What Is Refined Olive Oil? 6 Interesting Steps To Make Olive Oil!
Refined Olive oil is one of the go-to choices if you opt to have a healthier living way, but do you know what is refined olive oil?
Refined olive oil is commercially known to be pure olive oil.
Most chefs or cookers call it olive oil, but the grocery store sells a range of options, whether light, virgin, or extra virgin.
The list goes on, so buying the right type of olive oil to use is crucial.
In general, this kind of oil is merely a cooking oil derived from olive trees—a type of oil commonly used in cooking, frying, and salad dressing.
But aside from that, you can use olive oil in medicines, cosmetic products, and soaps.
There are various kinds of olive oil in the market today, and one of those is refined olive oil.
If you’re eager to know more about its process of extraction and uses, keep on scrolling.
6 Steps On Making Refined Olive Oil
In the question, what is refined olive oil? Oils marked as “pure olive oil” are refined olive oils.
If you refined virgin olive oils which are already defective, you can get refined olive oil; and such refined oil is called “lampante virgin olive oil”.
This type of olive oil is not for human consumption unless it undergoes some processing.
Refined olive oil is known to have a bland taste.
For this reason, it is usually mixed with stronger oils to improve its taste, colour, and aroma.
Here are the steps in making refined olive oil:
Step #1. Extraction of olive oil from the olive tree
In this process, oil is being extracted from olive drupes. It is an act of separating the oil from the fruit itself.
It is possible through physical or pressing force. It is unlike other oils that are extracted through chemical incorporation into the fruit.
The first thing to do is washing to clean the olive fruit to remove contaminants adhered to the fruit's skin. It is done to avoid soil-like flavour on the oil.
Step #2. Water refining
It is also called a degumming process. The olive oil will be treated using hot water, water, and acid mixture or steam.
The olive oil is then mixed at high speed. The water refining process removed polyphenols with a kind of lipids.
Step #3. Neutralization
Olive oil is then treated using sodium hydroxide (NaOH), or commercially known as caustic soda.
Sodium hydroxide in pure form has a waxy texture and white solid colour.
You can use it in food processing because it can form into various aqueous solutions.
It includes curing olives to produce oil.
In this process colour of the liquid is removed together with some unwanted fatty acids.
Step #4. Removing of pigments
Pigments are removed through an acid bleaching process. In this step, oil is being heated up to a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius.
Step #5. Solidification of oil
The oil is solidified or chilled using the winterization method.
The chilled oil will be then filtered to remove solid impurities like wax.
Step #6. Deodorization
The last step would be deodorization; the oil is subjected to a heat of 300 degrees to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
The steam produced will get rid of an undesirable aroma and flavour.
Refined Olive Oil Versus Unrefined Olive Oil
Consuming fat during a diet is very risky, so choosing what oil to be used is crucial, whether animal fats, vegetable oils, or seed oils. Please read here how to make vegetable pasta bake.
But most people affirm that olive oil is a healthy source of dietary fat.
Some research shows that olive oil offers health benefits like reducing the risk of heart disease because of its antioxidants.
Olive oil is also part of the Mediterranean diet, and a diet consists mainly of vegetables, beans, nuts, cereals, protein, and fibre-rich foods. Learn more here How much protein in pasta.
Olive oil has two types, the first is refined, and the other one is unrefined.
What are unrefined olive oils? They’re oils that do not undergo treatment.
While refined olive oil, as mentioned earlier, is treated to improve its properties. Sometimes it doesn't have an olive aroma, colour, and taste.
One example of refined olive oil available at the market is “Light Olive Oil”. The word light doesn’t mean light in calorie or sugar content.
Instead, it is just a marketing strategy to represent a lighter flavour of olive oil.
Light olive oil has a bland taste used in grilling, baking, sautéing, and frying.
Because of its neutral flavour, light olive oil is perfectly paired in some sweet and savoury dishes.
You can use this oil as a substitute for butter in cookies, pancakes, cupcakes, and cakes.
You can also pair it with creamy and rich sauces of hot or cold pasta recipes. Please read here How long does pasta sauce last in the fridge.
And to avoid overheating the pan when grilling, you can also use this oil.
I hope your question on what refined olive oil is has been answered.
Remember to avoid confusion about what type of olive oil is best to use and know that every kind of oil has its distinct purpose.
So choose the oil that you think is best for your desired application. On top of it all, eating in moderation is still the key.
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Final Words
Healthy fat can be beneficial in so many ways, including weight loss though you must take it in moderation.
As oils are the fat concentrated solution, which makes it a calorie source, eating this without control may still lead to obesity and weight gain.
Now, you might want to buy olive oil, try searching for Torre & Olive’s olive oil.
Regardless, may the information shared through this article “What is refined olive oil?” can help you in many ways.
Know that your dedication to learn and read the article up to this point is much appreciated. Thank you!