18 Simple and Practical Applications for Olive Oil (Not Including Salad)

Olive oil has been used by mankind since the days of antiquity for innumerable tasks, but recently health experts have also begun to praise the ancient oil for its high quality nutritional value. Containing a high content of healthy monounsaturated fats, olive oil use has been linked to lower blood pressure, lower risk of heart disease, decreased sugar levels, and increased absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Here are some useful alternative modern solutions for olive oil that highlight its special qualities:

HEALTHY COOKING SOLUTIONS:

1. Natural antioxidants contained in olive oil can keep baked items fresher for a longer period of time than butter.
2. When cooking with olive oil, don’t add too much. Only 1 or 2 tablespoons of oil is necessary per pound of ingredients.
3. When frying foods, the oil should be hot enough to sizzle when the food is added. If the food doesn’t sizzle, the oil is not hot enough and will overly absorb into the food.
4. If you want to fry with butter, a little bit of olive oil will prevent the butter from burning too quickly.
5. Food items benefit from a light coating of olive oil brushed onto the surface before grilling or broiling in order to enhance the food’s flavor and to provide a more crispy texture.
6. On the barbeque, to help prevent food from sticking, the grill can be preheated and generously brushed with olive oil before the food is placed onto it or into a cooking grate.
7. Olive oil does not penetrate the food during cooking as much as other types of oils, thus resulting in a lower fat content in the finished food dishes.
8. To prevent your pasta from overflowing, try pouring a tablespoon of olive oil into the water before boiling.

HEALTHY HEALING SOLUTIONS:

1. For earaches, try using a Q-tip dipped generously in olive oil and apply it around the outside of the ear cavity to bring relief to babies or adults.
2. For dry hands, cuticles and fingernails soak your hands in a bowl of warm olive oil while massaging the oil into your skin and fingers for about 15 minutes before wiping hands dry with a paper towel.
3. To soften and nourish your skin, add a few spoons of olive oil to your bath for a soothing bath that will leave your skin feeling refreshed.
4. For chapped lips, try rubbing a little oil into them to relieve the dryness.
5. For dry and frizzy hair as well as problems with dandruff or split ends, try massaging a few spoons of olive oil into your hair and scalp for about 10 minutes, then cover your head with a bathing cap for an additional 20 minutes before shampooing and rinsing.
6. To remove paint from your hair or skin, dip olive oil onto a piece of cotton wool and wipe the area until the paint is gone.
7. For a close shave, try rubbing on a little olive oil for a natural shaving lubricant.

HANDY HOME SOLUTIONS:

1. Try applying a bit of olive oil with a Q-tip to a stuck or rusty zipper, as well as to squeaky door hinges.
2. Try adding a little olive oil to soften old leather or polish wood. (Note that it may cause a slight darkening so be sure to try it in a discrete part first before doing the entire area)
3. Try rubbing a little olive oil onto your garden tools to prevent corrosion and dirt build up.