Whats the story with olive oil?

[styley]

I've noticed while watching cookery shows lately that in nearly everything the chefs do they are using olive oil. What exactly is olive oil? Is it used in the same way as Crisp N Dry cooking oil or is it different? For example could I use olive oil when cooking myself a fry up? Are there any health benefits when using it? Also is there any difference between olive oil and extra virgin olive oil which I hear them going on about also?

[Clanad]

Considering that olive oil has been used for thousands of years, it really is a wonder product. The health benefits of olive oil have been well demonstrated... primarily due to both its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and its high content of antioxidative substances.
Extra virgin is the first oil derived when the olives are pressed. It's best used for salad dressings and sauces. There are several varieties of olive oil. The common press used for cooking is virgin and pure... virgin is taken from the second pressing and pure is filtered and somewhat processed but retains many health benefits and imparts a buttery flavor to cooked dishes. Additionally, extra virgin has a high smoke point... around 410 degrees F, which makes it on par with most other vegetable oils and is excellent for dishes requiring higher intitial heat. I use it in Ratatouille, since the vegetables can be browned without losing firmness... I use it almost exclusively...(except I always use lard in biscuits, a scone like breakfast bread common here in the U.S.)...

[beryllium]

This is interesting :)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml =/news/2007/05/07/nfood07.xml

[Kleiber]

I use olive oil in most of my cooking, except fry ups. (I always use lard - better flavour). Olive oil is quite a delicate oil & is suitable for many things, as Clannad says. Vegetables roasted in olive oil are lovely, but I wouldn't fancy bacon & egg done in it, I think the flavours would clash. K

[styley]

I bought extra virgin bottle today, it was the only kind there. Must find some use foe it now. Any suggestions?

[vivandorron]

Olive oil is from pressed olives. Personally, I think it's over-rated and expensive for what it is.

Rape- seed and Sunflower seed oils I always use......Ron.

[Figi]

Extra virgin is the best and I use it for just about everything (though I don't do fry-ups so don'y know how it works for them)

[daginge]

Try frying an egg in half olive oil and half butter instead of just cooking or vegetable oil, delicious!
Try dipping fresh warm bread, Ciabatta if possible in balsamic vinegar and then olive oil , oooh bliss isn't in it! (Having a nice glass of red wine with it is another positive!)

[vivandorron]

I make Ciabatta Bread every Sunday (albeit from a packet mix and ,whilst it says on the directions to put in a tablespoonful of olive oil, I use Sunflower seed oil and can't tell the difference. Most weeks I add Sunflower Seeds to the mix and would challenge anyone to say it doesn't taste good....Makes great toast as well ....Ron.

[Kleiber]

Do you guys honestly use olive oil for fry-ups? I must admit, I've never tried it because I just didn't think the flavours would go. Maybe I will, though, seeing as you say it's OK..... (I wouldn't use it for deep frying, though) K