Can you Cook with Extra Virgin Olive Oil without losing its benefits?
The answer is a clear and confident yes — especially when you're using a high-quality, cold-extracted oil like Pelops. Not only can you cook with extra virgin olive oil, but it also elevates your dishes with antioxidants, rich flavor, and natural heat stability.
Pelops Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made from hand-harvested Koroneiki olives, cold-extracted within 24 hours in the hills of Ancient Olympia, Greece. This process — known as extra virgin olive oil cold extraction — means no heat is applied during production, preserving the oil’s vitamins, polyphenols, and natural olive flavor. It’s exactly what you want when asking: can you cook with extra virgin olive oil and still get the benefits?
Let’s break it down: the average stovetop cooking temperature rarely exceeds 180°C (356°F), which is comfortably below the smoke point of high-quality EVOO. So, can you cook with extra virgin olive oil at high heat? Yes — Pelops EVOO has a smoke point between 190–210°C (374–410°F), making it ideal for sautéing, oven-roasting, pan-frying, and even light grilling.
And how does that compare to other fats like butter? Traditional butter has a much lower smoke point, around 150°C (302°F), meaning it burns more easily and can produce harmful compounds when overheated. This makes extra virgin olive oil a safer and more stable option for everyday cooking.
(Learn more in our blog post: Butter vs Olive Oil – Which is Better for Cooking?)
Technically, olive oil doesn’t boil like water. It will start to smoke when overheated, but in everyday cooking, your temperatures will rarely get close to that. What’s more important is oxidative stability — and thanks to its natural polyphenols, extra virgin olive oil resists degradation better than refined oils.
Wondering again, can you cook with extra virgin olive oil and retain its nutritional value? Cold extraction is the answer. By never applying heat during the production process, Pelops preserves the oil’s antioxidants, vitamins, and rich sensory qualities. It’s not just healthier — it also tastes better. At Pelops Greek Goods, we honor centuries-old traditions from Ancient Olympia to bring you oil that is both culinary and cultural.
Every bottle of Pelops Extra Virgin Olive Oil carries the legacy of southern Greece. From the groves of Ilia to your kitchen table, this oil brings you the bold flavor and nutrient density of a true, unprocessed extra virgin olive oil. I use it for everything — from roasting root vegetables to finishing a lemony lentil soup. The taste is peppery, earthy, and vibrant. And every time I cook with it, I feel connected to something older, healthier, and wiser.
So — can you cook with extra virgin olive oil? Absolutely. And when it’s Pelops, you’re cooking with purity, history, and heart.
👉 Buy Pelops Extra Virgin Olive Oil — crafted near Ancient Olympia, our olive oil is more than an ingredient — it’s a tradition you can taste.