As your essential oil collection increases, so does your know-how. You learn which oils are best to use in the morning. You curate a mental list of diffusion blends that change the mood in your home. And you know which essential oils help you find your Zen when added to bathwater. But did you know that many of our oils can be used in the kitchen?
We’ve compiled some of our favorite tips for using essential oils in the kitchen. Add these delicious tips to your repertoire!
Breakfast
Snacks
Dinner
Beverages
What other secrets do you have for using essential oils in the kitchen? Share your ideas in the comments!
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Do you have the recipe for the delicious drink that was served at the Monaco Farm Day during convention last year on the Wednesday farm day? I know it had guava and pineapple in it. But would love the full recipe.
I have been wondering for some time now how to incorporate the EO into mainly baking. This has all been extremely helpful for my starting point. I have a pie shop and I would like not to zest for the time and money factor. I excited to experiment now.
Good job sharing this content
I like peppermint hot cocoa. I make up a cup of hot chocolate and then I dip a toothpick into peppermint vitality essential oil and then swirl the toothpick into my cup of hot chocolate. It is great for cold winter nights! YUM!
I'm baking a cake and want to use nutmeg vitality. How much would I use if it cake for a teaspoon? For the amount differ for the frosting?
Hi Nicole, You can add essential oils in your favorite recipes that call for dried herbs, spices, or fruit juices. Simply replace these ingredients with the equivalent essential oil. Keep in mind that essential oils have a much stronger flavor than dried herbs and spices, so a much smaller amount is generally sufficient. We recommend starting out with small amounts of oil and then increasing the amount according to your own taste. Also, remember that essential oils have highly volatile constituents and can be changed or altered during the cooking process, so it is best to avoid exposing them to extreme heat. This can be prevented by lowering your stovetop temperature, using the essential oils in conjunction with extra virgin olive oil, or by adding the oils after the dish has been removed from heat.
These ratios can also provide a guideline for how much essential oil to use in substitutions:
• Juice or zest of one citrus fruit = 10–15 drops of oil
• 1 liquid tablespoon or more = ½–1 drop of oil
• Less than 1 tablespoon = 1 toothpick swirl of oil
I love YLEO and I was sharing with a friend who recently asked me a question about the "Vitality" brands.
Can you use regular Oregano EO or others like Peppermint that come in the 15ml bottles to cook with also?
Can you add a drop or two of regular Peppermint to a glass of water for flavor or does it have to be the "Vitality" labeled Peppermint?
In regard to all the oils in the "Vitality" group;
Should you only use "Vitality" oils for cooking and/or flavoring or can you use the same oils that can be ordered in the 15ml bottles?
Both regular EO & "Vitality" brand say 100% Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil. (Same ingredients, same oil).
Is there any difference between the regular 15ml bottle of EO and the oils labeled as "Vitality"?
The only difference I can see is that the "Vitality" labeled group are only available in the smaller 5ml bottles.
Would you please clarify?
Thank you.
Hi Jason, Young Living® has recently made some changes to the instruction panel on our essential oil labels. These changes were made to align our labels with FDA regulations that state a product cannot be labeled for use as a dietary supplement AND for topical or aromatic use, both could not be on the same label. In compliance with these regulations, our essential oils have been displaying labels that distinguish the products intended as a dietary supplement and those intended to be used for topical application or aromatic use. This labeling did not reflect any changes to the constituents or benefits of our essential oils. With that being said the Vitality line of oils is the same 100% therapeutic-grade essential oils for which Young Living has become known. The Vitality line has been created so that members can now draw clear distinction between topical/aromatic use and dietary use. This should drastically widen the communication opportunities for Young Living essential oils moving forward. We recommend following the usage directions as listed on the individual bottle labels. Thanks for stopping by!
I have used a tea of culinary lavender in home canned peach jam before and would like to know if lavender essential oil may also be used? Will the high heat of a water bath canner alter the flavor of lavender, i.e. become bitter? Thanks!
Hi Teresa, We cannot guarantee the aroma or taste of the Lavender essential oil when exposed to extreme heat, such as in the canning process, as the oil may lose some compounds due to evaporation. Thanks for stopping by with your question!
Can you make lemonade with essential oils?
Great question, Cherbear! Check out our recent blog post on how to make Honey-Lavender Lemonade here: https://www.youngliving.com/blog/honey-lavender-lemonade/ using Vitality essential oils. Enjoy!
How many drops of Rosemary is equivalent to 1/2 tsp of dried rosemary leaves, crushed? I am making sausage balls for Memorial Day. Thanks!
Hi Crystal, Great question! Dried rosemary can be replaced with just a drop of Rosemary Vitality™ in your favorite recipes. Thanks for stopping by!
Is it safe to cook with Essential Oils when you have children under the age of 6 in the house?
Great question, Brady. Essential oils can be safely used around and for children. Please always follow the directions and safety guidelines on each individual product label. In addition, due to the small amount of essential oil which is typically required for cooking there should be no need for concern. However, if you have further questions regarding using essential oils in dishes for your children, we would suggest speaking with a health professional. Thanks for stopping by!