Olive Oil

Question: Olive oil? What is the difference between olive oil and extra virgin olive oil apart from the taste? Why is it dearer?

Answer: Extra virgin olive oil, the cold-pressed result of the first pressing of the olives, is only 1 percent acid. It's considered the finest and fruitiest of the olive oils and is therefore also the most expensive. Extra virgin olive oil can range from a crystalline champagne color to greenish-golden to bright green. In general, the deeper the color, the more intense the olive flavor. After extra virgin, olive oils are classified in order of ascending acidity. Virgin olive oil is also a first-press oil, with a slightly higher level of acidity of between 1 and 3 percent. Fino olive oil is a blend of extra virgin and virgin oils (fino is Italian for "fine"). Products labeled simply olive oil (once called pure olive oil) contain a combination of refined olive oil and virgin or extra virgin oil It is more expensive because it is more refined.

Question: olive oil...? what does virgin olive oil mean? and what does it mean when it is extra virgin?

Answer: extra virgin olive oil is from the first cold press of the olive fruit. Virgin comes from the second pressing. Extra virgin is more fruity, rich, and flavorful, where virgin has a milder flavor. Light olive oil is steam or heat pressed

Question: Olive Oil Why is olive oil suppose to be good for you? Why is olive oil suppose to be good for you? I been hearing a craze on olive oil. I use it on my foods, but don't know the benefits. What are they?

Answer: Read this please: http://jordanolive.com/qanda.php

Question: How does one make olive oil that captures the taste of the olive? I live in a Mediterranean country, where olive trees grow in public parks and boulevards. Sad to say, the best olive oil in the country is exported for hard currency. Is it possible to make superb olive oil from 'standard' olives? If you DON'T know, please DON'T answer. I ALWAYS get cold-pressed oil, with acid content < 1%. That doesn't guarantee taste.

Answer: Go to Culinary Chef at http://www.culinarychef.com for recipes, articles, and more.

Question: Whats the difference between olive oil and extra virgin olive oil? I read recipes smetimes they mentioned extra virgin olive oil. What difference does that make? Can I just use olive oil?

Answer: This is a great site that explains it. They are definately NOT the same!

Question: How much olive oil needed to replace one egg? I heard you can replace things with olive oil in recipes. I am short one egg. About how much olive oil will I need to replace it?

Answer: what are you making if you are backing use apple sauce or if you like the taste of bannanas when you are baking then you could use 1/4 cup bannana for the egg. 1 egg should be about 1/4 cup of what ever you substitute for it. I would not use the oil but thats just me. good luck.

Question: Can i use olive oil instead of vegetable oil in my cake recipe? I have olive oil which is mixed with canola oil but no veggie oil. And what can i use to substitute eggs in a cake?

Answer: I've tried using olive oil in my baked products. It came out pretty good. It is more expensive this way though but what can you do if it's the only thing in your pantry. No need to get a vegetable oil. You can even melt butter for the equivalent amount needed for your cake. In most cakes/cookies etc., I just use melted butter. It'll come out more delicious. But, I've never substituted for eggs if they are listed in the recipe. I try to look for a recipe that don't use eggs if I'm out. There are recipes of cakes (you can find them online) that don't use eggs. From looking online, though, I've found this: What is a good substitute for eggs? For: 1 egg in baking Use: 1 tsp cornstarch plus 1/4 cup water or Ener-G Egg Replacer - follow directions on box. 2 tbsp corn starch = 1 egg 2 tbsp arrowroot flour = 1 egg 2 tbsp potato starch = 1 egg 1 heaping tbsp soy powder + 2 tbsp water = 1 egg 1 tbsp soy milk powder + 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water = 1 egg. 1 banana = 1 egg in cakes.

Question: How to make an olive oil dipping for bread? I remember eating it at italian restaurants. Whats in there? I have extra virgin olive oil and it tastes funny and smell funny when hot. I just bought this oil, maybe im not used to it. Is regular olive oil better tasting?

Answer: They have flavored olive oils now that are great for this. Pour it in a bowl with some fresh oregano and dip.

Question: What type of olive oil do you use for home skin/hair rememdies? In all the recipes I have come across for homemade skin/hair remedies it mentions olive oil. I have extra virgin olive oil (use for marinades, dressings, cooking). Is this the best type to use for these purposes because the recipes are vague.

