Does cooking olive oil remove bacteria?
I think some water got into my olive oil bottle, which can make bacteria grow. I'm thinking of using that bottle for frying or baking, would that make using it safe?
Best Answer
You can't absolutely guarantee that it's safe. Botulism spores can survive to pretty high temperatures. (The botulism toxin itself is generally inactivated at cooking temperatures, but the spores are also dangerous.)
That said... the water will separate from the oil, so if you don't see a layer of water at the bottom, then it's fine. And although there is some risk if it is there, the odds are fairly low, and I personally wouldn't worry too much about it. (If the lid has been sealed, though, and you get off-gassing when you open it, then it's probably best to chuck it.)
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Olive Oil Has Antibacterial Properties. Olive oil contains many nutrients that can inhibit or kill harmful bacteria ( 47 ).Does olive oil give off toxins when heated?
When the oil is heated ahead of its smoke point, it gives off toxic smoke. As olive oil has a low smoking point, cooking with it increases the risk of creating smoke that includes compounds which are harmful to your health. You may not even realise that you are breathing in the toxic fumes.Why should you not cook olive oil?
Olive oil has a lower smoke point-the point at which an oil literally begins to smoke (olive oil's is between 365\xb0 and 420\xb0F)-than some other oils. When you heat olive oil to its smoke point, the beneficial compounds in oil start to degrade, and potentially health-harming compounds form.Olive Oil on High Heat -- Is it Safe?
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