Olive oil is great for sautéing and salad dressings, however if you're only using it in the kitchen, then you're missing out! I'll show you 11 practical uses for olive oil all over the house.
That bottle of olive oil in your kitchen cupboard is much more useful that may think! In addition to blending it with lemon juice to make a fast vinaigrette, you can also use olive oil for cleaning, personal care, and more!
In today's blog post we'll be sharing 11 surprising and practical uses for olive oil around the house. We believe you will be thrilled to learn just how versatile this oil can really be! :-)
A Quick Note About Olive Oils
There are a handful of quality grades when it comes to olive oil, together with the most popular being extra virgin olive oil. "Extra virgin" means that the petroleum was mechanically pressed from fresh olives to get the best taste and aroma.
These are important qualities when it comes to cooking, but they aren't particularly important for the applications listed below. So feel free to save yourself some money by employing standard olive oil instead!
11 Surprising Strategies For Olive Oil Around The House
Sub For Shaving Cream
Olive oil makes a great substitute for shaving cream at a pinch! Just lather your thighs using a bit of oil for a smooth shave without a razor burn.
Olive oil is very moisturizing too, so that your legs will feel super soft afterward. For even softer legs, utilize that olive oil to make my exfoliating leg scrub!
Repair Cracked Heels
Suffering from rough, dry, or cracked heels? Moisturizing olive oil makes a great overnight repair treatment!
Before bed, exfoliate dead skin using a heel file or pumice stone, then apply olive oil to your heels. Pull a pair of socks on and you're going to wake up with softer, smoother feet!
Remove Gum From Hair
The fat content in olive oil can be really useful for removing gum from someone's hairloss. (No scissors needed!)
Just apply a generous amount of oil into the gum and the hair around it, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then gently pull the gum free.
Unstick A Zipper
Got a zipper that just will not budge? Moisten a Q-tip using a little bit of olive oil, then apply the oil into the zipper teeth to get it moving again.
(Just make sure that you keep the oil off the fabric!)
Avoid Wax Buildup
Before you put a tapered or pillar candle into your candle holder, apply a thin coat of olive oil into the base of the holder.
The oil will make it much easier to remove any wax drips later on!
Unstick A Ring
Who hasn't accidentally gotten a too-tight ring stuck in their finger? Luckily for us, olive oil makes it easy to get those rings unstuck!
Just rub some olive oil onto the finger where the ring is stuck, and you should be able to slide the ring straight off.
Eliminate Stickers & Labels
Use olive oil to remove stubborn decals and labels with ease! Just apply enough oil to saturate the decal, allow it to sit for a few minutes, and you are going to be able to remove it without any sticky residue.
Erase Eye Makeup
Olive oil can also function as a gentle way to remove eye makeup. Put a small amount of oil on a cotton pad, then gently wipe away eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara.
Once the makeup is gone, rinse your face with warm water and follow up with your favorite facial cleanser.
Protect Wooden Kitchen Things
There are a lot of oils you can use at a pinch to nourish and condition wooden cutting boards, bowls, and utensils in your kitchen, including olive oil.
The key is to apply it sparingly and allow it to soak in for a few minutes. Afterwards, use a dry, soft cloth to buff away any excess oil.
Prevent Rusty Razors
Replacement cartridges for razor blades can be expensive! But you safeguard your investment by treating them with olive oil to help prevent rusting.
Pour a little bit of oil on a cotton ballthen apply the oil to the blades. Allow the blades to dry for a while before using the razor.
Soften Cuticles & Dry Skin
Olive oil is both moisturizing and packed with antioxidants, so it is great for treating rough cuticles and repairing dry skin. Dab it on rough and ragged cuticles daily for healthier, more beautiful nails.
You can add a little bit of olive oil to a warm bath for softer skin all over!
Do you have any other uses for olive oil outside of the kitchen?
During the years I've tried lots and a lot of different components to use in recipes. I have been cooking for myself for about 24 years. I have seen plenty of fads and tons of things change over the realm of healthy food. In college, the idea among all the women wanting to lose fat was that we can eat all the sugar that people wanted, but not the fat.
Now, of course, we all know that not all fats are created equal -- and sugar is definitely not a great weight loss food!
Different items have fallen in and out of favor as I refine our family's pantry staples, as I realize which purchases make the biggest impact on the taste and quality of our meals. One of my favorites that has survived the test of time is olive oil.
When FishPapa obtained his bad report from the doctor, I queried all my crunchy friends to see what would be the healthy fats. Again and again, olive oil came up as being one of the"good men". I switched our diet to whole grains and used olive oil in every possible dish I could, including baked items.
