Shop Cooking with Olive Oil From tasting to baking, here you’ll find tips, tricks and advice on getting the most out of your Colavita Olive Oil. How to Taste Extra Virgin Olive Oil Just like wine, there is a method to tasting olive oil. Using the steps below, you will be able to detect different flavors in different olive oils and pick which is right for you. Download a handy PDF of how to taste EVOO here. Place a tablespoon of oil into plastic cup. Warm up the oil by cupping your hands and slowly rotating the glass. Put your nose up close to the glass and inhale the aromas! Is it green, ripe, earthy, fruity, or something else? Now taste! Sip the oil, hold in your mouth, and let the flavors cover your tongue. Suck in some air to help release the flavors in the oil. Can I Bake with EVOO? We bake with our olive oil and you can too! Some traditional Italian cookies, like biscotti, and cakes are traditionally made with olive oil, but we’ve used it in quick breads, muffins, scones, brownies, cookies and even crusts! Olive oil’s fruity flavor pairs perfectly with so many baked goodies, especially ones with nuts, citrus, or chocolate ingredients. Plus, olive oil has the added benefit of being a healthy (unsaturated) fat loaded with antioxidants. It’s a great way to add nutrition to your baking and bump up flavor at the same time. And depending on the other ingredients in your recipe, it can also make your baked goods vegan! Use our guide below for getting the right conversion measurements when substituting olive oil for butter in recipes. And download our handy PDF guide here. Butter Olive Oil 1 tsp 3/4 tsp 1 tbsp 2 1/4 tsp 2 tbsp 1 1/2 tbsp 3 tbsp 2 1/4 tbsp 1/4 cup 3 tbsp 1/3 cup 1/4 cup 1/2 cup 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp 2/3 cup 1/2 cup 3/4 cup 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp 1 cup 3/4 cup Tips: It’s best to use olive oil as a replacement for recipes that call for melted butter or other oils. Don’t use olive oil in recipes that call for creaming butter and sugar together. This process can’t be replicated with olive oil. Do use olive oil to prep your baking pans instead of sprays or butter. It works just as well and is easier to spread. Recipes: Pumpkin Swirl Bread Cranberry and Pistachio and Orange Scones Cheesy Thumbprint Cookies with Tomato Jam Baked Oatmeal Muffins Pairing Food with Olive Oil Like wines, extra virgin olive oils can vary dramatically in taste, depending upon the olive type that is pressed, the time of harvest, the weather during the growing season, and the region from which the olives were produced. Check out our food and olive oil pairing guide below so you can accurately pair the flavor profile of our oils with your food. Raw Vegetables Roasted Vegetables Soft Cheese Hard Cheese Pasta and Rice Fish White Meat Red Meat Sweets Can you fry with olive oil? Yes, you can fry food with olive oil! There are a few different ways to fry—pan fry, deep fry, stir fry, and even sauté. For all of these methods, the oil must reach a temperature of 350°F to 375°F. While olive oil does have a lower smoke point than some other oils, its smoke point is high enough—between 380°F and 410°F depending on the impurities and acid content of the olive oil—making all of the above frying methods totally OK! Some have argued that the higher temperatures required for frying will turn olive oil from good to bad. Heating olive oil to the temperatures listed above will not change its chemical composition or make it harmful. Tips: Cooking is a hands-on process. Keep a watchful eye on your pan when heating olive oil. Never leave a heating pan unattended. Use a medium heat to slowly bring it up to temperature before introducing your food to the pan. Then step back and enjoy a satisfying sizzle. Maintaining the heat at a constant high temperature will ensure that you have properly fried—and delicious—food. And if there’s a bit of smoke, you can always turn on a fan or open the window. It happens… Recipes: Pan Fried Eggplant Pumpkin Arancini Zeppoles Next: How to Use Balsamic Vinegar A trusted family brand, Colavita started out in Italy, making Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Colavita offers the widest selection of fine Italian products in one place. Quick Links News Partnerships Colavita Pizza Truck Colavita Center for Food and Wine Shop Our Blog Team Colavita Join Our Trusted Family Contact 1 Runyons Lane Edison NJ 08817 usa@colavita.com (732) 404-8300 Questions or concerns? Click here to contact us. Subscribe Want recipes, cooking tips, and deals delivered to your inbox only twice a month? Sign up now to save, learn, and eat! Subscribe © 2020 Colavita. All Rights Reserved.