Answer: Plain Extra Virgin Olive Oil is fine! If yours is the expensive kind, go to the dollar store. I got a good sized bottle for a buck, and it works the same. On your hair, heat a little in the microwave (you want it luke warm, not HOT), and simply work it into your hair starting at the ends (avoid the scalp, or you will weigh your hair down). Don't DRENCH your hair, but don't be stingy either. You can leave it on for as little as 30 minutes, or as long as overnight with your hair clipped up (this is really good for super dry hair; just lay a towel over your pillow). You may or may not have to shampoo twice to get the oil out. If your hair is color treated, do not use warm oil, or you may may fade your color (room temp works fine too, you should just leave it on longer). Never put it on your face, but it's fine for your body (just again, you may need to let it sit then just rinse it off).

Question: Can I substitute olive oil for canola oil? I have a recipe that calls for canola oil in sauteing onions, and all I have is olive oil.

Answer: Olive oil is BEAUTIFUL for cooking with, especially sauteeing onions, garlic, ginger...things like this. It adds a fabulous flavour. And if you take it one step further, olive oil is great when caramelizing onions if you want to cook them more. I cook with it all the time.

Question: Can I subsitute olive oil for vegetable oil when baking a cake? I am baking a cake and on the box it says to use veggie oil, can I use olive oil instead? Its a chocolate cake.

Answer: Try adding plain yoghurt or sour cream instead of any sort of oil. It cuts down on the calories, and the cake remains moist and good tasting.

Question: Can I use olive oil instead of vegetable oil? I am baking a packet mix cake and it asks for vegetable oil but I only have olive oil will it still taste ok? Thank you sooo much everybody.

Answer: sure the only real difference with oils- for cooking anyway- are their temperature tolerance Good luck

Question: Can you use Olive Oil instead of Vegetable oil? Im making brownies with my neighbor we don't have any vegetable oil here but we have olive oil. Could we use that instead? Would it make a difference in taste?

Answer: I always use olive oil for baking, as I never have vegetable oil in the house. It comes out fine. Also, you could use applesauce.

Question: Is olive oil safe for cats to eat? What about legumes like lentils and grains like rice or maize? I am trying out different home cooked meals for my adult cat to supplement the rather boring dry cat food (Royal Canin Persian 30). This is intended as more of a treat (about 1-2 tablespoons) per day to enhance his moisture intake. The meals will be unsalted and unspiced, of course. Will ingredients like olive oil, lentils and grains aside from the meat (chicken, lamb or whatever) be OK for him to eat? Thanks very much for the helpful advice!

Answer: I'll help you out a bit more. Olive Oil is okay in small quantities, like very small. It's sometimes in some foods I buy for my cats. Cat's don't need grains, so avoid rice and maize. I think legumes and lentils may be poisonous to cats. I know avocados aren't though and make their coast shiny. Royal Canin is sort of a rip off just so you know. It's not very good for them and is very over priced. I'm going to include a bunch of links in my sources, but start from the top and work your way down, as I will put information or home cooked meals for your cat at the top. I know people who know alot about this kinda stuff, so you can 100% trust me on this :) And salmon oil is likely a better bet then olive oil. If you don't want to feed raw, what you can do is cook up some things like ground chicken breast and some chicken liver, add a tiny bit of things like blueberries and cranberries, some peas might be good too. Supplement with vitamins like flaxseed. I'm still kind of new at this but I'm going to try feeding my cats more home cooked stuff. An alternative is something like Halo Spots Stew which is as close to home made as you can get! Cat's mostly need meat, little to no grains (brown rice is sorta okay), vitamins, and some light fruits and veggies.

Question: What type of olive oil for ear wax removal? Is pure or light olive oil best for the ear? I guessed it was pure olive oil as that is what they used before the days of processed olive oil.

Answer: Actually any type will work, though almond oil is more effective.

Question: How do home gardeners make olive oil from the fruit on their trees? Does anyone out there know how to produce olive oil from their garden trees? What about making olives for eating? When is it done, I mean what color are the olives when you cure them or make oil?

Answer: Olive oil is made by pressing with a machine called an expeller. You can buy them but they are expensive. The mash left over from the pressings is called pomace. Pomace oil is hexane-extracted. Probably none of this is practical for the home unless you are a DIY fanatic with lots of time and money. Olives are process for eating by curing in a lye solution. I've never done this although I know one or two people who do. You have to know what you're doing so you don't poison yourself.