Here
is a more or less complete list of the various Clichés, prejudices, and
truth on Extra Virgin Olive (E.V.O.) Oil. Our goal is to try to confirm whether
or not it is justified. https://goo.gl/maps/uUae9
FALSE
- that olive oil is more fat oil seeds. In reality, all oils contain the same amount of fat (99%) and provide ± 9 kilocalories per gram and therefore does not more fattening than seed oil, on the contrary, being more flavorful and viscous greater satisfaction to the taste and bastandone a smaller amount also allows us to save money.
- that the oil dietary or oil light does
not make you fat. The oil is an oil diet supplemented with
vitamins and other essential components (many already and fundamental
characteristic of olive oils). The
oil light has a color not too bright, which apparently gives a feeling of low
density. The calorie-energy is
the same for all oils (including seed) and the assumption that a coloration
"charge" would correspond oil "heavier" and therefore less
digestible, is absolutely false.
- the best system of extraction is the
traditional one for pressure. In fact, modern systems of extraction
centrifugation or percolation, if well managed, can produce oils better quality
than conventional systems because not permit exchanges with moliture earlier
- that the cold-pressed oil is a
special type. Good standards of machining require, during all stages of
the production process, the maintenance of the lowest possible temperatures
(the processing temperature of the olive paste with a conventional system is
about 18-22 ° C, while molendoleabsolutely cold is impossible, since the simple
mechanical process of crushing creates heat; the addition of very hot water can
alter the components of the baggage organoleptic (smells and tastes) of the
product. However, if we press the "cold" olives poor, we will have an
extra-virgin olive oil obtained by "cold pressing" but definitely of
poor quality.
- virgin oil from the first pressing is particularly valuable. Indeed the term "first cold press" means only that it is an oil "virgin", but it is always possible that the result of the first pressing is an oil with missing titles to fit in category of extra virgin.
- virgin oil from the first pressing is particularly valuable. Indeed the term "first cold press" means only that it is an oil "virgin", but it is always possible that the result of the first pressing is an oil with missing titles to fit in category of extra virgin.
- for a liter of olive oil are It takes
about 5 kg of olives. On average,
the oil obtained from olives is 20 % by weight, with variations depending on
the cultivar, from the time of collection, production of office, by the
seasonal, the extraction system, etc. ..
- the color of the oil determines its
quality. The
professional tasters use a colored glass in order not to be influenced. Green with yellow more or less intense,
depends only on the cultivar, ripeness and the process of extraction. The oil color is an indication of
impairment only in the presence of reddish reflections (the oil has
deteriorated because it was stored unprotected from light).
- that Italian extra virgin is the best in
the world. True and False. In some areas
(Umbria, Tuscany, Apulia, etc.), thanks to the particular cultivar, environment
, cultivation techniques and extraction, you can get the oils that are the
"top". Be careful because in the same areas, disregarding the rules
of production quality, you get bad oils. In different parts of the world
you can get a quality oil.
- that quality depends only on the extraction
system. Many factors determine the quality of an oil. The most
important are: the environment, the cultivar, the farming techniques, the time
and the system of collection, the duration and conditions of storage of the
olives, the technology of processing and storage conditions of the oil. A
high quality oil is obtained by choosing appropriately the cultivation
environment and cultivars, avoiding parasites, picking olives in optimum period
(November), making harvesting olives from the tree and not on the ground, put
the olives in aerated plastic containers and not in bags and store them in a
cool, ventilated, milling within 24-48 hours and adequately managing the
extraction systems, paying particular attention to hygiene, limited contact
with oxygen and temperature control.
- that after a few months the oil
loses its qualitative characteristics. No .. oil should be preferably consumed
within 12-15 months, because after that period it loses its main organoleptic
qualities (color, taste, aroma, etc.), however, especially if the oil comes
from cultivar characterized by high content of polyphenols, if the collection
was made in the best period, and if the storage was adequate, the oil can
maintain high quality characteristics for a year and a half.
- the best containers for oil are those in
terracotta. The best containers are stainless steel
ones. Are also excellent glass containers opaque (i.e. non-transparent to
light). It is preferable that the shape of the containers having the bottom and
the mouth of the narrower central part, so as to reduce the contact surface
respectively with the sludge and with the air. Are to avoid the plastic
containers because they easily spread their scent oil.
- that olive oil should not be good for frying. Indeed is one of the best fries though certainly more
expensive. In fact, withstand very high temperatures without burning (smoke
point) and therefore without
producing toxic compounds. The advertising insists on seed oils that would
ensure fries "read", but it did not with reality.
- that the turbidity of an oil is a
sign of poor quality. The of good quality olive oil (extra virgin and
virgin), turbidity, if the oil has not been subjected to filtration driven, is
a natural phenomenon that tends to decrease with time. At the bottom of the
container, it forms a deposit of sludge which you should delete with a
transfer.
