The ‘Never Fry With Olive Oil’ Saying Is A Lie

Due to its low-ish smoke point, olive oil isn’t the best choice for searing meats or other single-layer, high-temperature cooking methods. However, as Chef Helen Rennie explains, that doesn’t mean you can’t crank up the heat when cooking a range of foods in olive oil – from caramelised onions to sautéed potatoes.

Watch the full video for Rennie’s in-depth explanation, but the upshot is this: When you fill a pan with a bunch of sliced onions (or other vegetable) the water content in the onions keeps the overall temperature well below olive oil’s smoking point, even if you have your stove turned all the way up.

A single layer of food you’re trying to sear, such as meat, won’t have that same cooling-off effect, and you’ll most likely end up trying to soothe an angry smoke alarm if you attempt such with olive oil. But the adage “never fry food with olive oil” simply isn’t true.

This article has been updated since its original publication.

Olive Oil on High Heat — Is it Safe? [Helen Rennie]

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2017/07/revitalize-leftover-pasta-with-a-little-olive-oil-and-garlic/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/xe9qsanxci0zutdtqxf3.jpg” title=”Revitalise Leftover Pasta With A Little Olive Oil And Garlic” excerpt=”Leftover pasta, while rare, never seems to have the same flavour and consistency as it did before refrigerating. The sauce has congealed, the noodles are tough, and nuking it in the microwave doesn’t help much. But this quick and easy fix will make it taste like new.”]