Are Essential Oils Edible? Tips And Recipes for Using Edible Essential Oils

Olive, coconut, peanut, avocado, canola...your kitchen is mostly stocked with one or two of these oils. But what about cooking with essential oils? Because yes, these small bottles do not only purify your home or solve your skin or hair problems but can work wonders in the kitchen, provided they are edible and used sparingly.

EDIBLE ESSENTIAL OILS

Many essential oils are edible provided they meet a few criteria. To be sure choose organic brands, pure and natural essentials oils with very clear indications on the label. If the word "edible" is not indicated on the bottle, avoid using it in the kitchen or contact the brand directly to ask the question.

HOW TO USE EDIBLE ESSENTIAL OILS

You've probably noticed essential oils have a very powerful perfume. It is therefore important to use them sparingly at the risk of ruining a dish completely.

A tip: start by adding a single drop to your dish - add others only if necessary. Also, think of adding them only at the last moment to your recipe and off the heat in order to preserve all of their properties.

SOME EXAMPLES OF EDIBLE ESSENTIAL OILS

The most used edible essential oils are:

- Garlic essential oil: to flavor an aioli or other garlic-based dish
- Lemon essential oil: to enhance the taste of a sauce, to water a fish or to perfume a sherbet
- Bergamot essential oil: in a yogurt or on a fish
- Basil essential oil: on a pizza or a burrata
- Cinnamon essential oil: in gingerbread
- Coriander essential oil: to perfume Asian dishes
-Grapefruit essential oil: in baking cakes, cookies or making icing
-Peppermint essential oil: in cocktails, desserts and chocolate dishes
-Mustard essential oil: used in Italian preserves known as ''mostarda'' (recipe below)

RECIPES WITH EDIBLE ESSENTIAL OILS

MOSTARDA DI CREMONA

The essential oil of mustard is a key ingredient in mostarda, a specialty fruit preserve produced in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna (also home to Parmesan cheese).

Mostarda is pungent, intensely flavorful and adds a decadent touch to any appetizer plate. It is excellent enjoyed with cheese, crackers, bread and wine.

Try this delightful recipe for mostarda.

LEMON BARS

Adding just one drop of lemon essential oil to this recipe for lemon bars will yield beautiful results - an aromatic dessert that will brighten up your day.

CHAI LATTE CINNAMON CUPCAKES

Take these chai latte cupcakes to the next level by incorporating just one drop of cinnamon essential oil.

Pumpkin Pie

Don't have any pumpkin pie spice on hand? Don't sweat it! You can flavor this pumpkin pie recipe by using 2 drops each of clove, ginger and cinnamon essential oils.