{"id":66816,"date":"2025-04-08T11:29:54","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T09:29:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/?p=66816"},"modified":"2025-04-08T11:58:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T09:58:29","slug":"uses-olive-oil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/en\/mediterranean-lifestyle\/health-tips\/uses-olive-oil\/","title":{"rendered":"5 surprising uses for olive oil and &#8230; Can you heat olive oil?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>CONTENT:<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#1-as-a-natural-flavour-enhancer\">1. As a natural flavour enhancer<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#2-for-preserving-vegetables-and-antipasti\">2. For preserving vegetables and antipasti<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#3-as-skin-and-hair-care\">3. As skin and hair care<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#4-in-homemade-dips-sauces-and-marinades\">4. In homemade dips, sauces and marinades<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#5-to-revive-wooden-kitchenware\">5. To revive wooden kitchenware<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#more-ideas-absolutely\">More ideas? Absolutely!<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#\ud83d\udd25-can-you-heat-olive-oil\">\ud83d\udd25 Can you heat olive oil? <\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#\ud83e\uddea-whats-the-issue-with-heating-olive-oil\">\ud83e\uddea What\u2019s the issue with heating olive oil?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#\u2705-when-is-it-safe-to-use\">\u2705 When is it safe to use?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#\ud83d\udd04-best-oils-for-high-heat-cooking\">\ud83d\udd04 Best oils for high-heat cooking:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Olive oil is so much more than just a base for salad dressings or a good frying oil. In Mediterranean kitchens, it&#8217;s been used for centuries \u2014 not only in food but in many parts of daily life. Below you\u2019ll find five surprising and versatile ways to use this liquid gold \u2014 plus a few bonus tips you might not know.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2dbb428c7dfe466b139664fc715e45dc\" id=\"1-as-a-natural-flavour-enhancer\" style=\"color:#196b9b\"><strong>1. As a natural flavour enhancer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil over roasted veggies, soups, or even vanilla ice cream (!) can take flavours to the next level. It adds depth, fruitiness, and sometimes a peppery kick. Use a mild, fruity oil for delicate dishes (like zucchini soup), and a more robust one for bold flavours (like garlic toast).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1382307728-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-66793\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1382307728-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1382307728-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1382307728-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1382307728-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1382307728-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1382307728-831x554.jpg 831w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-861a5327451016ec78c07de1d7e13706\" id=\"2-for-preserving-vegetables-and-antipasti\" style=\"color:#196b9b\"><strong>2. For preserving vegetables and antipasti<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sun-dried tomatoes, grilled artichokes, mushrooms or peppers \u2014 cover them with olive oil, garlic, rosemary or chili, and they\u2019ll last longer while becoming even tastier. Perfect for tapas or aperitifs. The infused oil can be reused in dressings or marinades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1862862862-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-66790\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1862862862-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1862862862-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1862862862-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1862862862-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1862862862-2048x1367.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1862862862-831x555.jpg 831w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-80782a6f9a113f3e8eb47e24df6fa874\" id=\"3-as-skin-and-hair-care\" style=\"color:#196b9b\"><strong>3. As skin and hair care<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Packed with antioxidants and vitamin E, olive oil works great as a natural make-up remover, face oil, or to soften dry elbows. For hair: apply a few drops to the ends or use as a nourishing mask (leave for 30 minutes, then rinse). Bonus: mix with honey or yogurt for extra care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1488662375-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-66796\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1488662375-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1488662375-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1488662375-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1488662375-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1488662375-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1488662375-831x554.jpg 831w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-edcf1e07ff882e63a46e91ef202933fb\" id=\"4-in-homemade-dips-sauces-and-marinades\" style=\"color:#196b9b\"><strong>4. In homemade dips, sauces and marinades<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A quality olive oil makes all the difference in pesto, alioli, hummus or tapenade. In cold sauces it adds body and flavour; in warm marinades it helps keep food juicy. Try using lemon- or garlic-infused oils for an extra twist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_2178699241-1024x680.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-66799\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_2178699241-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_2178699241-600x398.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_2178699241-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_2178699241-1536x1020.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_2178699241-2048x1359.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_2178699241-831x552.jpg 831w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9a7d2f402104ea0ac2079a251c0c2cc2\" id=\"5-to-revive-wooden-kitchenware\" style=\"color:#196b9b\"><strong>5. To revive wooden kitchenware<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wooden cutting boards, spoons and bowls can dry out over time. Rubbing them with a few drops of olive oil helps moisturise and protect the wood, restoring its natural colour. Add a little lemon juice for freshness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1281221107-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-66802\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1281221107-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1281221107-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1281221107-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1281221107-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1281221107-2048x1367.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1281221107-831x555.jpg 831w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-44861ca1cc3f8fa80855bb28f8234e0f\" id=\"more-ideas-absolutely\" style=\"color:#196b9b\"><strong>More ideas? Absolutely!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83e\uded2 <em>Fix squeaky hinges<\/em><br>A drop of olive oil can help silence noisy doors and drawers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83e\uded2 <em>DIY lip scrub<\/em><br>Mix with sugar for a gentle, natural exfoliator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83e\uded2 <em>Nail and cuticle care<\/em><br>A few drops on the cuticles keep them soft and strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83e\uded2 <em>Remove candle wax<\/em><br>Rub olive oil onto waxy spots on wood or glass to loosen them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In conclusion<\/strong>, whether you are cooking, grooming your skin or giving your wooden cutting board a facelift &#8211; olive oil is an all-rounder. No wonder it has been a fixture in Mediterranean households for generations. So feel free to give it a prominent place in your kitchen and bathroom cabinet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7780116aeec6284dacc0d1fc7c7050a8\" id=\"\ud83d\udd25-can-you-heat-olive-oil\" style=\"color:#196b9b\">\ud83d\udd25 <strong>Can you heat olive oil? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What you need to know<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The short answer: <strong>yes, but with care \u2014 and not all olive oils are created equal.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"\ud83e\uddea-whats-the-issue-with-heating-olive-oil\"><strong>\ud83e\uddea<\/strong><strong> What\u2019s the issue with heating olive oil?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every oil has a <strong>smoke point<\/strong>, the temperature at which it begins to smoke and break down. For extra virgin olive oil, this is relatively low: usually between <strong>160\u00b0C and 190\u00b0C<\/strong> depending on quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When overheated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>it <strong>loses its healthy properties<\/strong> (antioxidants, vitamins),<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>may develop a <strong>bitter taste<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and can release <strong>unhealthy compounds<\/strong> like free radicals or aldehydes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So: <strong>extra virgin olive oil is not ideal for high-heat cooking<\/strong> like deep frying or stir-frying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"\u2705-when-is-it-safe-to-use\"><strong>\u2705<\/strong><strong> When is it safe to use?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For <strong>gentle saut\u00e9ing<\/strong> over low to medium heat (e.g. vegetables, eggs).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For <strong>warming up sauces<\/strong> slowly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As a <strong>finishing oil<\/strong>: drizzle over pasta, soup or grilled meat after cooking for extra flavour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udfe2 Tip: for high-heat cooking, choose <strong>refined olive oil<\/strong> or \u201clight\u201d olive oil, which has a higher smoke point and is more stable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"\ud83d\udd04-best-oils-for-high-heat-cooking\"><strong>\ud83d\udd04<\/strong><strong> Best oils for high-heat cooking:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>High-oleic sunflower oil<\/strong> \u2013 smoke point up to 230\u00b0C<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Peanut oil<\/strong> \u2013 around 225\u00b0C<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Coconut oil<\/strong> \u2013 200\u2013230\u00b0C, very stable<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Avocado oil<\/strong> \u2013 up to 270\u00b0C, excellent for frying<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83c\udf3f<\/strong><strong> To summarise<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use <strong>extra virgin olive oil raw or at low heat<\/strong> for best results.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose <strong>high-smoke point oils<\/strong> for frying or high-heat saut\u00e9ing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And remember sometimes a drizzle of good olive oil <em>after<\/em> cooking tastes even better.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do you have another surprising use for olive oil, let us know in the reactions below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Whether you\u2019re cooking, cleaning or pampering: olive oil deserves a place of honor in your home.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Olive oil is so much more than just a base for salad dressings or a good frying oil.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":66787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","wpupg_custom_link":[],"wpupg_custom_link_behaviour":[],"wpupg_custom_link_nofollow":[],"wpupg_custom_image":[],"wpupg_custom_image_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[3084,3088],"tags":[696,800,8698,8699,8700,8701,8702],"class_list":["post-66816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-tips","category-mediterranean-lifestyle","tag-olijfolie-en","tag-kokosolie-en","tag-uses-of-olive-oil","tag-cooking-with-olive-oil","tag-health-tips","tag-healthy-lifestyle","tag-mediterranean-lifestyle","cat-3084-id","cat-3088-id","has_thumb"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66816"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66816\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66819,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66816\/revisions\/66819"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/66787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}