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Making Infused Oils


Silver Post Medal for All Time! 449 Posts
April 16, 2018

Make Your Own Essential Oil - essence poured into a jarExperiments can always create anything. So I was at first thinking of making a scented candle. The problem is that essential oils were out of stock in the market so I had to make one. I searched for it on the internet and found some simple steps. All you need to know is the kind of carrier oil your going to use and its availability. I'm thankful to have discovered one kind of oil that's really easy for me to find.

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Supplies:

  • a handful of lemon leaves
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • a glass of water
  • other optional ingredients
  • lemon zest (better used than leaves)
  • rose petals
  • lemon grass
  • other types of herbs, fruits, and flowers that smell good
Make Your Own Essential Oil - supplies
 

Steps:

  1. Start boiling the water. Meanwhile, cut the leaves into small strips.
  2. Make Your Own Essential Oil - cut up lemon leaves
     
  3. When the water starts to boil, transfer the leaves into a heat resistant bowl and place it over the water.
  4. Make Your Own Essential Oil - put leaves in a heat resistant bowl
     
    Make Your Own Essential Oil -place bowl in boiling water
     
  5. Then pour the oil over the leaves. Take note that you have to use enough oil. I found out that when the amount of herbs exceeds the volume of oil, it will be a disaster. Make sure to use more oil so the essence will be properly distributed.
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  7. Wait for about 2-3 minutes, but do not overcook the leaves so that it won't lose the fresh essence of the herb.
  8. Remove from heat and pour into strainer.
  9. Make Your Own Essential Oil - pour through a strainer
     
  10. Transfer oil into a jar or bottle.
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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 555 Posts
March 9, 2017

After enjoying an expensive set of infused (flavored) oils I received for a gift, I decided to try my hand at recreating them myself. It's easy! Here is how using the warm infusion method.

infused oil in bottle

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Silver Post Medal for All Time! 390 Posts
July 16, 2014

I realize that some of the things I send in call for oils. Do not buy them, you can make them as easy as ABC! I go to Vitamin Cottage and buy the herbs I need in the herb section.

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I never buy spices at the grocery stores because herbs are better tasting and cheaper!

 

September 6, 2014

Ball has come out with a special "ice" tray for making the herbed olive oil cubes I talked about in a previous post. You put in your favorite herbs or combo of herbs, then add olive oil or coconut oil. Then you put the lid on and freeze. The herbs will infuse the oil while they sit in the freezer.

 

10 Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.


Bronze Tip Medal for All Time! 64 Tips
December 25, 2006

I was given a bottle of homemade flavored (herbs and garlic) olive oil for Christmas. The friend who made it states it has not been refrigerated. Is this safe to consume?



Linda from Vista CA

Answers

December 25, 20060 found this helpful

Hi. I've thought that before as well. The olive oil was probably fresh because sounds like she made these for at least a couple of people as gifts. That would make sense to me at least.

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Since it is probably freshly opened, you can use it as you normally would use olive oil. Keep it under cap when you're not using it. That's how i would approach it.

 
December 28, 20060 found this helpful

I read that you should never trust any homemade oils with garlic in them because they could cause botulism poisoning very quickly--there is NO cure. I personally wouldn't take that chance. Do a little research on the internet just to verify that information and then you will know for sure.

 

Silver Post Medal for All Time! 364 Posts
December 28, 20060 found this helpful

Do not use it.
I have read that people who use home kitchens do not have the equipment to prevent botulism. Keep it to look at, but that's all. And warn your family.

 
By Barbara Jean (Guest Post)
December 28, 20060 found this helpful

It is probably not safe, and I wouldn't take the chance. I just read in one of my cookbooks that garlic in particular, in oil is can develop into botulism.

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I wouldn't use it. In fact I was so alarmed about it, that I will probably not use garlic in any oil, even refrigerated.

It could be wrong, but the book said that garlic is the only thing that will do that. Apparently other herbs are okay. although I would think dried herbs would be safer.

