Cooking Essential Oils
Spicy up your daily life with using cooking essential oils.
Many of you may wonder, Is it safe to use cooking essential oils?
Essential oils are distilled from parts of the plant, so they consist of hundred different molecules such as alcohol, phenol, ester, sesqueterpenes, terpenes, aldehydes, etc. Essential oils are different from vegetable oils. Vegetable oils are 100% fat but essential oils contain no fat.
As we know some oils have toxic components; for example, nutmeg oil contains myristicin and elemicin, which are psychotropic. However, when taken in moderate amounts (a few drops per person), there is no toxic effect. To make it poison one should ingest 100 ml of Nutmeg oil, while in cooking we only use 1 or 2 drops of this oil.
And that would be the same as table salt. Table salt if we use in high doses can be dangerous too. However, it would be an overreaction to say that salt should not be used in food.
Some oils can be irritating if used directly on mucous membranes (cinnamon, lemongrass) but don't pose any problems when mixed evenly with food.
Nowadays, there are many industries that also use essential oils for aroma and flavor e.g. chewing gum, chocolates, candies etc. In fact the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) classifies certain essential oils as GRAS (generally recognized as safe).
Please remember, when using these cooking essential oils , we should use only pure essential oils. And it is best if we using organic plants to produce the oils. It’s important to procure only the highest-grade essential oil with no toxic, synthetic chemicals, SD-40 alcohol, and propylene glycol (carcinogenic).
Commonly used
The following cooking essential oils which commonly used are :Citrus Flavor such as lemon, orange, tangerine, grapefruit, mandarin, lime.
Spicy Flavors are: cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, ginger, black pepper, cardamom, cumin.
Sweet Flavors are: geranium, rose, lavender.
Savory Flavors are: oregano, basil, dill, rosemary, sage, tarragon.
Minty Flavors are: peppermint, spearmint.
All of these cooking essential oils are on the FDA GRAS ("generally recognized as safe") list.
Unlike fatty oils such as olive oil, flax oil, sesame oil, avocado oil, soybean oil, etc., Cooking essential oils contain no glycerol molecules that give a characteristic slippery texture and leave a greasy residue. Fatty oils and essential oils are different. Distilled essential oils contain no fat, whereas fatty oils are 100% fat. Instead essential oils are composed of hundreds of different molecules that are antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and immune- stimulating.
What are the benefit if we use cooking essential oils ?
The following is quoted from Daniel Pénoël M.D. :
A drop or two of Cinnamon, Peppermint, Oregano or any other essential oil added to a recipe will definitely contribute to a total internal purification without any harmful effects. In addition, these powerful aromatic molecules will neutralize toxins remaining in the intestinal tract from any past junk foods ingested. Also, the rich tastes and aromas of the oils will stimulate the olfactory and taste receptors to generate endorphins (mood elevators), which are themselves powerful healing substances. The overall effect on the immune system for all age groups is tremendous; a fact that many doctors and therapists in France have known for years.
Phillip Minton M.D. says:
Eating pure, high-quality essential oils can improve circulation, oxygenation and protect against heart disease, dementia and cancer. Scientists have shown that limonene (found in citrus oils) can cause cancer cells to become stunted or even die. I recommend this book to all my patients as it combines the benefits of proper eating habits with the therapeutic value of essential oils in a way that is easy to understand and implement in our daily lives.
Important :
Since cooking essential oils are not water-soluble, they are made water-soluble by various enzymes found in the liver. From there, they are excreted by the kidney via urine. However, if an essential oil component is introduced to the body at a faster rate than the liver can convert it into a water-soluble form, liver toxicity can result.
This could happen even if the mode of entry was not ingestion. (There have been reported cases of serious liver damage resulting from excessive skin application of eucalyptus oil.).
Conclusion :
This article is only to give you information of what essential oils can be safely used for cooking. Whether to use it or not for cooking depends on your perception and your consideration. Please take note to use it moderately with one or two drops only!. Use vegetable oils for combination such as canola oil , olive oil , or sesame oil.
Try These Sample Essential Oils Cooking Recipes:
MARDI GRAS PESTO (Makes 1 1/2 cups)
- 1 bunch fresh basil
- 1 Tablespoon lemon or lime juice
- 1 Tablespoon reduced-salt soy sauce or Bragg Liquid Aminos
- 1 Tablespoon water
- 1/2 cup tofu, diced
- 1 Tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 1 drop Black Pepper essential oil
Grind up pumpkin seeds in blender until fine. Use a spatula to release any powder stuck in the blender base. Pour into a container.
Wash and chop basil.
Place basil, lemon juice, soy sauce and water in a blender. Chop intermittently, stirring with a spatula in between to release ingredients stuck to blender base.
Add tofu and garlic and blend. Add ground pumpkin seeds, blending until smooth. Stir in black pepper oil last.
This is elegantly rich on sprouted bread for breakfast; as a party dip served with raw carrot sticks and parboiled green leaves, or with salad and rice.
Nutmeg Vitality Juice (Serves 2):
- 2 cups fresh carrot juice
- ¼ cup ground flax seeds
- 2 drops nutmeg oil
Grind flax seeds in a coffee grinder. Stir into carrot juice. Lastly add nutmeg oil. Superb!
Heavenly Banana-Fig Ice Cream (Serves 2)
- Heavenly Banana-Fig Ice Cream (Serves 2)
- 2 bananas
- 6-8 figs (fresh or dried)
- 4 drops lemon essential oil
Chop figs and bananas. (If dried figs, soak overnight in minimum water to cover, then drain.) Mash bananas and figs together. Freeze in an airtight container overnight. Thaw for 10 minutes, then chop and put through food processor. Stir in lemon oil. Eat immediately.
These samples recipes are several from this Essential oils cookbook by Menkit Prince.
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