Why
is Olive Oil Used?
Natural olive oil is the only oil that can replace margarine and butter as a
healthier option. In its pure state, extra
virgin olive oil is often used as dressing in dip for breads or salads. Light
oil or refined oil is most suitable for deep frying. Natural oil is resistant
to heat. In fact, one can reuse the oil several times without destroying its
nutrient content. Several queries linger in the minds of the local people which
are left unanswered. Here are 3 such questions, with their appropriate answers.
Does
Olive Oil Lose Its Nutritional Value When Over Heated?
As
mentioned above, extra virgin olive oil
is highly resistant to heat. When it is heated at a high temperature, alcohol
and esters of the golden liquid start evaporating. Esters are responsible for the
fragrance and taste. Hence, it is quite evident that the natural olive oil will retain its nutritional level even after multiple
heating. Needless to say, after a point of heating the oil will certainly not
be fit for consumption. But, yes it is true that the shelf life of fresh olive oil is much more than other
normal oils.
Will
Cooking in Olive Oil Reduces Nutritional Value of the Food When Heated?
There
is no doubt that heating, will break the nutritional value of the food. Steaming
is considered better than constant heating. Having food prepared after constant
heating, is even worse than having raw food. The heat level maintained while
frying matters a lot. More the level of heat more disintegration of nutrients
will occur. But, owing to the property of naturalolive oil its use can be maximized with proper use.
How
to Store Olive Oil?
No
one buys oil in cups from the grocery shop every day. The large packet of oil that
you buy needs to be kept in a proper place or else it will become useless. As
the nutrients of oil breakdown when it comes in contact with heat, it goes without
saying that fresh olive oil should
also be kept away from heat. It should ideally be stored in large containers
and in a dark environment. Tinted glass containers are better than transparent
ones.
However,
for a common person finding and storing extravirgin olive oil in dark places is not always possible. They can use the
freezer or refrigerator to extend the shelf life of the healthy oil. Only
remember to re-liquefy the oil or cool it to room temperature, before cooking.
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