Infused oil is made by adding herbs, spices or fragrant leaves to oil, and can be used for cooking or massage. Sterilize the container, add ingredients, and store in a cool, dry place for at least two weeks. Choose oils with mild flavors and refrigerate if necessary.
Infused oil is oil that has the addition of herbs, spices or fragrant leaves. It can be used for cooking or for massage depending on the ingredients used for the infused oil. In most cases, the infused oil is used in cooking and is especially good in end products where you can taste the oil, such as salad dressings.
There are several methods of making infused oil, but the first step is to sterilize the container that you will be using. Consider a bottle of wine, or you can sometimes purchase decorative oil bottles. It’s very important to take this first step to avoid bacteria that contain oil.
The easiest method is to simply add an herb to the sterilized bottle and allow the oil to infuse for several weeks. The oil will have a slight taste of the herbs or spices used. Other methods will produce a stronger tasting infused oil.
Most other methods require you to gently heat the oil. You can do this on a stovetop, in a microwave or in a saucepan. Also, lightly mashed herbs like tarragon, basil, or rosemary will give the herbs more flavor. This step isn’t necessary for cinnamon or allspice sticks.
Once the oil is slightly heated, you fill the bottle with your chosen ingredients and pour the oil on top. The oil should then be stored in a cool, dry place for at least two weeks. One can do a taste test of the infused oil after a week to see if it is getting strong enough. If there is no flavor from the herbs used, add more.
A variety of oils can be used to make infused oil. It is better to understand the storage capacities of the oil. For example, peanut oil and olive oil need to be refrigerated before and after they become infused oil or they will go rancid.
In general, choose an oil that doesn’t have a strong flavor. Light olive oil, peanut oil, and safflower oil are all better choices than walnut oil, for example. One can also purchase infused oil in multiple varieties at gourmet grocery stores. With these, also observe the storage instructions.
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