Here’s Why You Should Fry Vegetables with Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1. Untitled allyorganicme.tumblr.com/post/618888464210018304/heres-why-you-should-fry-vegetables-with-organic Organic extra virgin olive oil is essential in the plant-based diets of Mediterranean people. This major component is largely associated with numerous health benefits. Way better than saturated animal fat, monounsaturated vegetable fat is as healthy even when fried. If you thought boiling veggies is healthier than frying them in extra virgin oil, think twice! Researches show that fried olive oil prevents cancer, long-term diseases, dementia, etc. Thus, we think it is about time for the world to start re-shaping what has been perceived as “healthy cooking” until now. Extra virgin oil is famous for its anti-oxidant properties. Even though eating greens and spuds is healthy both ways, opt for a more healthy solution. Oil increases chemical and anti-oxidant capacities in vegetables, which results in the prevention of numerous diseases and health issues (loss of eyesight, muscular degradation, and diabetes, for instance). Researches proved boiling potatoes or other vegetables (pumpkins, aubergines, tomatoes) in water lowers the level of health-boosting compounds in these foods. At the same time, when boiled, these veggies lose their health-boosting properties to a great extent. In comparison to other cooking methods, frying vegetables in olive oil reduces their moisture and increases fat content. This all has a lot to do with the phenolic content. Raw veggies boast the already high phenolic content that increases even more if olive oil is used. Still, you can still apply hydrothermal cooking methods but only if you would be consuming vegetables with the cooking water. Extra Virgin Olive Oil Smoke Point When it comes to olive oil frying, we shouldn’t forget about smoke points here. Once the oil starts smoking, that is a red flag. Burning oil breaks down fatty acids and produces toxic substances that can cause digestion problems. It is good to know that olive oil of higher quality boasts a higher smoke point. For instance, organic and extra virgin olive oil contains the lowest level of impurities in comparison with regular oils or non-extra virgin olive oil. So, it is about time to let go of the common myth EVOO has a low smoke point. Ok, it doesn’t have the highest smoke point, but it can handle an average one of 400F. When frying vegetables, you will go up for 375F most of the time. 1/2

2. At this temperature, the heat will penetrate your ingredients all the way through and give them a nice, crispy touch. So, always opt for 350 to 370 degrees when frying veggies with olive oil. The thing is – you can make olive oil pretty hot. However, we must mention extra virgin is not the way to go if you are thinking about deep frying. Instead, use it for baking and stir- frying, and you will preserve and even improve healthy compounds in your favorite vegetables. Summary This breakthrough in cooking science is yet to be discussed. However, one thing is for sure – frying vegetables with organic extra virgin oil helps your body absorb the nutrients from food and pack numerous healthy components (polyphenols). 2/2