According the experts, the healthiest oil for cooking is the olive oil. Olive oil, which carries the taste, smell and essence of olives to all meals, balances cholesterol, reduces the risk of heart and vascular diseases, protects the liver from the negative effects of toxins, and besides all these benefits, it is perfect for the 'sarma's (stuffed vine leaves), vegetable dishes, and salads. Unfortunately, just like honey or butter, there are fake olive oils in the market which threaten our health. However, with some simple tests you can do at home, you can realize whether the olive oil you buy is real or fake, and you can pick your olive oil accordingly. You can use the methods below to get to know the quality of the olive oil and whether the olive oil you will use in your meals or salads is real or not.
Freezing test
If the olive oil completely freezes and crystallizes in the freezer, that indicates it is real. Real olive oil freezes and crystallizes between 0 and 6 degrees. To do this, put a glass of olive oil in your freezer and remove it after half an hour. It is a real one if every part of the olive oil in the glass is frozen. However, if some of them are frozen and some remain liquid, the olive oil you bought may be fake.
Water test
If the olive oil stays on the water, that means it is real. Add a small amount of olive oil into a glass of warm water. It is a real one if the olive oil produces bubbles and stays on the water. If the oil remains on the surface of the water for a while without any bubbles and then mixes with the water, that means it is fake.
Spirit of salt test
The real olive oil does not change its color when it meets spirit of salt. Add spirit of salt to a half a cup of olive oil until it is filled. If the olive oil is real, it will not integrate with the spirit of salt and will retain its usual yellow color. However, if your olive oil is fake, the color of the liquid in the glass will turn into pink.
Tasting test
It is a real one if you’re tasting fruitiness, slight bitterness and pungency - which is a strong peppery taste that should activate a cough reflex. Tasting the olive oil with a teaspoon is one of the easiest ways to find out if it is real or not. If you’re tasting fruitiness, slight bitterness and pungency – which is a strong peppery taste that should activate a cough reflex – you’ve got some good oleo on your hands. If you’re picking up a fusty, musty sediment or metallic, earthy or vinegary taste then toss the batch or don’t buy it again. In other words, real olive oil just gives a slight disturbance to your nasal passage but does not disturb your stomach. If the olive oil you taste is not causing these, it is probably not real.