Using Young Living Essential Oils in Cooking
Food grade essential oils can be used in cooking and beverages - enhancing flavor and providing a boost to health. All of Young Living's essential oils are high quality and those essential oils which come from edible plants (such as lemon, basil, thyme, oregano, marjoram, orange, Mountain Savory, etc.) are safe to use internally.
The easiest way to begin cooking with Young Living aromatherapy oils is to substitute the essential oils in recipes that call for dried herbs, spices or fruit juices. Simply replace these ingredients with the companion essential oil.
Essential Oils are More Potent Than Dried and Fresh Herbs
Being concentrated, the essential oils contain 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 concentrated, Essential Oils are from 50 to 70 times more therapeutically potent than the herbs or plants they are derived from. Unlike dried herbs, which lose up to 90% of their healing nutrients and oxygen molecules, essential oils do not. Best of all, 100% pure, therapeutic food grade Essential Oils are freely available and safe for cooking and home use.
There are approximately 60 drops of essential oil per teaspoon while this may not seem like much it is important to remember this example - just "one" drop of peppermint oil equals about 28 cups of peppermint tea.
How Not to Waste Your Young Living Oils or Ruin your Recipe
Always, start off using a single drop so as to not waste your Young Living essential oil, you can always add another drop if needed.
Dried Herb / Essential Oil Measurement Guideline
When a recipe calls for less than a teaspoon of an herb or spice, dip a toothpick in the center of the dripper cap and then swirl the toothpick in your recipe or beverage.
Always use the "Toothpick Method" for cinnamon bark oil, clove oil, ginger oil and nutmeg oil because the YL aromatherapy oils are much stronger that their companion spices.
Citrus Zest or Juice Measurement Guidelines
When using a YL essential oil in place of the zest of "one" lemon, orange or tangerine - you can use 8 to 14 drops of its companion essential oil.
- Always use the "Toothpick Method" for cinnamon bark oil, clove oil, ginger oil and nutmeg oil because the YL aromatherapy oils are much stronger than their companion spices.
- Citrus Zest or Juice Measurement Guidelines
- When using a YL essential oil in place of the zest of "one" lemon, orange or tangerine - you can use 8 to 14 drops of its companion essential oil.
Example: Zest of "one" lemon, orange or tangerine = 8 to 14 drops of its companion essential oil.
Spices / Essential Oil Measurement Guidelines
- One Tablespoon dried spice/spicy herb = 1/2 to 'one' drop of Young Living essential oil.
- Hot or spicy herbs are: marjoram, oregano, sage, rosemary, thyme, fennel, dill, black pepper, or coriander.
Interesting Fact
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.
Essential Oil Cooking Tips
Which oils are safe to use for cooking?
- Rule # 1 - Only use therapeutic-grade / food grade essential oils, we only recommend Young Living Essential Oils.
- Rule # 2 - Read the list of GRAS & FA List (Generally Regarded As Safe and Food Additive) as not all plants and their essential oils are for internal or cooking purposes.
For stronger spice oils - such as basil, cinnamon, marjoram, nutmeg, oregano and thyme - dip a toothpick in a bottle of essential oil and stir it in the recipe after cooking. It is an excellent way to flavor food. Remember, only 2 drops of an essential oil is equivalent to a full bottle (2 oz size) of dried herbs.
Toothpick Method
To have better control over the amount of essential oil you're putting in a recipe. 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.
Diluting Essential Oils Before Cooking (recommended)
Essential oils should be diluted/mixed in vegetable oil, Blue Agave syrup, almond 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, Blue Agave Syrup, or in 2 ounces of a beverage. (Honey should not be given to children under 2 years of age.)
Essential Oils and High Heat
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 help 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.
