How to Make Infused Olive Oil at Home (Garlic, Herbs + More)
Infused olive oil is a great way to add garlic flavor to your salad dressings and more. Learn how to make homemade garlic-infused olive oil.
If you’re like me, you love cooking with fresh garlic. It’s a great way for garlic lovers to add flavor without adding additional salt. With these simple steps, you’ll be on your way to making your own garlic-infused oil at home.
All you need are whole garlic cloves and extra virgin olive oil, along with an airtight container.
Infusing olive oil with fresh herbs is a simple way to add flavor to your cooking. There are a few different methods you can use, but the basic principle is the same: you submerge fresh herbs in olive oil and allow them to infuse for a period of time. The longer the herbs infuse, the more flavor they will impart to the oil.
(Originally published in August 2022, this post has been continually updated with new inspiration and more tips.)
Okay, can we just talk about olive oil for a second? Because in my house growing up, olive oil wasn’t just an ingredient — it was practically a member of the family. My grandmother treated it like liquid gold. It lived in a special spot in the kitchen, it went on everything, and you did not — I repeat, did not — substitute it with anything else.
That reverence for good olive oil never left me. And honestly? Making your own infused olive oil at home feels like a little love letter to that tradition. So let’s do this — here are my favorite variations, starting with the one closest to my grandmother’s heart.
How long does it take for olive oil to be infused by garlic?
The infusion of regular oil with herbs can be done within fifteen minutes. One of the easiest ways to infuse olive oil with fresh herbs such as rosemary, sage, thyme, or garlic is to warm the oil and place the herbs into the oil. The flavor will continue to enhance over the next several hours.
Can you leave raw garlic in olive oil?
Raw garlic in olive oil can be left for several hours up to two days at room temperature without the risk of botulism. To be on the safe side it is preferred to store in the refrigerator. While there are different ways to store olive oil, the ideal temperature to store oil is at room temperature (if it is not an infused oil) and away from direct light.
Is it safe to infuse olive oil with garlic?
It is safe to infuse olive oil with garlic. As long as you take the necessary precautions to infuse, store, and adhere to the shelf life it is safe to do at home.
How long does garlic soaked in olive oil last?
Garlic-soaked olive oil will last for up to two days without refrigeration. In an airtight container for up to one month if stored in the refrigerator.
Garlic Oil Recipe
Steps to Infusing Oil
- First, start with high-quality olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil will have the best flavor, but any good quality olive oil such as Canola oil from the grocery store will work however.
- Next, choose fresh herbs. Try different herbs for a variety of flavors Fresh is best but dried herbs may be used.
- To release the flavor used smashed garlic cloves. or bruising herbs with a rolling pin is a great option
- A garlic press is the perfect way to crush this amount of garlic
- In a small saucepan, warm the oil on medium low heat, never boiling
- Then, add the herbs to a clean glass jar and pour in the olive oil, making sure to completely cover the herbs.
- Finally, seal the sterilized jar tightly and allow the flavored oils to infuse
Use approximately 1:5 ratio -1 ounce of cloves of garlic to 1 cup of oil
How to make homemade garlic-infused olive oil
How to Make Homemade Garlic Infused Olive Oil
Ingredients
- 1 cup Olive Oil
- 1 – 2 ounces Fresh Garlic
- 1 Air tight glass jar
Instructions
- Start with high-quality olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil will have the best flavor, but any good quality olive oil such as Canola oil from the grocery store will work.
- Next, choose fresh herbs. Try different herbs for a variety of flavors Fresh is best but dried herbs may be used.
- To release the flavor used smashed garlic cloves. or bruising herbs with a rolling pin is a great option.
- A garlic press is the perfect way to crush this amount of garlic.
- In a small saucepan, warm the oil on medium low heat, never boiling
- Then, add the herbs to a clean glass jar and pour in the olive oil, making sure to completely cover the herbs.
- Seal the sterilized jar tightly and allow the flavored oils to infuse
Garlic and Herb Infused Olive Oil
This one is the classic — and if my grandmother were here, this is the one she’d nod approvingly at. The combination of garlic and fresh herbs creates something so fragrant and flavorful that you’ll want to drizzle it on absolutely everything. Think crusty bread, roasted vegetables, grilled chicken — honestly, a spoon works too and I’m not judging.
What you’ll need: garlic cloves, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, extra virgin olive oil.
Warm your olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat — never boiling, friend, never boiling. Add your smashed garlic cloves and fresh herb sprigs and let everything get cozy together for about 10 minutes. Pour into a clean glass jar, seal it up, and try to wait at least an hour before diving in. The flavor deepens beautifully overnight.
Perfect for: dipping bread, drizzling over pasta, finishing a pizza straight from the oven.
