Can olive oil be used directly in cold dishes?

There are many types of edible oils, including rapeseed oil, peanut oil, and soybean oil. The edible oils squeezed from different plants have different effects on the human body. Olive oil is also a common edible oil. The nutritional value of olive oil is very high, but many people don’t know much about olive oil. Olive oil cannot be heated to high temperatures, which will destroy the nutrients in the oil. Can olive oil be directly used for cold dishes?

Can olive oil be used directly in cold dishes?

Olive oil can be used cold.

There are two types of olive oil that are more common on the market: extra virgin olive oil and refined olive oil.

Extra virgin olive oil is the oil squeezed from ripe olives within 24 hours of picking.

Refined olive oil is produced by adding organic solvents to the remaining raw materials of extra virgin olive oil and then going through several refining processes. It is slightly cheaper than extra virgin olive oil.

Because primary pressed olive oil has only undergone simple physical processing, its nutrients are relatively comprehensive, including some heat-sensitive substances, which are basically retained in the oil. Therefore, this oil is generally recommended for use in cold dishes. If high temperature is encountered during the cooking process, some of these nutrients will be lost, so extra virgin olive oil is more suitable for making cold dishes.

If you want to use olive oil for cooking, you might as well choose refined olive oil which is slightly cheaper. Because refined olive oil has undergone a refining process, it has lost a lot of nutrients, so this type of oil is generally better used for cooking and is not suitable for mixing cold dishes.

Although olive oil is recognized as a healthy oil, the main function of oil is to provide calories. If you eat it without limit, it will lead to excess calories, which will accumulate in the human body and be converted into fat. This may lead to other diseases.

Therefore, although olive oil is good, it should be added in moderation. Excessive intake can be harmful to your health.

The "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents" recommends that adults should not consume more than 30 grams of edible oil per day, and it is best to limit it to less than 25 grams.

Although olive oil has many benefits, it is not advisable to eat only one type of oil for a long time, as this will cause the body to lack the nutrients contained in other oils. It is best to choose two or more cooking oils to consume together, for example: soybean oil, rapeseed oil, and peanut oil are all good choices.