How to Use Olive Oil

Olive oil is a substance that people have been using for thousands of years. Originally from the Mediterranean region, olive oil is an amazing ingredient that can be used for cooking, beauty, and cleaning. It's full of heart-healthy antioxidants and it's tasty. Good extra virgin olive oil tastes rich and fruity. Use olive oil in your everyday cooking in salads, eggs, marinating meat, and roasting vegetables. Or, use it to moisturize and clean your face, body, stainless steal, and wooden furniture.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cooking with Olive Oil

1
Use extra virgin olive oil for a flavorful finish to food. Extra virgin olive oil is the highest quality and most expensive olive oil. It tastes fruity and smooth. Save this olive oil to use when you really want the flavor to shine through. Try drizzling a small amount on eggs, avocado toast, roasted meat or veggies, and even sweets like yogurt or ice cream right before serving them.^{[1]XResearch source}
- 3 out of 4 imported olive oils are falsely labeled as "extra virgin." To tell if an olive oil is falsely labeled, check if it lists more than one country, region, or city on the label. This makes it more likely to be fake.^{[2]XResearch source}
2
Dip crusty bread in an extra virgin olive oil mixture. For a simple appetizer, mix a few spoonfuls of olive oil with a pinch of salt and a sprinkle of dry oregano. Slice a loaf of fresh, crusty bread to dip in the oil.^{[3]XResearch source}
- For a variation, try adding a sprinkle of other herbs such as onion or garlic powder, crushed red pepper, rosemary, parsley, or thyme. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice or a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.^{[4]XResearch source}
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3
Use extra virgin olive oil to make a simple salad dressing. Quickly whip up a salad dressing using 1 part citrus or vinegar and 2 parts olive oil, plus salt and pepper to taste. Mix the ingredients well before dressing your salad. The better tasting your olive oil is, the better your salad dressing will taste.^{[5]XResearch source}
- To make a more exciting salad dressing, add dijon mustard, jam, garlic, or herbs such as basil or oregano. Add as many of these ingredients as you like.
4
Fry an egg in olive oil for a delicious breakfast. Heat 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 mL) of olive oil in a skillet on the stove over medium heat. Once the oil is hot (after about 1-2 minutes) crack an egg into the skillet and add salt and pepper. Cook the egg for about 2 minutes for a runny yolk or 3 minutes for a medium yolk.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Regular, pure, or refined olive oil is ideal for cooking and frying. It's cheaper than extra virgin and has the same health benefits, but isn't quite as flavorful.
- The olive oil will bubble and pop in the skillet. Stay back to avoid getting burned with hot olive oil, and turn the heat down if it starts popping a lot or smoking.
5
Marinate and roast meat or fish using olive oil. To make roasted meat or fish flavorful, marinate it in a combination of ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of olive oil, ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of lemon juice, 3 garlic cloves, fresh chopped herbs like basil, dill, oregano, or parsley, plus salt and pepper. Mix the ingredients together and rub it into the meat with your hands. Cover the meat and refrigerate it. Marinate the meat for at least an hour, or overnight for the most amount of flavor.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Try different combinations of herbs to find your own personal preference. Adjust the amount of herbs and spices you use based on what flavors you like.
6
Roast vegetables in olive oil for a healthy side dish. Preheat your oven to 400 °F (204 °C) and line a pan with aluminum foil. Add any vegetables you like to the pan–try carrots, potatoes, brussels sprouts, or broccoli–and drizzle the vegetables with around 2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 44 mL) of olive oil. Toss the vegetables to coat them evenly. Roast the vegetables for about 15-20 minutes, flip them, then cook for another 15-20 minutes. ^{[8]XResearch source}
- Most vegetables should be done in another 15-20 minutes, but check on thin or small vegetables every 5 minutes to make sure they don't burn.
- Don't overcrowd the pan by layering vegetables on top of each other or packing them too tightly together.
7
Drizzle extra virgin olive oil on a sandwich. Layer all of your sandwich ingredients on top of your bread. Then, drizzle a small amount of extra virgin olive oil on top. Add salt and pepper and enjoy.^{[9]XResearch source}
- This tastes especially good on a fresh baguette with egg or tuna salad. Or, try it on a combination of tomato, feta, and olives on crusty bread.^{[10]XResearch source}
8
Bake using olive oil instead of butter for a healthy alternative. Replace the butter in your favorite cake or cookie recipe with 3/4 the amount of olive oil. For example, if your recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, use 3/4 cup of olive oil. The oil will make your baked goods lighter and more moist in texture.^{[11]XResearch source}
- This works especially well with flavors like citrus, chocolate, or carrot.
9
Infuse olive oil to create unique flavors. To add extra flavor to any recipe using olive oil, infuse it with fresh herbs. Pulse fresh, clean herbs like parsley, cilantro, or even garlic or peppers in a food processor for about 30 seconds. For every 1 US quart (950 mL) of oil, use about 1 cup (240 mL) of fresh herbs. Pour the herbs into the olive oil and refrigerate for around 1-2 weeks. Strain out the herbs before you use your infused olive oil.^{[12]XResearch source}
- Use infused olive oil within 2-3 weeks.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making DIY Beauty Products

