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Truffle Oil - Finish Your Gourmet Recipes in Style
Truffle oil gives the taste and aroma of truffles to a recipe. Despite the name, a lot of truffle oils are made from synthetic ingredients in an olive oil base rather than from truffles. Some of the more expensive ones contain oil from truffles although it is hard to flavor an oil with truffles.
This oil is popular with chefs because it costs less than actual truffles. It also keeps longer than fresh truffles. It is available all year and the price does not change. A few drops of truffle oil can add an amazing flavor to appetizers or entrees and you only need a tiny bit because the flavor is highly concentrated.
Because truffle oil is so popular, there are lots of foods, which are available claiming to contain truffles. Real truffles are really expensive and a lot of people who use what they consider to be authentic truffle oil assume they know what truffles should taste like but they do not.
How is Real Truffle Oil Made?
This oil is made by infusing top quality olive oil with black or white truffles. Truffles have an earthy flavor, which is reminiscent of mushrooms.
This oil is made by soaking truffles in olive oil and French and Italian chefs would made their own before the 1980s, when commercial truffle oil hit the shelves.
Can You Cook with Truffle Oil?
Truffle oil is not for cooking; it is for finishing dishes. This is partly because truffle oil is very expensive (compared to other oils) and partly because the heat changes the oil's flavor. There is no point spending a lot of money on real truffle oil and then ruining the flavor by heating it.
You can use white or black truffle oil in a dish calling for the addition of this oil. Truffle oil is more of a flavoring than an oil. Drizzle it over foods to add an earthy, sophisticated flavor. It is really good with pasta or egg dishes.
Truffle Oil Storage
This oil loses its aroma and flavor over time because it is an infusion of truffle extract so keep it in the refrigerator. A lot of unrefined oils (that means oils obtained by mechanical cold pressing) will keep in a cool, dark place for between three and six months.
Storing truffle oil in the refrigerator means it should not lose its aroma for a few months but, because it is a very concentrated oil, only buy a small bottle unless you plan to use a lot of it.
Beware Fake Truffle Oil
Most "truffle oils" have never come into contact with a truffle, so if you want to buy authentic truffle oil be very careful which one you choose. If the ingredients list says "truffle aroma" or "truffle essence" then you know it is synthetic rather than authentic.
If you are happy to use synthetic truffle oil because you happen to enjoy the flavor, that is fine, but you should not be paying a lot for it. Only genuine truffle oil deserves the high price tag. If you want authentic truffle oil, which is made with truffles and olive oil, rather than synthetic chemicals, and oil, look for the phrase "infused with truffles" on the label.
