Do you happen to have any questions, doubts, or simple curiosities about extra virgin olive oils (EVOO)? Are you curious to find out how a good EVOO is supposed to taste like, or how to best store it in tropical and humid weather such as Singapore's?
Are you curious to find out about the smoke point of cooking oils, EVOO's nutritional aspects, and to learn the science behind extra virgin olive oil consumption? If this is the case, you just landed in the right spot! In this section, our experts have given their best shot to answer your most frequently asked questions.
To facilitate your browsing through this section, we divided the Q&As into three main categories.
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Health. What are the health-giving properties of EVOO, and why it's worthy of kitchen-staple status?
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Cooking. Can I cook with extra virgin olive oil, and what does science tell us in this regard?
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Products. What are the differences between the various Timperio products? Which one shall I choose for my cooking, and which one works best as a dressing?
If your question is not among those presented, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@timperio.co. Our team will do their best to assist you!
Frequently asked questions
General
How is Extra Virgin Olive Oil made?
To produce premium grade olive oil, the best quality freshly picked olives are pressed in a purely mechanical process to extract the juice. The temperature is strictly regulated to no more than about 30°C (86°F) because anything higher would degrade the quality.
What’s the difference between “extra virgin” and “virgin”?
The answer is Quality. Both types are produced by the same pressing process, but as defined by the International Olive Council (IOC), the quality of the Virgin olive oil is lower compared to the Extra Virgin type.
Extra virgin is in fact the highest quality rating for an olive oil. It must be fruity and have low acidity.
Both types have the same level of antioxidants and nutrients.
The range of EVOO is quite broad, from sophisticated oils with a rich aroma and flavour through to less striking oils.
What is the difference between Extra Virgin and other olive oils such as “pure” and “light”?
What does good quality EVOO look and taste like?
Colours vary enormously and are not a guide as to the quality. Early season oils may be green while later season products may be more golden, but that is not a firm rule by any means. Terms such as bitter, peppery, ripe, herbal, fruity, grassy are frequently used to describe EVOO flavours depending on the variety of olive and when it was harvested.
A good EVOO is never bland, that is for certain!
How should EVOO be stored?
Light and heat are not good for EVOO, so bear these simple rules in mind:
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Rule #1 – Store in a cool dark place and definitely not over a refrigerator or stove. Refrigeration does not harm olive oil although it may turn cloudy at low temperatures when the wax/fat solidifies. That disappears again at room temperature.
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Rule #2 – Green or brown bottles help to protect the contents from strong sunlight.
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Rule #3 – Use it within a year of purchase for best results
What is the shelf life of EVOO?
It varies enormously depending on how it was stored after it left the processor and before you bought it. Olive oil sealed in a tin and kept in a dark cool place could last for 2 or 3 years. On the other hand, late season olive oil that has been poured into a clear glass bottle and left in a lighted area might last only 3 months.
As a rule of thumb, think of one year as being a lifespan if it’s stored properly.
Is extra virgin olive oil the same as olive oil?
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Extra virgin olive oil is 100 percent olive juice extracted using only mechanical pressure (no chemical additives or heat can be involved), and it meets or exceeds the highest quality standards of acidity (below 0.8 percent), flavor, and appearance. -
Olive oil is a refined oil made using heat and/or chemicals. It has little or no nutritional value!
Why extra virgin olive oil has a peppery flavour?
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Oleocanthal acts as an anti-inflammatory compound (similarly to ibuprofen) -
Oleuropein has far more wide-ranging benefits that include anti-cancer and cardiac benefits in the main, but also neuroprotective, anti-aging, and antiviral properties.
Unfiltered Vs Filtered Extra Virgin Olive Oil – What is the difference?
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Filtering. EVOO is passed or pumped through layers of cotton, or fine cellulose filters. -
Racking or decanting process. EVOO is let sit for 2 to 3 months to allow the natural impurities to sink naturally.
Health
What are the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil?
There are many, but the most significant are reduced likelihood of cardio vascular problems and stroke. This is linked to general healthy eating, such as in the Mediterranean Diet, as well as exercise. It’s the antioxidants and other nutrients in EVOO that mark it out as being a healthy option as well as the “good” fats it contains.
