There are many recipes and foods that would benefit from warm olive oil, so the question of microwaving olive oil safely comes up frequently.
In short, the answer is yes. You can microwave olive oil in small quantities. This might be a little confusing to you because generally, it's not recommended that you put any type of oil into your microwave, not unless you want to risk a potential fire breaking out or at least ruining a good microwave.
Since oil, when heated, has a combustive reaction, we often try our best to avoid heating oil in our microwaves. However, you can heat olive oil if used in small amounts.
How to Microwave Olive Oil?:
While microwaving olive oil is safe to use in a pinch, there are a few things you need to know before you use it. First, you should avoid heating large quantities of olive oil, only using what you need for your cooking or recipe.
This is because, like most oils, olive oil lacks the water needed for the microwave to react to it. Also, like most oils, it isn't the oil itself that is heated. Instead, it's actually heated by the object you've put the oil into. This is called indirect heating.
If you wish to microwave olive oil, use a small amount and keep an eye on it. Keep it in the microwave until it's warm but not overheated. You can do this by setting your microwave to run for small bursts of time and avoid during so on high temperatures.
It's recommended that you heat olive oil in the microwave in 15-second intervals. In some cases, it's stated that you shouldn't heat olive oil alone. It also added that you should add something else to the dish.
What are the Risks to Microwaving Olive Oil?:
When heating oil in a microwave, you can easily come across several risks that could cause a serious issue. This could be that if you heat the olive oil too long, the dish you use can be extremely hot and could cause serious injury.
Another worry is if you leave the plate or bowl in for too long, it could explode in the microwave. You may also find that it could cause the oil to cause smoke to build up within the microwave.
Overheating isn't the only issue you might face.
Oils can let off toxic fumes that could be harmful to you. Cooking with toxic oil is not recommended since it can have a significant effect on your health.
It isn't just toxicity that can be a factor in heated olive oil. One of the main disadvantages of the heating process is that it can destroy the nutrients in the oils. Once this happens ultimately, your oil can be unhealthy for you to consume.
Final Thoughts:
While it's fine for you to put olive oil into the microwave and heat it, you still must understand what needs to be done to ensure that you are safe.
Remember that olive oil can only be heated for 15 seconds at a time, in small quantities, and kept under a close eye. Anything outside of this can pose a serious risk to yourself and your loved ones.
