Cooking with Essential Oils

May 1, 2008 by Evelyn Vincent

Essential Oils Are More Potent Than Dried & Fresh Herbs 

Being concentrated, a therapeutic grade essential oil contains virtually all of the plants healing nutrients, oxygenating molecules, amino acid precursors, coenzyme A factors, trace minerals, enzymes, vitamins, hormones and more. And because they are so highly concentrated, therapeutic grade essential oils are from 50 to 70 times more therapeutically potent than the dried herbs or fresh plants they are derived from. 

Unlike dried herbs, which lose up to 90% of their healing nutrients and oxygen molecules during the drying process, essential oils do not loose their healing properties during proper distillation. Best of all, 100% pure therapeutic Grade A essential oils available through Young Living Essential Oils are safe for cooking and home use.  Please be sure to read the information here regarding cooking with YL essential oils for the greatest success.

Therapeutic grade essential oils have a chemical structure that is similar to human cells and tissues. This makes essential oils compatible with human protein and enables them to be readily identified and accepted by the body. Remember, essential oils were humankind's first medicine and they were more valuable than gold... use them mindfully and discover how they enhanced the lives of our ancestors. To learn more about using essential oils for wellness, please visit the Aromatherapy section of this website.

YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OIL COOKING TIPS

Which oils are safe to use for cooking?

 

Rule #1

Only use therapeutic-grade essential oils. 

NEVER use an essential oil in your food that does not AFNOR printed on the label AND contain a "supplement facts" box on the label - if those two things are missing DO NOT eat or cook with the essential oil. Young Living Essential Oils are the only oils that I know of that can be used internally and in cooking. Please be very mindful about this and use any essential oil responsibly. 

 

Rule #2

Read the list of GRAS & FA Cooking List (see list below) as not all essential oils are good to use in cooking. 

 

Regarding the much stronger spice oils - such as basil, cinnamon, marjoram, nutmeg, oregano and thyme - dip a toothpick in a bottle of your YL essential oil bottle and stir the toothpick in the recipe towards the end or after cooking. This is an excellent way to flavor food.

 

Rule #3

Essential oils are NOT the same as dried herbs!

 

Remember... only 2 drops of an essential oil is equivalent to a full bottle (2 oz size) of dried herbs.

 

And, one drop of YL peppermint is the equivalent of 28 cups of peppermint tea! 

FLAVORING  FOODS WITH YOUNG LVING ESSENTIAL OILS

For a more subtle flavor and/or those smaller portions: remove the inserted plastic dripping cap off the bottle of essential oil and dip a tooth pick into it, then swirl the essential oil dipped tooth pick in your food. 

Essential oils should be diluted/mixed in vegetable oil, Blue Agave syrup, olive or almond oil, honey, or rice milk prior to ingestion and/or in recipes as this helps to disperse the essential oil more effectively.

As a general rule, dilute 1 drop of essential oil in 1 teaspoon of honey, YL Blue Agave syrup, or in 2 ounces of a beverage.

(honey should not be given to children under 2 years of age.) 

Essential oils used in recipes: 

Add the essential oil right before serving. The heat will evaporate essential oils with the steam. With a few oils that are too strong - such as basil, oregano and rosemary - simmering will produce a wonderfully subtle bouquet that is wonderful. 

Essential Oils for Weight Control: 

The sense of smell is responsible for 90% of our taste. Research has found that by inhaling a culinary scent, such as an essential oil, regularly throughout the day, especially when hungry, can suppress our desire to taste and therefore eat. By inhaling an aroma 6 times in each nostril, the epistat in our brain that controls hunger gets switched off. For best results, change oils daily for variety. 

Warning: If a culinary aroma is inhaled only briefly, the reverse effect can occur; appetite can be stimulated. 

IDEAS FOR COOKING WITH YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS

Salad Dressings and Dipping Oils:

basil, clove, dill, fennel, ginger, lavender, lemon, 

orange, rosemary, spearmint, tarragon & thyme. 

 

Meat – Sauces & Rubs:

basil, dill, fennel, ginger, lemon, lemongrass, marjoram, orange, pepper, rosemary, savory, sage, tarragon & thyme. [remember to use only a small amount of essential oil, they're very potent!] 

 

Cakes, frosting, puddings, fruit pies:

cinnamon, ginger, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, nutmeg, orange, peppermint, rose, spearmint & tangerine. 

 

Pie Crusts:

Young Living’s V-6 Mixing Oil is reported to make very flaky crusts. 

 

Herbal Teas:

chamomile, cinnamon, ginger, lavender, lemon, peppermint, rose, spearmint & valerian. 

 

Refreshing Drinks:

lemon, grapefruit, orange, peppermint, rose, spearmint & tangerine. 

 

Flavored Honey:

basil, chamomile, cinnamon, clove, ginger, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, lime, orange, peppermint, rose, spearmint, tangerine. You will need to warm the honey slightly so you can stir in the essential oil. 

 

Try Adding Essential Oils in Favorite Recipes: 

 

Spice up ginger snap cookies with ginger, cinnamon, clove, or nutmeg. Toothpick application is preferred. 

 

To your regular sponge or bundt cake, add lemon, orange, or tangerine oil. 

 

Peppermint or spearmint oil can be added to chocolate cake, brownie, or frosting recipes. 

 

To pumpkin pie or spice cake recipes, add nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, or ginger. 

 

Add oregano, marjoram, thyme, or basil to tomato sauces, pizza, ravioli, and lasagna recipes. Toothpick method of application is preferred. 

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Disclaimer: Information found here refers solely to products from Young Living Essential Oils and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. We urge you to do the health related research necessary to learn what is right for you. You are responsible for how you use this information and any essential oil. 

GRAS and FA Certified Essential Oils List

GRAS: Generally regarded as safe

FA: Food Additives

 

Essential Oils Certified as GRAS and Food Additives by the FDA:

(Note: these of course would be of therapeutic grade quality)

 

Angelica

Basil

Bergamot

Chamomile, Roman

Chamomile, German

Cinnamon Bark

Citrus rind (all)

Clary Sage

Clove

Coriander

Dill

Eucalyptus globulus

Frankincense

Galbanum

Geranium

Ginger

Grapefruit

Hyssop

Juniper

Jasmine

Laurus nobilis

Lavender

Lemon

Lemongrass

Lime

Melissa (lemonbalm)

Marjoram

Myrrh

Myrtle

Nutmeg

Orange

Oregano

Patchouli

Pepper

Peppermint

Petitgrain

Pine

Rosemary

Rose

Savory, Mountain

Sage

Sandalwood

Spearmint

Spruce

Tarragon

Tangerine

Thyme

Valerian

Vertiver

Ylang Ylang

 

 

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 Learn more about Aromatherapy and therapeutic grade essential oils