Pure olive oil is best used for cooking and baking methods that benefit from a neutral flavor and lighter color, such as grilling, frying, roasting, and sautéing.
Pure olive oil offers a less intense olive flavor and aroma compared to extra virgin olive oil. This makes it a versatile option for applications where you desire a subtle olive oil essence without overpowering other ingredients. The higher smoke point also makes it suitable for higher-heat cooking.
Here's a breakdown of its ideal uses:
- High-Heat Cooking: Due to its higher smoke point compared to extra virgin olive oil, pure olive oil is well-suited for frying, grilling, roasting, and sautéing.
- Baking: When baking, pure olive oil can add moisture and a hint of olive flavor to cakes, muffins, and other baked goods without dominating the overall taste.
- Everyday Cooking: It's a great all-purpose cooking oil for general use in the kitchen.
- Flavor-Sensitive Dishes: If you're preparing a dish where you want the flavors of other ingredients to shine, pure olive oil won't compete as much as extra virgin olive oil.
- Marinades: Pure olive oil works well in marinades for meats and vegetables, providing a base for other flavors to meld together.
In summary, pure olive oil is a solid choice for cooking and baking where you want a subtle olive oil flavor and need to cook at higher temperatures.
