How to Preserve Olives in Oil: Two Easy and Quick Methods

Discover how to prepare olives in oil using two simple and quick methods to preserve this delicious fruit for a long time.

Introduction

In this article, we will prepare olives in oil. There are many recipes for preserving olives, which can be seasoned, unseasoned, in oil, in vinegar, or in brine. Today, I will show you a general recipe for preserving olives in oil without pitting them, using two methods. Follow me carefully to the end to discover all the steps and the comparative results between the two methods.

Ingredients and Preparation

Ingredients

• 1 kg of fresh olives
• Half a kilo of salt
• One tablespoon of salt
• Spices to taste (oregano, cloves, garlic, juniper berries, etc.)
• Olive oil or seed oil

First Method: Traditional with Water and Salt

The first method involves using water and salt to remove the bitterness of the olives. Here are the steps:

1. Fill a container with water and add a tablespoon of salt.
2. Let it rest for twelve hours, then change the water.
3. Repeat this operation for ten days, changing the water twice a day.

This procedure serves to remove the bitterness of the olives. After ten days, the olives will be ready to be dried and preserved in oil.

Second Method: Preservation with Salt and Spices

The second method is even simpler and requires less daily work. Here’s how to do it:

1. Take half a kilo of olives and half a kilo of salt.
2. Add spices to taste (oregano, cloves, garlic, juniper berries, etc.).
3. Close the jar and let it rest in the dark for ten days.

After ten days, the olives will be ready to be placed in oil. However, this method carries risks, such as mold formation. I recommend checking the olives and tasting them before proceeding.

Drying and Preserving in Oil

After ten days, regardless of the method chosen, the olives need to be dried. Here are the final steps:

1. Spread the olives on a cloth and let them dry for at least twenty-four hours.
2. Once dried, place them in jars and add spices to taste.
3. Fill the jars with olive oil or seed oil, depending on your preference.
4. Sterilize the jars in a water bath for forty minutes.

Once cooled, the jars will be ready to be stored for up to a year.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this guide on how to preserve olives in oil. If you have any suggestions or questions, leave a comment below. There are many other recipes to try with olives, so stay tuned for new ideas and methods. See you next time!