Olive oil is a staple in kitchens around the world, cherished for its rich flavor and numerous health benefits. It’s one of the most coveted elements of the Mediterranean diet and one I try to incorporate in my diet whenever I can. It’s so versatile from using it right out of the bottle for salads to cooking with olive oil. Yes, you CAN cook with olive oil and should. I don’t know any Italian who doesn’t cook with olive oil and that’s basically the only oil you’ll find in their kitchen.
However, with so many options available, finding high-quality olive oil can be challenging. There are in fact counterfeit olive oils out there, which is sad but true. Additionally, the oil can go rancid so we’ll look at what to look out for as well. This guide will help you navigate the world of olive oil to find the best quality for your culinary needs.
This post is all about how to find good quality olive oil.
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Table of Contents
Why You Should Care About What You’re Buying
Olive oil has so many benefits and if you’re going to buy a good oil, you want to make sure you’re getting what you paid for. 60 Minutes actually held a whole segment about fake/counterfeit olive oil and it’s a bigger problem than you might suspect. In fact, it’s been corrupted by the mafia in Italy. In a study conducted by the UC Davis Olive Center, they found that 69% of olive oils that were marketed as ‘extra virgin’ didn’t even meet the criteria to be labeled as such. This can therefore be a bit tricky to wade through when you’re buying olive oil. But do the best that you can with the tips below.
Don’t just buy the cheapest brand, get caught up by marketing verbiage, or choose because of the picturesque looking label on the bottle!
What is Olive Oil and How is it Made?
Olive oil is quite a long process if you think about all that goes into it. This beautiful green goodness is made by collecting olives from olive trees (either by hand or machine) and mashing them in a mill. The olives are mashed until this fatty liquid we know as olive oil comes out. It’s then bottled and stored.
Understanding Olive Oil Types and Terminology
Before really diving into quality olive oils, we must first understand the different types that you’ll encounter while you’re shopping.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the highest grade of olive oil. It is made from pure, cold-pressed olives, has the most robust flavor that is fruity and peppery, has so many health benefits, and is the most expensive to buy. When it’s made it should be free from defects, not treated with heat, unrefined, and absolutely no chemicals. There should be a somewhat bitter and pungent taste to it, according to the standards set by the International Olive Council. This type of oil is ideal for dressings, dips, and finishing dishes, but it can also be used for frying, roasting, sauteing, and baking.
Virgin Olive Oil is also made from olives but may have slightly higher acidity compared to extra virgin olive oil. It is suitable for cooking but not as flavorful or fresh as extra virgin.
Refined Olive Oil is made from olives that are processed with heat and chemicals, which can strip away much of the flavor and nutritional value. It’s often used for high-heat cooking where the flavor of the oil is less important.
You may also encounter other terminology like ‘first pressed’ and ‘unfiltered’. ‘First pressed’ is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the olive oil that is first pressed from a batch of olives. An ‘unfiltered’ olive oil is simply one that hasn’t been filtered and has a cloudy appearance instead of clear. It doesn’t make a difference as to whether it’ll be a good olive oil or not.
See the below example of the olive oil I use – it notes that it’s first cold pressed.
How to Read Labels to find the Best Olive Oil
When selecting olive oil, pay close attention to the label and look for the following:
- Certifications like PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) can indicate high-quality oils that adhere to strict production standards.
- Harvest Date vs. Expiration Date: The harvest date is a better indicator of freshness than the expiration date. Olive oil is best used within a year of its harvest date to ensure optimal flavor and quality.
- Origin Information: Single origin olive oils, which come from one specific region or country, generally offer more distinctive flavors than blended oils. Try to avoid oils that have been blended with olives from multiple countries. For example, look for a bottle that solely uses olives from Italy or Greece. It should even give you the name of the town or area of the country where the olives came from. You may encounter abbreviations on the bottle for the country/countries of origin.
- Organic and Sustainable Labels: These can indicate that the olive oil is produced without synthetic pesticides and in an environmentally friendly manner.
- Avoid anything that says ‘light’ olive oil. There’s no such thing as a low fat olive oil that’s real! It has been altered in some way to make it ‘light’.
