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How to make infused olive oil at home

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Evoolove
How to make infused olive oil at home

Infused oils such as lemon myrtle infused olive oils add extra flavor and decadence to our meals. They pair well with proteins and make vinaigrettes exquisite. 


So, in this post, you will learn how to make infused olive oil with our fresh rosemary-infused olive oil recipe.


Why is Extra virgin Olive oil used for infused oil?


The first thing you need before making your infused olive oil at home is high-quality olive. Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), to be specific. 


EVOO undergoes less processing than regular olive oils. It is all-natural and doesn't contain chemicals from solvents and additives that interfere with the infusion process.


Cold-pressed EVOO packs more nutrients and beneficial compounds such as antioxidants and vitamins. Flavor-wise, regular oils have most of their flavors stripped off by chemicals during processing. Using EVOO for your infused oil is fresher and healthier for you. 


If you are in a physical store, you should avoid EVOO in clear or transparent bottles. Light catalyzes chemical reactions in the olive oil and causes compounds to break down. This makes oil lose some of its aroma and flavor. Ensure you buy EVOO with a seal of quality such as DOP certification. Look for opaque containers or tins.


 If you don't feel like going to a store, you can get premium EVOO from reputable online stores.


Cold infusion vs. hot infusion.

There are two methods for preparing infused oils; cold infusion and hot infusion. 

Different herbs work best with different methods. Hot infusion involves heating the oil with fresh herbs in it. This gives a quick result, and you can get your infused oil in a matter of minutes. However, 

heating EVOO can make it lose some of its flavors. You should consume your fresh rosemary-infused olive oil within a week to prevent bacterial buildup and rancidity.


Cold fusion takes a longer time to produce the best results. In this process, the herb is left in olive oil for weeks ( the minimum is two weeks). Dried herbs produce oils with longer shelf life, usually lasting up to a year. 

Since you are cooking with fresh rosemary, you'll have to use the hot fusion method.


Getting all the things you need.

To make your infused olive oil, you need a few things, including fresh rosemary leaves. You can get this at your local store. You also need a couple of mason jars (depending on how much oil you want to produce). You will need the following things.


  • Cutting board.
  • Blender.
  • Saucepan.
  • Spatula.
  • Extra virgin olive oil.
  • Sieve or cheesecloth


How to make Fresh rosemary-induced olive oil.

Once all your ingredients and tools are ready, you can go ahead to make your infused oil. 



  • The first thing you'll need to do is thoroughly wash your rosemary sprigs under running ester to remove debris and contaminants. Pat the sprigs with towel paper to dry them. The sprigs should be completely dry before you use them. A good idea is to air dry them for a few hours. 


  • Chop the leaves using your cutting board. Finely cutting the leaves allows the rosemary to infuse better in the oil.


  • Place a saucepan on a cook and set the heat to medium-low. You can use as much rosemary as you like, but you should know that rosemary can be overpowering. We recommend using 1 cup of oil to ¼ cup of rosemary. Pour your extra virgin olive oil in the saucepan and add your chopped fresh rosemary sprigs. Let it cook slowly for an hour and stir it occasionally. 


  • After an hour, set it down and let it cool to room temperature. You may further blend the infused oil to break down the sprigs to release more of the herb. Use your sieve or fine cheesecloth to extract the oil into your jars. 
  • Refrigerate your delicious infused oil and consume within a week.


Conclusion.

Infused oils are delicious condiments that add extra flavor and goodness to our meals. Extra virgin olive oil makes the best oils because of its depth of flavor. Making them at home is easy and fun. Sometimes, we don't have time for DIYS to find them too messy. If you are in this category, check out our simply infused olive oil shop to find a range of delicious infused olive oils you can enjoy. 



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