Can I Use A Regular Spray Bottle For Olive Oil?
Quick Answer
Yes, you can use a regular spray bottle for olive oil by cutting it with water for better spraying. Ensure the spray bottle is clean, and mix one part oil with one part water, shaking before each use, especially if you’re using a regular spray bottle designed for water.
Read on for more detail
A great bottle of olive oil is nearly priceless in a kitchen, but sometimes what you really need is a spray oil.
For those quick frying pan dishes or oven roasting vegetables, you may be looking at your 1L bottle and asking yourself, is there any way to do this with a spray bottle instead of pouring?
So can you use a regular spray bottle for olive oil? Yes, you can use a regular spray bottle for olive oil, but you may need to cut your olive oil with water to be more like a cooking spray. You will also want to make sure the spray bottle is very clean before putting olive oil in it.
In this article, we’ll explain exactly why and how to turn your traditional liquid olive oil into a handy olive oil spray for any light cooking requirements.
How to Spray Olive OIl
Olive oil is much thicker than most cooking oil sprays. These sprays are either misted out in very fine droplets, or they’re diluted with water and an emulsifying agent.
You can make your olive oil spray work either way, depending on the style of spray bottle you have. If you have a spray bottle designed to spritz oils, you can use 100% olive oil.
However, if you have an inexpensive or “regular” spray bottle designed for water or cleaning sprays, for example, you’ll have better luck cutting your oil with water.
Homemade Non-Stick Cooking Spray
If you have a spray bottle designed for oils, you’ll need a funnel, your spray bottle, and your olive oil. Simply pour the oil carefully into your spray bottle and tighten the nozzle. Set it to mist or spray and you’re ready to go!
If you have a bottle designed for water, we recommend filling it 1/3 of the way with distilled room temperature water and 1/3 with olive oil. Leave the last 1/3 empty so that there’s plenty of room to shake the bottle well before using it.
Oil and water do not mix. So unless you want to use an emulsifier, such as guar gum or carrageenan, you’ll need to shake your bottle vigorously before every use to combine the water and oil as much as possible.
Cooking Spray Bottle
The most important part of the DIY olive oil spray hack is to find the right spray bottle.
Honestly, any spray bottle, even a plastic dollar store bottle, will do the trick. But the better your bottle, the more effective your spray will be and the longer your oil will stay fresh in the bottle.
Oil is thicker and more viscous than water or other liquids commonly sprayed out of bottles. So using a sprayer attachment that is designed to work with oils is a great start.
Olive oil will retain its nutritional value and freshness longer if it’s protected from UV exposure, so a dark bottle is best for long term storage. Glass bottles are also best for long term storage because they protect the oil better.
Our favorite spray bottles to use for olive oil are Amber Glass Spray Bottles from Sally’s Organics that are designed to be used with essential oils.
They’re protected against UV light, BPA, and lead-free. They even come with labels. This makes it easy in case you want to use the bottles for different kinds of oils or have one for oil and other for vinegar, for example.
The 16 oz bottles also come with both a mist setting and a stream setting, depending on your requirements. For making your own olive oil spray, these spray bottles will work well with straight olive oil or watered versions.
Cooking Spray Alternative
If you don’t have a spray bottle or any cooking spray, you can still use a small amount of oil. This will usually work instead of a spray.
When you’re greasing a pan and only need a tiny amount of oil, place a dollop in the center of your baking dish. Then use a flat cooking spoon or spatula to spread it evenly out over your dish.
When you want to very lightly coat vegetables for roasting, instead of spraying them in your baking dish, toss them with a small amount of oil in a large bowl before transferring them to a baking dish.
If it’s meat, like a chicken breast or steak, that you were going to spray, try pouring a small amount of oil into a separate bowl or dis. Then use a basting brush to paint the oil onto your meat sparingly.
Conclusion
Making your own cooking spray from olive oil is easier than you might expect. All you need is a reliable spray bottle and your olive oil.
Ideally, you’ll have a spray bottle designed for use with oils, but if not, you can simply make a 50/50 mix with oil and water and shake your spray bottle thoroughly before each use.
Up Next: The Best Olive Oil For Salads
You can NOT use any spray bottle. Food grade only. This is dangerous and bad advice as oil makes plastic leach.
Food grade spray bottles only.