And I would certainly refrigerate any oil/herb combination just to be safe.

 
By (Guest Post)
December 29, 20060 found this helpful

Did she use any vinegar in it? If you put a small amount of vinegar in with the herbs and garlic when she made the flavored oil, it should be OK. The vinegar keeps botulism (from the garlic) from forming. But it still should be refrigerated. If she didn't use any vinegar, I'd thank her profusely, then toss it--better safe than sorry.

 
By Linda (Guest Post)
December 29, 20060 found this helpful

Thanks to everyone who responded to the olive oil query. I though I had read something somewhere about botulism.

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I hate to waste, but I'd hate even more to get sick! Into the trash it went!

 
January 5, 20070 found this helpful

I'm a little behind on postings but in case anyone runs across this in the future I thought this website referencing Bertolli's recommendations explained it pretty well.

www.b4-u-buy.com/homeoil.htm

 
By Tesy (Guest Post)
January 1, 20080 found this helpful

Well i will definitely continue to buy my oil infusions via store. The cost to buy it verses my life is a small price to pay. Thanks to mef1957, the link was very helpful as well as an eye opener. Check out the link to Bertoli

 
By shanaqua (Guest Post)
November 6, 20080 found this helpful

Where does it even say the ingredients and directions!

Editor's Note: It was a request asking about it's safety, not the recipe.

 
By cake (Guest Post)
November 9, 20080 found this helpful

www.wisegeek.com/is-it-safe-to-store-garlic-in-oil...

 
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November 12, 2011

I've seen many recipes, especially around the holidays, for infused olive oils. I really want to be able to make some of these as gifts, as well as, for myself. I just don't know how they are used. Can anyone give any suggestions and if using for dressings, please give the infused oil recipe and salad dressing recipe it's used in?

Many thanks.

By Jessica

Answers

November 13, 20110 found this helpful

They can be used as dipping oil for crusty breads with an italian meal, as a cooking or basting oil, or in a salad dressing.

 

Gold Post Medal for All Time! 846 Posts
November 14, 20110 found this helpful

Personally, I wouldn't mess with making 'Homemade' herb or spice infused oils. You simply can't process/preserve them properly like manufacturers of infused oils can. Not only do homemade infused oils become rancid quickly they can also easily become tainted with botulism. I don't think the recipients of your well meant gift would appreciate possibly receiving a life threatening disease.

Might I suggest making homemade pesto sauce, which can be frozen for months before use, instead? If you're interested I would be happy to share a couple of really good recipes for it.

 
Anonymous
November 24, 20110 found this helpful

I am wondering if you can keep the herb infused oil in the refrigerator, that would be safer to keep it from having botulism contaminant.

 

Gold Post Medal for All Time! 846 Posts
November 25, 20110 found this helpful

Hi Marcia S, the problem of tainting can be caused because of improper bottle sterilization and also because the herbs must steep in the oil outside of the refrigerator for at least a week before straining and refrigerating. Even then the strainer might not be sterile enough.

In my humble opinion the risk just isn't worth it :-(

 
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November 4, 2009

How long do bottled, flavored oils and vinegars last?

By Hope Bieri

Answers


Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 690 Feedbacks
November 4, 20090 found this helpful

Hope,go to:stilltasty.com
The site is a wealth of information on almost anything you might have stored in your kitchen.

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 213 Posts
November 4, 20090 found this helpful

It depends on exactly what herbs or feeds are used & if they are in oil or vinegar. Some store-bought products as only for display. But the ones made for consumption that are professionally bottled & sealed will last about a year or so, until the are opened. Once opened, they need too be refrigerated & will last 2 to 3 weeks. If you make them yourself, they need to be refrigerated once the oil & herbs (or oil & garlic, etc) meet & will stay safe to use for only a few weeks. Vinegar with herbs (or garlic, etc) will last a longer than the fancy oils, but Refrigeration is still VERY important!

Shelf life is super important with these items because you can get food poisoning (botulism) if you're not careful.

