Generally, we are reminded how good olive oil is for our health and how it belongs in every kitchen cupboard. Olive oil has been shown in several trials to help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and other disorders. Apart from that, olive oil has beauty benefits, such as moisturizing your hair, preventing dandruff, and protecting your skin. It is, after all, an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, Polyphenol rich olive oil, vitamin E, and antioxidants. However, few people are aware of the various types of olive oil available and which should be used for cooking, and which for skin and hair. Before deciding on a product, invest in olive oil and use it for a while.There are also numerous combination olive oils available nowadays, such as soy olive oil blends, among others.
- Extra virgin olive oil
This olive oil is the most expensive since it is of the best quality. Extra virgin olive oil is unprocessed and has the lowest acidity level of all olive oils. It is particularly high in antioxidants and contains the most minerals and vitamins of all olives. This pricey oil should only be used for salads because it has a low smoking point when compared to other oils. This implies it could burn even if cooked at very low temperatures. Use extra virgin olive oil to make salad dressings, sprinkle it over cold meals, or include it in some of your bread dips. The vitamins in extra virgin olive oil might be degraded when used to sauté vegetables.
Extra virgin olive oil has a distinctive flavor and is usually golden-green in color.
- Virgin olive oil
Virgin olive oil is the next best thing to extra virgin olive oil. It’s also an unrefined olive oil, which means it’s extracted without the use of chemicals or heat. Only a little increase in oleic acidity distinguishes extra virgin olive oil from virgin olive oil. You can use virgin olive oil to sauté veggies as well as to make your favorite Indian dish. Baking can also be done with virgin olive oil. Deep frying should not be done using olive oil. As olive oil has a low smoke point, it is not recommended for deep frying. If you must deep fry something, use oil with low saturated fatty acids.
Therefore these are the two most used types of olive oil which are used as a medium for cooking food.