No, you cannot dissolve salt in olive oil. Salt is a hydrophilic substance (attracted to water), while olive oil is hydrophobic (repels water). This fundamental difference in their chemical properties prevents salt from dissolving in olive oil.
Understanding the Immiscibility of Salt and Oil
The references provided confirm that salt and oil do not mix. This is because of the polar nature of salt (sodium chloride) and the non-polar nature of olive oil. Salt dissolves in polar solvents like water, due to the interaction of the charged ions with the polar water molecules. Olive oil, being a fat, is non-polar, meaning it lacks these charged regions necessary for attracting and dissolving salt.
Several examples in the references highlight the use of olive oil with salt, but not dissolved in it. This is common in recipes where salt is used to season food that is coated in, or served with, olive oil:
- Baked potatoes: Olive oil and sea salt are used as a topping, not a mixture. (Sea Salt and Olive Oil-Crusted Baked Potato)
- Granola: Recipes frequently combine olive oil, salt, and other ingredients, but the salt is not dissolved in the oil. (Samin Nosrat Olive Oil and Sea Salt Granola, Best Maple & Olive Oil Granola Recipe)
- Infused olive oil: While you can infuse olive oil with herbs and garlic, adding salt simply creates a suspension of salt crystals in the oil, not a solution. The salt doesn't dissolve. ([Possible olive oil flavors](Possible olive oil flavors))
- Bread: Recipes featuring olive oil and salt typically utilize the salt for flavoring the dough or as a topping on the finished product, not as a component dissolved in the oil. (fig, olive oil and sea salt challah)
In short, while you can use salt and olive oil together in various culinary applications, you cannot dissolve salt in olive oil. Adding salt to olive oil will result in the salt settling to the bottom or remaining as undissolved particles.