They are linked to improved mental and physical health.
Is there scientific proof about EVOO's health benefits?
Yes. There has been a great deal of scientific research into EVOO for everything from health to beauty and its use in cooking. EVOO is now acknowledged to be one of the healthiest of cooking oils, as well as containing substances that makes it better for you than other oils.
What is the Mediterranean Diet and what is so good about it?
It’s what people around the Mediterranean basin have enjoyed for thousands of years. As well as significant amounts of EVOO, it generally includes lots of fish, fruit, vegetables and nuts.
What compounds make extra virgin olive oil so healthy?
Does extra virgin olive oil clog my arteries and increase the risk of coronary heart disease?
Can extra virgin olive oil help to reduce blood pressure and arterial stiffness?
A recent study by researchers from La Trobe University (Australia), and published in Nutrients, provides scientific evidence that the high polyphenol content of extra virgin olive oil plays a role in reducing the blood pressure and arterial stiffness - main risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
The same cardioprotective qualities of extra virgin olive oil were
NOT found in the refined, low polyphenol olive oil, which consumption showed
NO impact on blood pressure.
Cooking
What types of cooking is EVOO suitable for?
As well as a highly recommended salad dressing, EVOO delivers excellent results for pan frying (sautéing), stir frying, and even for deep fat frying too. Used in baking, it adds a unique delicious flavour and is frequently used as an healthier alternative to butter.
Can I use EVOO for stir frying and deep frying?
Yes. EVOO is perfect for all types of frying where a cooking oil is used. High quality EVOO may be a little on the expensive side for deep frying but there is no reason why it cannot be used. We stress that we are talking about good quality EVOO. Lesser quality olive oil may not work as well.
What is the smoke point of EVOO?
Much is made of the smoke point of cooking oil. It is the temperature at which blue smoke rises and the chemical composition begins to change. It is not recommended to cook at any higher temperature than that. EVOO has a smoke point ranging roughly between 190 to 220°C (375 to 430°F). That is higher than we typically use for frying, roasting and ever stir-frying and so this is not an issue.
What does science say about frying with EVOO?
These two articles sum up much of the current research into the subject:
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From a qualified food nutrionist who says you “. . should cook with extra virgin olive oil. Here’s why.”
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Research that says EVOO is “. . the safest and most stable even when used at high temperatures”.
Products
What are the differences between Nobile and Gentile?
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They both are mono-cultivar extra virgin olive oils coming from the same olive type that is the Gentile Nera, or Gentle black. -
They are both first cold-pressed within 12 hours from the harvesting.
Can I use Timperio Nobile for cooking?
What’s the difference between "Nobile Fiorentina" and "Nobile Marasca"?
The difference between the two is only about the design and the style of the bottle.
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Fiorentina is an elegant and stylish bottle, square in the base, turning cylindrical toward the neck, with an ideal grip for pouring. -
Marasca is the classical square shape bottle that saves space on the shelf.
Lifestyle
I am pregnant. Is extra virgin olive oil a healthy addition to my diet?
Yes, it is. Adhering to the Mediterranean diet and using extra virgin olive oil for cooking and as a dressing of your favorite meals during pregnancy is highly beneficial. Research findings also suggest that EVOO may have a protective effect on wheezing during the first year of the newborn's life.
Is it safe to consume extra virgin olive oil daily?
It is not only safe to consume extra virgin olive oil daily, but it is highly advisable too.
Is extra virgin olive oil suitable for children?
The short answer is yes. However, this applies to children that are at least six months old.
What happens if I consume too much extra virgin olive oil?
How much extra virgin olive oil should you consume daily?
There is no such precise daily consumption amount not to exceed. Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) consists mainly of oleic acid (roughly 83 percent), and a large number of scientific studies have documented its nutraceutical and nutritional value.
Is a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil consumed daily good for you?
Extra virgin olive oil is considered a functional food, and several peer-reviewed studies have shed light upon its nutraceutical and nutritional value.