We all know that beautiful, delicious meals can be made even better with a good olive oil. At The Anointed Olive, we spend a lot of time talking with customers about flavor pairings, recipes, cooking ideas, and the little finishing touches that can completely change a dish. Those conversations are a big part of what we enjoy about being in the shop every single day. Whether you drop by our store in historic downtown DeLand or pop into our location in Ormond Beach, our goal is always to make your cooking experience a little more fun and a lot more flavorful.
Over the years, customers at both our DeLand and Ormond Beach locations often tell us about the creative ways they use olive oil in their everyday lives. Some learned these tricks from a parent or grandparent, while others discovered them from something they stumbled across on the internet. Here are ten of our favorite customer-tested olive oil hacks that you can easily try out in your own kitchen.
10 Olive Oil Hacks Our Customers Have Shared With Us
1. Upgrade Your Movie-Night Popcorn
Drizzle olive oil over warm popcorn, then add sea salt and your favorite seasoning. The oil clings to the kernels far better than melted butter without making them soggy, giving you a light, savory crunch in every bite.
2. Swap Butter on Everyday Staples
Replace butter with olive oil on warm crusty bread, baked potatoes, rice, or steamed vegetables. It adds a clean, rich flavor profile while keeping your daily meals lighter and packed with healthy fats.
3. Get Extra-Crispy Paninis and Grilled Cheese
Brush olive oil on the outside of your grilled cheese or panini bread before putting it into the skillet or press. The oil conducts heat evenly across the surface, giving your sandwich an extra-crispy exterior that stays golden and crunchy.
4. Freeze Herb-Infused Olive Oil Cubes
Freeze olive oil with chopped herbs like rosemary, thyme, or basil in an ice-cube tray for easy cooking portions. When you are ready to cook, just drop a cube straight into a hot skillet to start your meal with instant flavor and zero prep hassle.
5. Perfect the Finishing Touch
Add a small drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil to hummus, soup, pasta, or mashed potatoes just before serving. That final unheated splash releases rich aromatics that instantly bring out the best flavors in hot food.
6. Roast Vegetables for Better Browning
Toss vegetables with olive oil before roasting to help them brown evenly and keep your seasonings in place. The light coating seals in moisture while allowing the edges to caramelize in the oven.
7. Coat Sticky Measuring Spoons and Cups
Coat measuring cups or spoons with olive oil before measuring sticky ingredients like honey, molasses, or syrup. The slick layer lets sticky liquids slide right out into your mixing bowl without leaving half the ingredient stuck inside.
8. Add Moisture to Baked Goods
Use a mild olive oil in brownies, cakes, and quick breads for added moisture and a tender crumb. Liquid oil stays liquid at room temperature, which keeps your favorite baked treats soft and fresh for days.
9. Mix a Rapid Bread Dip
Make a quick dipping oil by mixing olive oil with herbs, garlic, crushed red pepper, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. It creates an instant restaurant-style appetizer that pairs wonderfully with warm, crusty bread.
10. Top Off Vanilla Ice Cream
Finish vanilla ice cream with a drizzle of fruity extra-virgin olive oil and a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt. The contrast between cold cream, rich oil, and savory salt creates a surprisingly sophisticated dessert that always impresses guests.
That kind of shared knowledge is a huge part of what makes our shops feel so personal to us. Our customers walk in with great questions, recipes, family traditions, and plenty of good ideas of their own.
The next time you visit our DeLand or Ormond Beach shops, make sure to tell us your favorite way you use olive oil. We are always interested in hearing another great tip to share with our community!
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