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Truffle Oils

susan_fox_33805

I read somewhere not to bother with truffle oil because it (generally?) isn't infused with truffles but merely a chemical additive. Thoughts?

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Shannon_Barnes_68642

I bought truffle oil knowing it had no actual truffle in it; I love the smell of it, and I use it to finish some dishes, particularly eggs or potatoes. Someday when I have a ton of extra disposable money I'll invest in the real thing, but in the meantime, it's fun to use an ingredient that a lot of people aren't normally exposed to. I guess I consider it just part of culinary exploration.

susan_fox_33805

Yikes! Alaska ground shipping at $49.95!

susan_fox_33805

@dpietranczyk thank you so much! I am a fish sauce fanatic so I am eternally grateful for the reference. Do love this site. Just yesterday received the campfire salt from Salt Works, another platinum recommendation.

dpietranczyk_49940

@susanfox I love the stuff I get from Blis. Everything they do is pretty awesome. Especially the barrel aged fish sauce. Tartufare is also a favorite of mine, but I know a few people who don't like it.

http://blisgourmet.com/home/

http://www.amazon.com/White-Truffle-Oil-By-Tartufare/dp/B00348D9ZI

susan_fox_33805

Thanks, @Matthew and @Chris, it's helpful to have your perspectives.

Chris_Young_80640

Yes, most truffle oils are essentially perfumed with a volatile compound that is found in truffles.

But there is also nothing harmful or evil about it, unless you believed you were paying for true truffle oil. I do think the aroma is rather one dimensional, on the other hand many people like it. My personal attitude is that if you like the smell, than you should go ahead and use it.

And, yes, at The Fat Duck we sourced truffle oil that was perfumed by infusing real truffles. We did not prepare our own, however.

matthew.snyder77

If you are buying truffle oil in a store, chances are good it was made by people who might spend the rest of their morning making perfumes and colognes. There is approximately 0.0% of truffle in most commercially available truffle oils, especially when talking about white truffle oil; white truffles cost something like $1,000 for four ounces!

Some rather famous chefs have truffle oils in various dishes on their menus or in cookbooks (a quick hit of the Google Box found references to Heston Blumenthal and Thomas Keller). However, I'd be willing to bet that their oils are either sourced from artisinal producers or are house-made, thus ensuring that - yes, dear - there is truffle in that truffle oil.

Be anxious to hear the opinions of the experts.