Cold-pressed olive oil is the natural light fat obtain from pressing olive fruits; the extraction process is carried out without any form of heat applied. Olive oil generally is a very important domestic oil, it is used widely in cooking, for frying foods such as yam chips, meat, stir-fries, and in salad dressing. Apart from cooking, olive oil is also used in cosmetics, soap making, and pharmaceutical products.
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What is cold-pressed olive oil
Cold-pressed olive oil simply refers to the olive oil that has not been extracted by heating or the use of chemicals. The extraction process usually takes place within a certain temperature (usually 27 °C (80 °F)). Therefore, all its natural nutrients are retained not destroyed.
Is cold-pressed olive oil the same as extra virgin olive oil?
Extra virgin olive oil is the highest grade of virgin oil followed by virgin olive oil. It is derived by cold mechanical extraction, no solvent is used and has not gone through the refining process. Extra virgin olive oil contains no more than 0.8% free acidity; it is judged to have a superior taste, having some fruitiness and no defined sensory defects.
Can cold-pressed olive oil be used for cooking?
One important thing to note about extra virgin olive oil is that it is one of the stable oils to cook with, others are coconut oil, avocado oil, etc; it has a high smoking point of 200 o C and 220 o C. Most baking and cooking oils fall between 160 o C and 180 o C before reaching the smoking point. Unlike other oils, even when it reaches its smoking point it doesn’t become carcinogenic which is to say it won’t cause cancer.
Olive oil can be made at home just like any other cooking oil. It can be made using black or green olives. There are two simple ways to make your olive oil which are: using the cold press method or the heat method to press the olive flesh. Olive oil can be extracted from the black olives or from the green olives. The oil that is obtained from the black olive fruits will appear light yellow or golden in color; whereas the oil that is extracted from the green olives tend to be light or deep green in color.
The use of Olive oil is good for you and it has many uses. Some of the benefits of using olive oil are seen in its use in hair products, skincare products. To make your cold-pressed olive oil at home; first of all, you will need to decide whether you want to extract the oil from the green olives or the black olives. Once you have purchased the olives you want to use; wash, and take out the seeds from the fruit of the olive. When you have done that, the process of extraction can then be carried out easily.
Olive oil uses and Benefits
- Olive Oil has many uses. You can make an organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil for Hair, Skin, Face, and for Cooking at Home.
- You can use Olive Oil for hair: applying it on the hair helps your hair to grow and glow. This can be in the form of olive oil hair spray.
- Applying Olive oil on the skin protects you from the rays of the sun.
- Olive oil can be used for cooking as it contains healthy monosaturated fats
- The skin benefits of olive oil can still be gotten by the use of olive oil soap
- You can apply Olive oil on your face to prevent and treat acne. It has antibacterial properties.
- Olive oil is used in many cooking recipes such as for making a lemon cake, turmeric tea, for lemon dressing.
- Combining Olive oil with garlic, turmeric, ginger, and lemon is used in making turmeric tea or ginger tea that helps to fight cold and inflammation.
- The use of Olive oil protects from bad cholesterol in the body.
- You can use it as a hair moisturizer.
- Olive oil is used in making hair conditioner and shampoo
- It can be applied in the ear to help in the removal of hardened or dried ear wax
- Olive oil is good for its nutritional value that is listed below.
Olive Oil Calories
When olive oil is used for cooking, it contains the following calories: 100 grams of Olive oil contains 884 calories.
Steps on how to make olive oil at home
- Bring the olives into a wide bowl and select out twigs, leaves, or any bad fruit among olives.
- Wash the fruits thoroughly with clean water to get rid of dirt and then leave in a colander to drain out excess water.
- Once the water has reduced, take out all the seeds of the olives so that you will have smooth olives to work on.
- Place the olives a little at a time in the blender, add warm water to slightly cover them, Warm water will help release more oil from the paste. Bend the olives into a smooth paste. You can also crush the olives using a mallet or mortar.
- When you are done blending all the olives, you should have a very smooth paste with a shiny surface which is the oil.
- Place a cheesecloth over a bowl, and pour the paste over it. bring the ends of the material together, then use your hand to firmly squeeze out all the juice from the paste.
- Open the cheesecloth to see if it is still creamy; if it is, add a little water and mix again, then strain out all the juice.
- Place the olive extract in the freezer for 40 minutes or until it settles down.
- Once it has settled, the oil will rise to the top because oil has a low freezing point, while the water will remain below.
- When you notice the frozen surface, use a spoon to gently scoop the oil on the surface of the water into another bowl.
- You can pass the oil through a fine strainer to have clear oil.
- Your cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil is ready, store in a jar with a fitting lid and use it for any recipe that calls for olive oil.