Read Below (info from the internet):

Commercial garlic-in-oil mixtures are acidified to prevent bacterial growth. Most of these store-bought products can be stored safely at room temperature look for storage instructions on the label.

Unfortunately, do-it-yourself acidification of homemade herb or vegetables-in-oil mixtures is risky because not enough research has been conducted to know how much acid is needed to prevent bacterial growth. These low-acid foods can be a source of Clostridium botulinum bacteria.

Clostridium botulinum produces a toxin that causes botulism, a cause of fatal food poisoning. Because these bacteria are found naturally in soil, water and air, they could be found in any low-acid food and begin to grow and produce toxin when the conditions are right. That's why it is crucial to keep food safety in mind when storing your own low-acid vegetables, such as garlic, mushrooms and chili peppers or herbs in oil.

Take the following steps to ensure food safety when making and using your own homemade herb, vegetables and garlic-in-oil mixtures:

-Refrigerate fresh vegetables or garlic-in-oil mixtures, and don't keep them any longer than three weeks. After three weeks of refrigeration, botulinam toxin could have formed. Remove the vegetables after flavoring the oil, and the bacteria will not have a food source for growth.

-Use dried vegetables, garlic or herbs to flavor oil. These do not contain enough water to foster bacterial growth. Dried vegetables, garlic or herbs-in-oil mixtures can be stored safely at room temperature. Refrigeration may delay rancidity.

-Tomatoes-in-oil mixtures are safe, as tomatoes are high in acid and will not foster botulism-causing bacterial growth. Refrigeration may delay rancidity.

-Don't use vegetables-in-oil mixtures that show any signs of spoilage, such as bubbling or cloudiness.

For more information about making holiday gifts, visit OSU Extension's Lane County office Master Food Preserver Web site at
extension.oregonstate.edu/.../index.php
or call the OSU Food Preservation/Safety hot line, open through Oct. 1. OSU faculty and trained volunteers staff the hot line at (800)354-7319 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays (except holidays).

In addition, the OSU Extension Service offers many food-preservation publications online or in print. Visit the online catalog at: extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog or call (800)561-6719 to request a printed catalog.

More Information (from Canadian food inspection agency):

www.inspection.gc.ca/.../herbsoile.shtml

 
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December 28, 2004

I need help in making flavored oils. - Lu

Answers

By Sue (Guest Post)
December 28, 20040 found this helpful

When I want to change the flavor of a good oil, I always add about 1/2 cup of dried herbs or spices to about 2 cups of oil. If the herbs are not dry they may cause the oil to cloud and look spoiled.
A good oil to use is canola or olive both are unsaturated and heart healthy.
Good Luck,

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 228 Posts
December 30, 20040 found this helpful

i lucked out & happened across some marked down LAVENDER baby oil - so I bought a couple bottles-- but then it occured to me - that when that is gone & I want scented oil for bath & body - that baby oil isn't really expensive & I regurally keep a variety of oils on hand - so a few drops of my choice into the baby oil & *POOF* - I feel all special :)
gee
& at the Dollar General here - we now are so lucky to have a nice ethnic section - so VERY nice ointments are CHEAP & things like %100 PURE beezwax for hands & a very pretty Rose Oil & incredible bargains on exotic items --rare things that once could only be found in specialty catalogs !
I love the floral oils /carrot oil/ the list of what they carry these days is amazing !

also
I noticed several items listing PETROLEUM as main ingredient - like apple pectin - which I slather on neck & hands & lips -- and hair products

 
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July 20, 2009

I bought a decorative bottle and want to use Rosemary and Thyme from my garden to infuse olive oil. Should I dry them first?

By jwicklas

Editor's Note: There are many heath concerns regarding making flavored olive oils at home. Here is a request on ThriftyFun about this issue:

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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 846 Posts
July 21, 20090 found this helpful

Here's a good how to :-)

homecooking.about.com/.../blcon3.htm

 
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