How to Make Homemade Garlic Infused Olive Oil

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.)

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

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. Here I just 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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