Today I learned: An Extra Virgin Olive Oil Label Doesn't Guarantee Quality

Image Credit: artur84 | Freedigitalphotos.net

I love using olive oil because of it's health benefits. I've been told that all I needed to look for is the "extra virgin" label. It means that the oil comes from the first press of olives, ensuring that the oil contains antioxidants and omega 3 and other health benefits. However, I just learned that it's not the end of story. It takes a closer look at the back of the bottles for us to find out about the product's quality.

First, we need to look for the harvest date. It should be within two years. Olive oils degrade fast so they shouldn't be allowed to age as wines. I always look for thick and dark bottles to make sure that the product inside isn't exposed to light - another variable that will degrade the olive oil. I cringe whenever I see olive oils sold inside clear bottles. Yes, poorly bottled olive oils do exist in the market.

Next, there should be a seal from a third party body that tests for the oil's quality, such as COCC from California. Usually, products bearing a harvest date has a seal in the label as well.

Quite a number of olive oil products undergo several steps of processing before they reach our shelves. If the label indicates that it was made from different countries before eventually getting inside the bottle, chances are, the oil has already degraded in quality during shipment. It's better to have the product manufactured from one country only. 

After buying the brand of your choice, check immediately at home if it smells off. You may also taste it to see if its fresh. If it stings the back of your throat a bit, then it means there are polyphenols present in the oil. You can always return the product if your dissatisfied with it.

Source:

http://zesterdaily.com/cooking/uc-davis-olive-oil-report-and-buying-tips/
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/09/30/226844915/to-get-the-benefits-of-olive-oil-fresh-may-be-best

Today I Learned #1: You Can Make Potato Chips Using a Microwave

**Author's Note: If you're familiar with the social bookmarking site called Reddit, then you've probably heard of a popular subreddit named TIL: Today I Learned. Under this category, you just provide a single sentence indicating a thing you have just learned about. In addition, you add a URL pointing to the source of your recent discovery. Anyway, I've been long gone to Reddit. And I've just come up with an idea to instead start my own TIL series within my blog (check out for the "Today I Learned" labels), and instead of putting it in a mere sentence, I would like to elaborate it in a paragraph or two.

So for my very first Today I Learned Post:

Today I Learned #1: You can make potato chips using a microwave.

Photo by Master isolated images via Freedigitalphotos.

I love potato chips. Whenever I go to the grocery stores, there is always a large bag of potato chips inside the push cart. However, I know that these treats are high in saturated fats. Some brands even contain too much salt and MSG. Although I'm aware of these unhealthy ingredients, I still buy the chips anyway. I just couldn't help it.

And then I came across an article where about making potato chips at home. Nope, you're not going to need a deep-fryer for that. In fact, the source I've found teaches an easy method that is a lot healthier than frying: through a microwave. Sounds simple right? I was awed to learn about this and was excited to try it as soon as I am able to buy some fresh potatoes. Click the link below where you could find the recipe located at the lower portion of the article.

http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/7-unexpected-uses-microwave-164800328.html