When you’re looking for the best oil to use in your oil sprayer, there are many options. However, olive oil, especially extra virgin olive oil, often turns out to be the best choice. But why? In this article, we explain why olive oil is the smartest option for your oil sprayer and what benefits it offers, both for your health and for preparing dishes.
Why Use an Oil Sprayer?
When preparing your dishes, it’s helpful to spray extra virgin olive oil on your food instead of pouring it. Spraying helps reduce calories. When pouring, it’s easy to use a little too much olive oil (or any other oil). Using an olive oil sprayer ensures a modest use of extra virgin olive oil, making it more economical as well. A good olive oil sprayer quickly pays for itself.
Olive oil sprayers are also perfect for use on the barbecue and in the air fryer. Instead of brushing oil on with a brush, you can spray a thinner layer of olive oil on the food using the sprayer. This prevents waste and is also much more efficient than traditional methods.
For a more detailed article on the benefits of a sprayer, see here:
Different Oils in an Oil Sprayer
Of course, you can also fill our olive oil sprayer with any other oil. There’s no need to worry about calories, as all pure vegetable oils are 100% fat. So, one type isn’t more or less fatty than another.
However, there are certainly differences between them. Each oil has a slightly different fatty acid composition. These fatty acids are known as saturated fats, (mono- or poly-)unsaturated fats, and trans fats.
The percentage of unsaturated fats in vegetable oils is high, although coconut oil and palm oil are notable exceptions.
Health Benefits of Unsaturated Fats
Some of these unsaturated fats are essential for long-term good health. Think of linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) and alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid). Omega-3 fatty acids are attributed with positive effects in preventing cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, and depression. Omega-3 fatty acids, in turn, lower cholesterol levels in the blood and are important for eye function and brain metabolism.
Why Choose Extra Virgin Olive Oil?
Only extra virgin olive oil, however, has a health claim approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Extra virgin olive oil earned this not because of its healthy unsaturated fats but because of its polyphenols, such as oleocanthal, oleuropein, and hydroxytyrosol. These are antioxidants that help keep blood vessels in good condition.
The official claim states: “Olive oil polyphenols contribute to the protection of blood lipids from oxidative stress. See here: