Essential oils in cooking

Essential oils are extracts of aromatic plants and herbs. Obtained from different parts of the plant, they are 100% pure and clean and without impurities. Although their best-known use is cosmetic, they can also be successfully used in cooking and confectionery as they concentrate the aroma of each plant, so just a few drops are enough to bring out all those special aromas you want your dish to have. Edible essential oils are therefore fearlessly added to food, enhancing smells and tastes, but also sparingly, as their use in cooking requires attention to both the dosage and the cooking process.

In Cooking: If you want to incorporate essential oils into your cooking you can start with those you already recognize as foods, such as lemon, lime, basil, thyme and cinnamon. Edible essential oils can enhance the flavor of both sweet and savory foods. For example, you can add peppermint essential oil to a brownie or lavender to your lemonade, while oregano and thyme essential oils can be used in a vegetable or fish marinade.

It is of course important to know that both in aromatic cuisine and in body care, the use of essential oils is not done by simply consuming or applying directly from the bottle, as they must first be diluted. Applying pure essential oil to the skin may cause irritation, itching, etc. or a dish in the kitchen can very easily be ruined simply because it is so strongly flavored that you can no longer enjoy it.

In Confectionery: With essential oils we can flavor chocolates, cakes, creams, ice cream, mousse and bring out all those delicate aromas that will take off our result, always keeping in mind that essential oils should never be used undiluted. They are always included at the end of the dessert preparation, directly in the mixture or dissolved in butter, milk or olive oil. They have a strong, concentrated aroma and that is why only 2 – 3 drops are needed to flavor a 1 kg sweet.

SUGGESTED DOSAGE

Dosing in cooking: Essential oils for cooking or drinking are best dosed with a little toothpick trick. You can simply dip a toothpick into the essential oil and then mix it with your food. Otherwise, just ONE drop, preferably at the end of your cooking, is enough to preserve its flavor.

Natural pure essential oils are highly concentrated essences as just one drop contains all the essence of the spice, like a handful of spices. Therefore, it is important to use only a small amount in cooking, or even better, use the essential oil diluted. At this point, it is important to know that the essential oil is not diluted in water, and if you try to do so, you will find that it will continue to be concentrated and float on the surface of the water. To dilute it, it is therefore recommended to emulsify it, that is, to mix the essential oil with a base oil. High-quality edible oils, natural salts, honey, sugar, cream, etc. are considered suitable for this process.

Dosage for aromatic seasoning oil mixture: In cooking it is preferable to use diluted essential oils. For the dilution process, high-quality neutral essential oils such as olive oil, sunflower oil, hazelnut oil, almond oil, sesame oil, linseed oil, rapeseed oil, etc. are considered suitable. To produce a seasoning oil, 5-15 drops of essential oil are sufficient per 50 ml base oil of your choice. When your essential oil is citrus-derived you can add a little more and mix up to 20 drops of essential oil with 50ml of carrier oil. With strong oils like cumin or cinnamon, you need to be even more economical and give about 1-2 drops. Of course, it’s all a matter of taste and you should try first to determine the intensity of flavor you prefer. You let it rest for a day and then it’s ready to use in your culinary inspirations.

What to watch out for: Before buying an essential oil for our cooking, we first make sure to find out if it is edible or not. In addition, we check the contents label for any ingredients that we do not recognize, and this is because there are impurities on the market called essential oils, which are not 100% pure essences. Check the packaging for the required expiration date and store it in a cool place, away from light, to preserve its aroma.