Ebooks doTERRA eBook Essential Oils and Cooking | Page 8

Potent oils
While the FDA GRAS list acts as a guide for essential oils that are safe to consume, it is important to note
that some essential oils that have been approved for internal use are still very potent, and must be altered
or modified before internal consumption. The following essential oils are extremely potent, and users should
always employ the toothpick method when using these oils for cooking:
Cassia
Cinnamon
Clove
Cumin
Thyme
Oregano
These oils should also be properly diluted when added to beverages. To ensure proper dilution of these oils, use
at least four ounces of liquid when adding any of the essential oils listed above to your drinks.
How do I know how much of an essential oil to add?
As mentioned, the amount of essential oil you add to your dishes will depend on many different variables like
the particular recipe you are making, how many servings you make, what kind of oil you are using, and your
personal taste buds. In most cases, it is best to start by using the toothpick method, and slowly adding more
and more oil to the recipe. Once you have a little experience with cooking using essential oils, you can better
gauge how much of an oil to add to a recipe, and you won’t have to taste the food each time after adding a
toothpick’s worth of oil.
In some cases, it is appropriate to add an entire drop (or several drops) of an essential oil, but just remember:
once you’ve added an essential oil to your dish, you cannot take it back. You can always add more oil, but
once added, you can’t take the flavor back, so use caution when adding essential oils to your meals, and
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stick with the toothpick method until you feel more comfortable with cooking using essential oils.
Toothpick Method One Drop Several Drops
Allows you to add the smallest
amount of an essential oil. Use for
particularly potent essential oils.
Taste-test before adding more. Helpful when cooking
large quantities of food.
Works for essential oils
with a mild chemistry. Can help preserve flavor when baking or cooking
with heat. Best for large quantities of food, or mild
essential oils. Pour droplets into a spoon, or use a
dropper for exact amounts.