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So you thought essential oils are meant only for massages and aromatic treatments! This write up will change the way you look at essential oils. Essentials oils are made of edible herbs and organic ingredients. They make meals healthy and delicious. Let us know how to choose the right essential edible oil for the health of your family -

The thumb rule for selecting good essential edible oil is to go for pure and organic ones. If the bottle of the oil does not displaythe relevant information, do not choose it. The essential oils that can be used in cooking are – basil, cardamom, black pepper, cilantro, clove, cinnamon, coriander, fennel, dill, ginger, lavender, grapefruit, lemon, orange, lemongrass, oregano, rosemary, peppermint, spearmint, thyme etc.

Which Oil for What Recipes

• Lemon Oil–Lemon essential oil can be added to cakes and juices. It can be coupled with honey to prepare breakfast foods.
• Black Pepper Oil–This essential oil is used in preparing soups, sauces and dips. It is a beneficial essential oil that eliminates body toxins and aids digestion.
• Peppermint Oil–Making chocolate cake or fudge? Add few drops of peppermint essential oil and they would turn out to be really delicious.
• Oregano Oil - Italian food is incomplete without oregano oil. Use few of its drops in pasta sauce or pesto.

• Orange Oil – Season your juices, chocolates, cakes and muesli with orange essential oil to give them a tangy dash.
• Ginger & Cinnamon Oil–Garnish soups and stir-fry dishes with ginger essential oil to get authentic Asian flavor. It can also be added to jams and biscuits.
• Basil Oil–Basil essential oil can be used in preparing burger patties, sauces, pizza sauces etc. It will uplift the taste and render therapeutic effect to immune system.
• Grapefruit Oil–Grapefruit oil brings citrus zest taste to snacks like sandwiches, jellies and punches. It is also beneficial for better immunity.

Cooking with Essential Oils: Tips & Suggestions

• Not all essential oils are edible. Choose from only food-grade quality essential oils.
• Special cases like pregnant or nursing mothers have to be cautious with certain essential oils.
• Use essential oils in small quantities as they are usually concentrates. Generally 2 to 3 drops are sufficient for replacing herbs in medium-sized meals. The amount of oil needed would depend on factors like – recipe, taste preference and oil’s viscosity.
• Don’t drop essential oils directly from the bottle. Use a spoon or a dropper to pour out the right quantity.
• Since essential oils are highly volatile, don’t add and cook them for hours. Prolonged cooking may alter their chemical composition. Usually, they are to be added in the end of the cooking.
• Do not store essential oils in hot or humid condition. Refrigerate them for long preservation.