Cooking with Olive Oil for Beginners

A Beginner’s Guide You Can Take to Your Stove

Cooking with olive oil is a fundamental step for any inspiring chef, whether you are a seasoned pro or just starting out. This guide will walk you through the essentials, from understanding pans and the proper temperatures to simple and practical tips that will elevate your cooking. The journey to cooking confidence starts here. 

Understanding The Different Types of Pans for Cooking

There are different types of skillets used when cooking on a stove top, from Cast-Iron and Steel Pans to Non-Stick Pans. Each of these pans has a unique set of characteristics and methods of usage:

• Cast Iron: To get started, preheat your pan on low to medium heat for about 5 minutes to ensure even heating. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil and use a steel or wooden spoon to spread the oil around the entirety of the cooking surface. Once the pan is hot and the oil is spread, add your food to start cooking, and don’t move it around too much because it will start sticking. 

• Steel Pans: Begin by heating the pan over medium heat until you can see moisture on the surface. Next, you will add the olive oil to create a flat, even layer across the bottom. Then, you can add the food and monitor it to see if it sticks. If the oil is sticking, you will have to add less next time, and if it’s too much, you will notice the food can move with too much ease, almost like in a puddle.

• Non-stick pans: First, preheat the pan over low to medium heat for about 30 seconds. Pour about 1 teaspoon of olive oil into the pan. Swirl the pan or use a paper towel to spread the thin layer of olive oil evenly throughout the pan. Keep heating for another 1 to 2 minutes or once you can see the shiny appearance of the pan. Then, add the food to start cooking. If it is sticking, simply add a little extra olive oil, and if it is smoking, merely take it off the heat until it’s settled down. 

Understanding Temperature and Smoke Point of Olive Oil

One of the most important things to know about cooking with olive oil is the smoke point. The smoke point is the point at which oil burns and smokes. If the olive oil reaches this point, it can cause the oil to lose its flavor and will leave a bitter taste on the food. 

• Low to Medium Heat - This is where you would add the olive oil to preserve a low smoke point and cook small pieces of food/vegetables to reach the flavor you want to preserve. It’s the point in the process of cooking that tenderizes, preserves, and evenly cooks the food to enhance the various nutrients. 

• High Heat - At this temperature, you want to increase the smoke point for searing meats, pan-frying, or deep-frying. This is also the point where you can capture the searing, browning, and crispiness that you are looking to achieve in the meal. Another important reason for high heat is that it helps break down the protein and sugars found on the food to exaggerate the flavor. 

3 Essentials Tips for The Best Results

1. Monitoring the heat of the stove. The best course of action is to add the olive oil to the pan when it is hot, but not smoking. If the oil starts smoking when you add it to the pan then it’s too hot. Take it off the stove before trying again. 

2. Don’t add too much food on the pan. For the best results when cooking don’t add too much food to the pan. If this happens it can cause the food to steam instead of sear, which will lead the food to be soggy. 

3. Store the olive oil in a proper location. Olive oil is sensitive to light and heat. The best place to store the olive oil is in a cool dark place. An example of this would be in the pantry or a cupboard in the kitchen. 

Understanding these basics will help you be on your way to make delicious and flavorful meals on your stove. Happy Cooking! 

A Note on Quality: Why La Fira Olive Oil is Perfect for Beginners

We make La Fira Olive Oil from start to finish on a single farm. Our olives are grown to perfection, harvested, and immediately cold-pressed into oil on-site for unmatched quality and taste. We bottle our oil in special dark glass to protect it from light and heat, so it stays fresh and nutrient-rich longer than others. 

To learn more about La Fira Olive Oil or to purchase your next bottle email us at Contact@TasteLaFira.com