EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL AS A DRESSING
Because of its full-bodied flavour, extra-virgin olive oil is recommended for salads, pinzimonio, bruschetta, meat, fish, legumes, soups and pasta, but also on bread slices alone. Depending on the blend and the harvest time of the olives, extra-virgin oils can be more pungent or more delicate each suited to various dishes and above all to everyone’s taste.
FRYING WITH OLIVE OIL
The ideal temperature for frying food with olive oil that turns out crispy and dry is around 180ºC. When frying, two of the most important elements to consider are the oil’s smoke point, or the temperature where it begins to smoke, and the critical temperature, or the temperature where fats deteriorate and release harmful substances for the body. The smoke point varies for each oil and depends on its level of acidity. Critical temperature depends on the oil’s typical composition and especially on its polyunsaturated fat content.