See the below example of countries of origin. In this olive oil by Partanna, it only notes a single origin for its olives. It’s produced and packaged in Partanna, Siciliy, Italy. On their website you can even find out what type of olives they use, which is their own Castelvetrano olives. This is exactly what you want to look for on the label.
Buy Partanna Olive Oil on Amazon!
What Else to Look for When Choosing an Olive Oil
There are a number of things to look for when you’re choosing an olive oil. You should be aware of the following characteristics: appearance, its flavor and aroma, packaging and storage, pricing, and finding reputable brands and sources.
Appearance
Appearance is pretty important when it comes to olive oil. However it’s not necessarily an indication of a good quality olive oil. Since the fruit will differ for a number of reasons, color can vary from yellowish to green. Dark, greener olive oils don’t signify better quality olive oils.
Evaluating Flavor and Aroma
Better ways to assess an olive oil is its aroma and flavor. That doesn’t mean go to the store and open up the bottles though. This may be a trial and error to finding a good oil, or consider watching Pasta Grammar and the Pasinis on YouTube. They both have entertaining and educational videos involving taste testing popular name brand olive oils.
Taste Test Tips: High-quality olive oil should have a balance of fruity, bitter, and peppery notes. The bitterness and pepperiness are often indicators of fresh, high-quality oil. There should also be low acidity. Extra virgin olive oil should only have about .8% acidity as per the International Olive Council standards.
Aroma Check: A good olive oil should smell fresh and fruity, not rancid or musty. The aroma can give you a sense of the oil’s quality before tasting it. If there’s virtually no smell to the oil, steer clear of it. It shouldn’t have a neutral odor.
Packaging and Storage
The packaging of olive oil plays a significant role in preserving its quality. The best type of packaging for olive oil are dark glass bottles. Dark glass protects the oil from light, which can degrade its quality. Avoid oils in plastic or metal containers, as these can affect the oil’s flavor. (Yes, mine’s in a metal container and I’m trying to find it in a glass container.) Be sure that the oil is stored properly. Store olive oil in a cool, dark place to prevent oxidation and spoilage. Heat and light can quickly degrade the oil, reducing its quality.
Price vs. Quality
While higher price doesn’t always guarantee better quality, extremely cheap olive oils can be a red flag. Quality olive oils are often priced higher due to the cost of production, quality of olives, and processing methods. Understanding the cost factors involved—such as the region of production and production methods—can help you gauge whether an oil offers good value.
Reputable Brands and Sources
To be sure you’re getting a high-quality product, consider purchasing from reputable brands known for their commitment to quality. Specialty stores, farmers’ markets, and reputable online retailers often offer a selection of well-regarded olive oils. Reading reviews and seeking recommendations can also help you find trustworthy options. Try avoiding some of the big Italian name brand olive oils. These are typically produced poorly and use many different sources (countries) to produce the oil, which is what we want to avoid.
How to Determine if the Olive Oil is Rancid
It’s very important to know if an olive oil is rancid or not. In no way should it ever have an unpleasant smell or taste. It shouldn’t have the following characteristics:
- smell or taste fermented
- have a vinegar taste or smell to it
- Taste or smell metallic
- Smell in any way rancid
Myths about Olive Oil
There are some of the craziest things you can find on social media about things as healthy and good for you as olive oil. I’ve read about olive oil being a seed oil. Olive oil is not a seed oil. It’s made from the fruit (olive) in which the flesh and pulp are used to make it. Seed oils are made from the seeds of plants. They also require the use of harsh chemicals to extract the oil from the seed. True, good quality olive oil doesn’t use that method. It’s technically considered a vegetable oil even though it’s a fruit. However, it shouldn’t be confused with other types of vegetable oils like canola. This goes right along with avocado oil. I’ve seen avocado referred to as a seed oil but it’s not. The oil is made from the pulp of the fruit, not the seed or skin.
Another interesting discussion is not using olive oil for cooking. This is 100% wrong and based on very poor science. Olive oil in fact has a high smoke point and is many times used in cooking all through the Mediterranean and elsewhere.
Always be careful about what you read and believe on social media! 🙂
Conclusion
Choosing good quality olive oil involves understanding the types available, reading labels carefully, evaluating flavor and aroma, and paying attention to packaging and storage. By following these guidelines, you can select olive oil that enhances your dishes and provides the best health benefits.
This post is all about how to find good quality olive oil.