Rosemary Infused Olive Oil
Rosemary infused olive oil is one of those things that smells so incredible while it’s warming on the stove that your whole kitchen becomes the best place in the house. It’s earthy, piney, and just a little bit fancy — which is my favorite combination.
This one is wonderfully simple. Just a few sprigs of fresh rosemary and your best extra virgin olive oil is all you need. Warm gently, let infuse, pour into a pretty bottle. Done. It also happens to make one of the most beautiful homemade gifts — tie a sprig of dried rosemary around the neck of the bottle with some twine and it looks like it came from a little Italian market. Your friends will absolutely love you for it.
Perfect for: roasted potatoes, focaccia, marinades, and drizzling over white beans.
Lemon Infused Olive Oil
If garlic and herb is the savory workhorse of the infused oil world, lemon infused olive oil is its bright, sunshine-y sister. It’s light, fresh, and just a little bit citrusy — and it will completely transform a simple salad dressing or a piece of grilled fish.
Use fresh lemon peel here — not the juice, just the peel — and make sure you’ve given it a good wash first. A couple of wide strips of zest, gently warmed in your olive oil, is all it takes. The citrus oils release into the olive oil and create something genuinely lovely. This one is particularly magical in the spring and summer when everything feels fresh and bright.
Perfect for: salad dressings, grilled seafood, drizzling over asparagus, or stirring into hummus.
Chili Infused Olive Oil
And then there’s this one — for when you want a little heat in your life. Chili infused olive oil has a slow, warm kick that builds as you eat, and once you have a bottle of it in your kitchen you will find yourself reaching for it constantly. It’s that good.
Use dried chili flakes or whole dried chilies — dried is important here, as fresh chilies can introduce moisture and affect shelf life. Warm them slowly in your olive oil, let the heat bloom into the oil, and taste as you go. Want more heat? Leave it a little longer. You’re in charge here — and that’s the beauty of making it yourself.
Perfect for: pizza, pasta, eggs, roasted vegetables, or anywhere you’d normally reach for hot sauce.
Which Herbs Are Best for Drying?
To dry herbs, simply hang them in an area where they will be exposed to the air. Let your herbstuffs rest overnight so that any moisture can evaporate and leave behind the best flavor.
When infused olive oil is used in cooking, the flavors of the herbs are released, adding a new dimension to your dish.
7 Top Tips for infusing olive oil
Here are the 7 tips to infuse olive oil
- Use fresh olive oil for the best results
- It is best to not wash herbs, unless necessary.
- Allow herbs to dry thoroughly, if wet is a good option that should not be skipped.
- Test out herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme which are all classic herbs that pair well with olive oil, as well as lemon peel.
- Experiment with different combinations such as whole cloves and rosemary to find your favorite!
- Store infused oil in the refrigerator
- Do not bring oil to a boil (beneficial health compounds will diminish)
How to dry herbs?
Drying your herbs doesn’t need to be complicated. I used some twine and hung my herbs off the porch railing.
Infusing vinegar is another good idea and does not require a cup of olive oil. Since I had so many fresh lemons in the house, I decided the best way to use them was to infuse the lemons with peppercorns for my vinegar.
If you’re anything like me you love lemons! My family uses fresh lemons to make limoncello every year.
Simple Late Summer Meal
One of my favorite dishes is a simple garlic olive oil drizzled over angel hair pasta with freshly grated cheese and San Marzano cherry tomatoes.
It’s so simple and perfect for a fall dinner along with a Caprese salad and your favorite bread.
Another great recipe would be to use your oil and make a basil pesto over pasta.
The infused oil can be used in all sorts of dishes, from salads to pasta to desserts. It adds a flavorful boost that you can’t get from plain old olive oil. So why not give it a try?
With fall around the corner, you may enjoy this perfect summer-to-fall soup!
My love of olive oil doesn’t stop with infusing olive oil for cooking. Did you know I have a skincare line of olive oil products, including a hand, face, and body cream made with just 4 natural ingredients? You may read more here.
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What a fabulous idea and post Susan. I am sure the oils are delicious.
I will have to get David to try this.
thank you Wendy! They make great gifts as well. Susan
Great post, Susan! Your instructions are so clear. I definitely want to try this! Missy
thank you Missy. A fun idea for gifting as well. Add a tag and good to go! Susan
I love this idea. It would make such great hostess gifts or holiday gifts.
yes it sure would Renae! I gifted several already. Tie a pretty bow and label to add some whimsy! Susan
What a fantastic way to use herbs all year, Susan. I’ve always wanted to know how to do this! Thanks so much for your easy-to-follow instructions. I can’t wait to make some for our home and to gift as well. Hope your week is a special one, CoCo
thank you! They make great gifts any time of year. Enjoy!