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Remove your makeup using a cotton pad in extra virgin olive oil. Dip a cotton pad in olive oil and rub it gently over your face to remove makeup. Rinse the oil off with warm water and a washcloth.^{[13]XResearch source}
- Olive oil is safe to use on eye makeup.
2
Moisturize your skin, face, and lips using extra virgin olive oil. Rub a thin layer of olive oil all over your skin, face, and lips for a daily moisturizer. For extra dry skin, mix olive oil, sugar, and a squeeze of lemon juice to make a scrub. Rub this into dry patches and then rinse off with warm water and a washcloth.^{[14]XResearch source}
- Dermatologists say that olive oil can clog your pores, and recommend avoiding it if you are prone to acne. Test how your skin will react to olive oil by moisturizing a small patch for a few days.
- Using olive oil as a moisturizer can also reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
3
Condition your hair with extra virgin olive oil. Heat 3 to 5 tablespoons (44 to 74 mL) on the stovetop until it is warm, but not hot, to the touch. Apply the warm oil to the roots of your hair and work it to the ends with your fingers. Wrap your hair in a wet towel and let it sit for 20-30 minutes. Then, wash out the oil out with shampoo.
- To add a nice smell, add around 6 drops of your favorite essential oil–try rosemary or lavender.^{[15]XResearch source}
Rub some olive oil into your skin, then just shave as you normally do. Olive oil gives a close shave, prevents razor burn, and moisturizes the skin.^{[16]XResearch source}
Rub a small amount of olive oil into the gum or paint and the hair around it. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Gum should easily come out, and paint will rub off with a cotton pad.^{[17]XResearch source}
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Olive Oil around Your Home

1
Shine stainless steel using a cloth dipped in olive oil. Rub stainless steel appliances as well as pots and pans with a cloth dipped in olive oil to wipe away any dirt or finger prints. Then use a clean cloth or paper towel to wipe away the oil and make the stainless steel shine.^{[18]XResearch source}
- This is a safer way to clean your stainless steel than cleaning products and can make your stainless steel last longer.
2
Make wooden furniture glisten with olive oil and white vinegar. Make a mixture of 3 parts olive oil to 1 part white vinegar. Put the mixture onto a dusting rag. Gently wipe wooden furniture with a with the rag to clean it and restore shine.^{[19]XResearch source}
- Test the mixture on a small part of the furniture if you're worried about how it might affect the wood or finish.
3
Unstick a zipper with a cotton swab and olive oil. Put a drop or 2 of olive oil onto a cotton swab. Rub the swab on the teeth above and below the place where the zipper is stuck to make it slide more easily.^{[20]XResearch source}
- Avoid getting oil on the fabric as it can stain clothing.
4
Quiet a squeaky door with a few drops of olive oil. Use a rag with a few drops of olive oil to rub the tops of the door hinges. Make sure the olive oil runs down the sides of the hinges. This will lubricate the hinge so that it doesn't squeak.^{[21]XResearch source}
- You can also rub olive oil on the doorknob if it squeaks.
5
Remove stickers from glass with olive oil. Put a small amount of olive oil on the sticker using a cloth or paper towel. Rub the sticker vigorously. Once it comes off, rinse the glass with soap and warm water.^{[22]XResearch source}
- For extra-stubborn stickers, try using a dab of toothpaste along with olive oil.
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Tips

Store your olive oil in a dark area at a temperature between 57 to 70 °F (14 to 21 °C) to make it last longer. Make sure to store it with the cap on tightly.^{[23]XResearch source}
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Do not refrigerate olive oil, especially extra virgin olive oil.^{[24]XResearch source}
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If your olive oil tastes buttery, it is likely rancid. Don't eat or cook with rancid olive oil.^{[25]XResearch source}
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Warnings

Avoid buying "light" olive oil. "Light" refers to the color of the olive oil, which is mixed with other oils to give its color. It is not healthier or less fatty than other olive oil and it doesn't taste as good.^{[26]XResearch source}
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Avoid buying and using pomace oil. It is very cheap and is unregulated, so it can contain harmful ingredients. Pomace oil is greasy and tastes bland at best, and bitter or cooked at worst. It is not good for you.^{[27]XResearch source}
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