Infused Olive Oil |
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Follow these 5 Simple Steps to make your own Infused Olive Oil
Is it safe to add fresh garlic and herbs to olive oil?
Infused olive oil is a popular food item and can be so delicious, but you need to be very careful about making your own at home. A good quality olive oil can be stored in a cool dry and dark place for up to two years from the date it was bottled. Once the bottle is opened, you should continue to store it in a cool, dry dark place and use it up witin a few months. The danger in using fresh vegetables, fruits, garlic and herbs in your oil comes from the water content in those fresh ingredients. Water allows for the growth of a potentially deadly microorganism called Clostridium botulinum (C. bot), which can cause botulism. Infused olive oil that you buy in the store contains fresh ingredients that have been acidified through a process used by commercial manufacturers to prevent the growth of bacteria. It's best to use dried garlic and herbs to make infused olive oil at home. There are some precautions to keep in mind with dried ingredients as well though. 1. Any time you're transferring olive oil from it's original container to another one, you should use a glass bottle with a tight fitting lid that has been sanitized in boiling water for a few minutes. You know, like you would with canning jars or baby bottles.
2. Once sanitized, allow the bottle to dry completely before using it. You don't want any water left in the container. 3. Add your dried garlic along with any other herbs and spices to the bottom of the bottle. 4. Pour a good quality olive oil into a clean pot on the stove and heat it to 180 degrees F. 5. Add the olive oil to your bottle of herbs, cap it tightly and store it for up to three months as described above or in the fridge. Just remember to remove the oil from the fridge an hour or so before you want to use it because olive oil does solidify a little at cold temperatures, but it doesn't hurt it at all. I do make dips and dressings with fresh ingredients, but I make a small amount, store it in the fridge and use it within a couple days. Do not leave infused olive oil made with fresh ingredients at room temperature.
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