Hemp seed oil is a versatile and nutritious oil but how do we use it? It’s all very well being told “get this, it’s healthy for you” but if you then don’t know what to do with it, it can end up sitting in your cupboard for months. And, it will eventually get pushed to the back along with all the other jars and bottles of sauces, spices, stocks and condiments we bought on impulse at the supermarket or health food store.
Let’s try and give you incentive to keep your bottle of Hemp Seed Oil within easy reach. The biggest incentive to use this delicious oil should be the high health benefits of taking a tablespoon a day. The Omega-3s you get are one of the highest available – much higher than the oft-touted healthy Olive Oil. You can read more about the health benefits of Omegas here
But what can you do with it?
Can you cook with it? What does it taste like? Is it yuck on salads like other cooking oils?
Hemp seed oil is one of the most versatile oils you’ll have in your cupboard because its stable enough to cook with at low temperatures and delicious enough to have over salad. You definitely wouldn’t like to try that with vegetable oils.
Here are some common ways to use hemp seed oil:
1. Cooking and Baking: Hemp seed oil has a mild, nutty flavour and can be used as a substitute for other cooking oils in low-temperature recipes. Because it has a low smoke point it means that, at high temperatures, it can become bitter and lose its nutritional value, so we want to avoid that. Instead, use this oil in low temperature cooking such as braising meats, soups and stews, risottos or slow-cooked veges.
2. Salad Dressings: Hemp seed oil makes an excellent base for salad dressings. Combine it with vinegar or citrus juice, herbs, and seasonings to create a delicious and nutritious dressing or use as a finishing oil for dishes. Because of its flavour hemp seed oil is also delicious just tossed in your salad on its own without the need for an actual dressing.
3. Smoothies: Add a tablespoon of hemp seed oil to your morning smoothie for an extra boost of omega-3 fatty acids and a creamy texture. Try this one here with apple, banana and oats – such a yummy and nutritious way to start your day. Added bonus is that this one will keep you full until lunchtime!
4. Drizzling: Drizzle hemp seed oil over cooked vegetables, pasta, or grains just before serving to enhance their flavor and nutritional content. The warming of the oil when drizzled over warm dishes enhances the flavour giving a mild nutty taste but the heat doesn’t destroy the healthy omega benefits so you’re actually adding IN further nutrients without much effort at all!
5. Dips and Sauces: Incorporate hemp seed oil into homemade dips and sauces, such as hummus or pesto, for added richness and nutritional benefits. This is so easy to do. Hummus with hemp seed oil enhances the flavour with a nutty taste that, together with the garlic, really sits well on the palate. Switch out the olive oil in a balsamic and oil dip with hemp seed oil and you’ll find that a traditional oil and bread dip can taste even better!
6. Skin and Hair Care: Hemp seed oil is also used in natural skincare and haircare products. Well-known for its moisturizing properties, you can use it to help soothe irritated skin and reduce dryness and inflammation. Apply hemp seed oil directly to your skin or hair. It is also an excellent carrier oil for adding essential oils to your bath.
7. Supplements: You can easily take hemp seed oil as a dietary supplement in the form of capsules like ours here or by the spoonful.These both provide a convenient way to incorporate its nutritional benefits into your daily routine and it really is also delicious enough to take on its own by the spoonful!
8. Massage Oil: Due to its moisturizing properties, hemp seed oil can be used as a massage oil, providing a smooth glide and skin-nourishing effects. Just drop about a teaspoonful into the palms of your hands and rub your hands together to warm it up which helps it to go further as you massage along the back or limbs – in fact massage hemp seed oil anywhere that could use a bit of moisturisation or TLC.
9. Body Butter: Did you know, hemp seed oil makes the best body butter?! Just mix with shea and coconut butter (and any essential oil scent you like) and you’re well on the way to nourished, glowing skin. Try making it – you’ll find the combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids of hemp seed oil optimally support and nourish the skin reducing inflammatory skin conditions. Hemp oil body butter is also great for promoting stronger skin with greater resistance to bacterial, fungal and viral infections and preventing the growth of yeast through its antimicrobial properties. Get the recipe!
When using hemp seed oil, it’s essential to store it in a cool, dark place to prevent it from becoming rancid. Refrigeration can help prolong its shelf life. Additionally, be mindful of its low smoke point when using it in cooking and avoid overheating.
Hemp seed oil may be a little more expensive that traditional Olive Oil or supermarket cooking oils but its versatility means that you no longer have to have different oils for different things and the health benefits far outweigh the cost. We also have hemp seed oil in chilli and garlic flavours – just what you need to spice up your dishes.