Olive Oil

[#1]

Summer and olive oil just seem to go together. Drizzled over tomato, mozzarella and basil caprese salad, brushed on grilled veggies, tossed with pasta, or shaken with fresh herbs and lemon juice in dressings and marinades, it’s the perfect flavor match for the season’s favorite foods. The many names you see on olive oil labels–such as virgin, extra virgin, cold-pressed, light, extra light and more–has long made choosing the right olive oil confusing. But that will become easier this Fall when recently adopted government standards go into effect. The new definitions will help differentiate the more flavorful extra virgin and virgin olive oils from cheaper impostors. “Light” and “extra light” will no longer be allowed to describe olive oil on packages, which is good news. These terms have always been puzzling, since they’ve referred to an olive oil’s lighter color and flavor, not its calorie content, as you might expect.

From a health perspective, olive oil is a winner. It contains monounsaturated fat, the type that is thought to increase “good” HDL cholesterol and reduce total and LDL “bad” cholesterol levels in the blood. Although olive oil is a more healthful choice among fats, remember that like all oils, it contains about 120 calories and 14 grams of fat per tablespoon. So enjoy, but in moderation. What are your favorite ways to use olive oil?

[#2]

Kerry I've heard that it is not good to heat your olive oil, so does that mean if I am frying or saute' with it is no longer healthier?

[#3]

Hello Judy,

The important thing about cooking with olive oil is not to heat the oil over its smoke point (also referred to as smoking point). The smoke point refers to the temperature at which oil begins to break down. If olive oil is heated over its smoke point, it make begin to smoke or burn; giving food an unpleasant taste. The smoke point varies with its quality. You can read more about heating olive oil here: http://www.oliveoilsource.com/page/heating-olive-oil

I hope that answers your question.

~ Kerry