So you’ve heard that cooking with olive oil is good for you and have been reading up on the many health benefits. But can you put olive oil in the oven?
Even so, it might feel strange to start putting it in your oven and frying pans. After all, what do olives have to do with the heat of an oven? Let’s find out.
Table of Contents
- Can you put olive oil in the oven?
- What is the smoke point of cooking oil?
- What are free fatty acids in oil?
- What is the smoke point of different types of olive oils used for cooking?
- What happens if olive oil is heated beyond the smoke point?
- Is it safe to bake with extra virgin olive oil?
- At what temperature does olive oil become toxic?
- Is extra virgin olive oil flammable?
- Conclusion
Can you put olive oil in the oven?
You can only use Light Olive Oil and Pomace Olive Oil in the oven as these oils have low Free Fatty Acids and high smoke point (> 450°F). The temperature in an oven reaches 454° F, so virgin and extra virgin olive oil cannot be put in an oven.
The following table shows the different kinds of olive oils, the free fatty acid content in those types, their smoke points, and a guide on whether or not these different types of olive oils should be used in an oven.
| Type of olive oil | Free Fatty Acid | Smoke point | Oven use? | |
| 1 | Extra Virgin Olive Oil | 0.8 % | 350° F | No |
| 2 | Virgin Olive Oil | 0.8-0.9 % | 350° F | No |
| 3 | Olive-Pomace Oil | 0.3 % | 446–464° F | Yes |
| 4 | Light Olive Oil | Not known | 465–470° F | Yes |
| 5 | Lampante oil | 0.8 – 2 % | > 475° F | Not fit |
Read: Can you cook Bubba Burgers in the oven?
What is the smoke point of cooking oil?
The smoke point of cooking oil is the temperature at which the oil ignites, starts to burn, and gives off toxic fumes.
You can use olive oil up to its boiling point, but once it starts burning, it’s time to put it out or get rid of it.
If you want to cook something that requires medium-high heat, like sautéing vegetables or frying an egg or some breadcrumbs, you can use olive oil in your oven with no problem. It’s safe up until its smoking point.
That means you don’t have to worry about the smoke from the olive oil affecting your health because there won’t be any toxic fumes in the air!
Another advantage of using olive oil for cooking is its lower fat content than most other oils. One tablespoon of olive oil has 80 calories, while other oils might have 100 calories per serving.
So, if you’re worried about your weight and counting every calorie, consider cooking with olive oil as part of your healthy eating routine.
What are free fatty acids in oil?
Olive oil is a type of oil high in free fatty acids or FFA. FFA are molecules released by the body during metabolism and are not made in the body. They come from food like olives, walnuts, and peanuts.
Olive oil has an exceptionally high amount of FFA compared to other oils such as vegetable, canola, and sunflower – all of which have lower amounts than olive oil.
Olive oil is great because it contains much more FFA than other oils. This means that the body can convert it into energy quickly and easily!
Read: Can you cook with a meat thermometer in the oven?
What is the smoke point of different types of olive oils used for cooking?
The smoke point of an oil is the temperature at which it starts to break down and burn. When cooking, you want to use oils with a low smoke point because they start to break down at lower temperatures.
The smoke point for different kinds of olive oils can be found in the information on the label of the product.
What happens if olive oil is heated beyond the smoke point?
As olive oil is heated, it starts to break down. As it breaks down, the polyunsaturated fatty acid molecules (PUFA) start to separate from each other until they oxidize and become toxic.
The smoke point for olive oil is above 350 degrees Fahrenheit, so you don’t have to worry about that happening (check out Table 1 above for details).
When you cook with olive oil, be sure that you always use high-quality extra virgin olive oil with no additives or flavorings.
If you do this, you can rest assured that your food will be safe and delicious!
Read: Can you cook microwave meals in the oven?
Is it safe to bake with extra virgin olive oil?
The short answer is yes, olive oil is safe for baking. It can’t be heated to extremely high temperatures like other oils – so it won’t break down and give off the harmful compounds that might come from heating oils like butter or margarine.
And even if you do overheat your olive oil, you’ll easily avoid any potential issue by removing it from the oven or stovetop before it gets too hot.
So there you have it! Olive oil is perfectly safe to use in your oven and frying pans – with just a few tips and tricks to get started on using more olive oil in your cooking routine.
At what temperature does olive oil become toxic?
Olive oil is generally considered safe in temperatures up to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. So, no matter what you’re cooking, olive oil is a great addition.
Is extra virgin olive oil flammable?
No, extra virgin olive oil is entirely safe to cook with. Extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of 350° F. However, do not put extra virgin olive oil in an oven.
You should be able to cook with it without issue. Extra virgin olive oil contains no waxes or paraffin and has a low smoke point, so it shouldn’t be cooking over high heat.
Conclusion
So, can you put olive oil in the oven? Olive oil has a high smoke point because it has a high concentration of free fatty acids and nutrients. However, other than a few types of olive oils (as mentioned in Table 1 above), olive oil should not be used in an oven. Also, extra virgin olive oil should never be baked with. It could cause premature aging and eventually become toxic.
