’ olive oil? Regular olive oil is generally a blend of extra virgin and refined olive oil. This offers the advantage of a higher smoke point and a milder taste.
However, the refining process removes healthy nutrients like antioxidants and polyphenols. So, while it’s more affordable, it lacks the health benefits and rich flavor of higher-quality oils.
The same applies to pomace olive oil. This type is made from the fresh pulp left after pressing our extra virgin olive oil. Similar to regular olive oil, it undergoes refining, resulting in a milder taste and lower price point.
Which olive oil is suitable for hot preparations?
In our opinion, extra virgin olive oil is the best choice. If it’s organic, that’s even better. The benefits include:
- Can be heated up to 207°C, minimizing risk.
- Contains the most healthy nutrients.
- Offers the richest flavor: light, grassy, and fruity. Perfect for any dish.
The only downside? It’s more expensive compared to other types of olive oil.
Olive oil versus…
When considering olive oil for hot preparations, it’s also worth comparing it to other oils. We’ve written detailed articles on olive oil vs. sunflower oil, coconut oil, and rapeseed oil. Additionally, we discuss whether pomace olive oil is healthy. Check out these articles to see how olive oil compares in various aspects!
Reusing oil?
It’s important to note that reusing oil multiple times is not recommended. The more often you heat oil to high temperatures, the more residues remain that can burn, leading to the formation of harmful substances and an unpleasant taste in your food. Therefore, we recommend our 5-liter olive oil can, ensuring you have enough oil for an extended period. Alongside the olive oil can, we also offer olive oil bottles!
Cooking and frying with olive oil!
So, which olive oil is suitable for hot preparations? We, as the producers, naturally recommend our own. Fortunately, many others agree. You’re now equipped with all the information to choose the right olive oil for your cooking and frying needs. Want to learn more about cooking steak with olive oil? Looking for more olive oil recipes? Explore our magazine for a wealth of information!