Olive oil is, for certain, a regular in our family's pantry. Here are five great ways I like to use it:
USE AS A DIPPING SAUCE.
There's a wonderful Italian restaurant near our house that attracts hot bread and an olive oil dipping sauce. I recreate that at home by mixing a teaspoon of Jamie's Spice Mix into a small dish of olive oil. This is such a simple appetizer, there's no reason to not do it. If you want to veg out, serve steamed asparagus spears or artichokes instead of the bread.
DRIZZLE OVER AVOCADO TOAST.
THIS is one of my favorite snacks. Toast a slice of bread, smash 1/4 into 1/2 ripe avocado above the surface, drizzle with olive oil, season to taste with freshly ground black pepper and coarse salt.
Avocado toast is good for breakfast, dinner, lunch, snack -- you name it!
MAKE A SALAD DRESSING.
You know how absurd I think it is to buy bottled dressings. There simply is not any reason to do it, especially when olive oil and vinegar are cheaper than most bottled salad dressings.
My general rule of thumb is 1 part acid (vinegar or citrus juice) and 2 parts olive oil. You can adjust it to fit your tastes, and don't forget to add in things like Dijon, jam, or herbs to mix up the flavor profile. Have a look at my Basic Vinaigrette to make your salads come alive.
DRESS A SANDWICH.
Many sandwich spreads contain some sort of oil or fat. Why don't you cut out the middle man and dress your salad with pure olive oil. This is particularly great on a egg or tuna sandwich. If you've got tomato contained, you will already have a bit of acid to offset the oil.
Layer your favorite meats and veggies on a baguette and garnish with a little olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper and you are all set.
Chances are you have a bottle of balsamic vinegar on hand. But do you understand all the incredible things you can do with it? Get inspired with these seasonal ideas to make the most of balsamic vinegar this summer.
An Italian invention, balsamic vinegar is widely available in most supermarkets and comes in a variety of flavors and qualities. Its tangy, mildly sweet taste makes it a wonderful addition to salad dressings, marinades and even desserts!
Salad dressing and marinade
The most common use for balsamic vinegar is at a salad dressing. A simple combination of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar makes for a healthy and flavorful basic vinaigrette. To make a creamy balsamic vinaigrette, combine together balsamic vinegar, olive oil, a dash of mustard and some grated Parmesan into a food processor.
Try adding in other components for a more inspired dressing table -- such as this maple balsamic dressing, orange and balsamic vinaigrette or molasses and balsamic vinaigrette.
Apart from being great in salad dressings, balsamic vinegar also makes an amazingly flavorful marinade. The acid helps break down tough cuts of meat, as in this grilled balsamic and garlic marinated steak. More tender cuts of meat can be flavored with a quick marinade, such as this grilled balsamic chicken.
Glazes and reductions
Balsamic vinegar is also great reduced and brushed on salmon or as a glaze for cartilage. And to make any meal feel fancier, prepare a balsamic vinegar reduction. Simply simmer balsamic vinegar for about ten minutes until it has reduced and is a thick, syrupy consistency.
This concentrates the flavor and is exceptional drizzled over meats or grilled vegetables. Try out this beef tenderloin with red wine balsamic reduction or this summery and vegetarian caprese tart with herbed ricotta and balsamic reduction.
Cocktails and desserts
As much as you love balsamic vinegar, you may not have thought to drink it before -- but why not? The candy flavor can be an abrupt and delicious addition to cocktails, especially when incorporated into a simple syrup.
Try out this strawberry balsamic simple syrup next time you're hosting a cocktail party, and get ready to impress your guests! The Desmo cocktail and this fun take on a Bloody Mary also incorporate balsamic vinegar.
The sweetness of balsamic vinegar is also exactly what makes it a beautiful ingredient to use in creative desserts. It pairs naturally with strawberries, so this panna cotta with strawberries in balsamic sauce and easy balsamic strawberries (recipe below) are naturals. It's also great in this cozy recipe for warm balsamic and caramel apples, which is perfect any time of year.
Balsamic strawberries recipe
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1 pint strawberries, hulled and halved
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons high quality balsamic vinegar
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Whipped cream, for serving
Torn mint, for garnish
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Instructions:
Place the strawberries into a bowl and toss with the sugar.
Allow to macerate for 10 minutes at room temperature.
Add the balsamic vinegar and lemon juice. Gently throw and allow to sit for another 10 minutes.
Spoon into four bowls or glasses and top with whipped cream and ripped mint, or spoon the mixture onto pound cake or vanilla ice cream.