- that an oil that "pinches in my
throat" has high acidity. The acidity of the oil is not perceptible to
the taste, but can be determined only with a special analysis in the
laboratory. The feeling of "tingling" (spicy) is, instead, a positive
feature oil, characteristic products in young, because of the presence of
substances healthy antioxidants (polyphenols and tocopherols), and its
intensity depends essentially on the cultivar, by 'ripening period, from the
extraction system and the manner and duration of conservation of the oil.
Medicine attaches to these substances a key role against cell aging.
TRUE
- that olive oil is good for health. It protects
the heart and arteries, it slows down brain aging, prevents atherosclerosis,
lowers the level of cholesterol " bad "(LDL) and increases the"
good "cholesterol (HDL or" scavenger of the arteries "),
protected by monounsaturated fatty acids that is rich in olive oil, prevents
the occurrence of tumors and cell deterioration. Olive oil, for its fatty acid
composition is similar to breast milk, it is always recommended weaning
children and is useful in old age because it promotes the absorption of calcium
and mineralization, preventing osteoporosis. The recognition of the best
nutritional properties of olive oil over animal fat then generated the
misconception that all fat of vegetable origin are good and do well. The result
is that some substitute margarine for butter (actually it less caloric oil
because it contains water, but has other disadvantages) believing that protect
their health. The margarine is produced by hydrogenating vegetable oils, ie
making it saturated the double bonds of fatty acids through the absorption of
hydrogen. In this way the benefit that vegetable oils lead to the prevention of
cardiovascular diseases, especially linked to the presence of mono-and
polyunsaturated fatty acids, is totally cleared. Another very common mistake is
to believe that the best way of life to follow to prevent increase in
cholesterol and in general good health and the adoption of a diet as can
be poor fat: a diet low in fat tends to lower cholesterol is good and the bad,
with an obvious impairment of bodily function.
- that not all the oil classified as"
olive oil "is of high quality. Because often is obtained by blending of rectified
olive oil and virgin olive oil other than lampante, whose acidity, expressed as
oleic acid may not exceed 1.5. Olive oil with excellent features, however,
is the olive oil.
- that oils D.O.P. (Protected Designation of
Origin) offer high quality assurance. The DOP is awarded by the European
Community to those oils produced in certain areas that meet a particular set of
very rigid, thus ensuring that both characters typical of very high quality
standards. can bear the DOP oils produced on all the territories of the
countries of the European Community. The recognition D.O.C. (DOC), however,
recognizes only valid in the country.
- that the time of harvest influence strongly
the quality of the oil. From olives harvested in early
maturation (end of October, beginning of November), you get an oil with organoleptic more fruity, more bitter and spicy. From olives harvested when ripe submitted, however, you will get an oil less fruity and less bitter. In addition, the oil obtained from olives harvested in early
maturation will be richer in antioxidants (polyphenols) that increase stability and preservation.
- That the acidity is an indicator of quality. The acidity is a parameter that indicates the
percentage of oleic acid in an oil and is the main indicator of the quality.
The higher its value, the poorer is the quality of the product. The acidity is
a direct consequence of the release of fatty acids due to hydrolysis of the
glycerides, and is a quality parameter defined only by laboratory testing. It
is the parameter that allows you to assess any changes in the olives and the
oil obtained from them suffer during collection, transport and transformation
process. Moreover, its evaluation allows the commodity classification of the
oils. The determination of acidity is carried out in the laboratory and a
simple analysis is that, by now, almost all the mills can run autonomously. For
the precise definition of the concept of free acidity is important to note that
the extra virgin olive oils are composed of triglycerides by 98-99 % ie esters
formed from glycerol and fatty acids. A part of the latter, however, remains in
the free state not combining with the glycerin by determining, in fact, the
acidity of the product. These free fatty acids in the oil may increase if
acting on a specific enzyme called lipase that is found in the fruit and the
process can take action , especially if the drupe suffered injuries phones (
insect attack , injury during collection and transport , poor agricultural
environmental ) . The enzymatic activity of the lipase is also favored by
rather high temperatures, between 30 ° C and 40 ° C. Therefore, it can be concluded
that the degree of acidity of an oil is strongly influenced by the health of
the olives, the technology of the collection, storage time, the processing
technology used (Elevated temperatures kneading) and care placed by operators
in the processing and storage of the product. It is classified as Extra Virgin
olive oil with a free acidity content of less than 0.8 g / liter.
- That one kilogram of oil is more than one liter of oil. The specific gravity of the oil at 15 ° C is of 0.915 to 0.919 (kg/m3), therefore a liter
of oil has a
weight of 915-919 g.