How to Buy Olive Oil: a Beginner's Guide

Posted by Amos Fred on February 25th, 2020

Olive oil is one of the best items you’ll have in your kitchen. But how do you shop for those bottles? Do you pick them up in the same way that you do your wine: browse over the offerings at the grocery store—whether in person or online—and say “Eenie, meenie, miney, mo?” If that’s your process, then you’ve been doing it wrong. Here are useful tips for choosing olive oil that isn’t poorly processed. By finding the best organic olive oil, you’ll get more out of your next buying sessions.

Know Your Options

To make sure you never swing a bottle of olive oil randomly into your cart ever again, figuratively or otherwise, start with the basics. Look for extra-virgin olive oil. That label is the highest designation of quality given to olive oil. It’s unrefined, which makes it free of any chemicals. You won’t have to worry about rancidity as well, and it is never treated with heat, Bon Appetit says. Of course, the quality will still vary, depending on the brand you pick. However, opting for extra-virgin olive oil winnows down your options effectively.

Skip Light Olive Oil

That may seem like a good thing. However, light means the oil has been refined and treated with heat. The process is done to remove the flavor and odor. Choosing this will give you olive oil that doesn’t taste or smell like what good olive oil should be like, so give bottles with this label a miss.

Check the Ingredients

Know what you’re putting into your meals and your body. Don’t choose a bottle simply because it comes with a “Product of Italy” or a “Product of Greece” label. Do your homework and find out more about the company behind the bottles. If the business has a solid reputation for delivering exceptional food items to the market, that’s a good reason to continue supporting the company.

Avoid Options in a Clear Glass

Light affects the taste and flavor of olive oil. Clear bottles often mean that the oil inside has lost most of its aroma as well as its flavor. Shop around for options offered in glass bottles. That’s how you know you’re getting excellent quality olive oil.

Read About the Terms

You’ll hear terms like “first cold pressing,” but the phrase is actually redundant. Extra-virgin oil comes from the first press and must be achieved without any added heat, Food & Wine explains.

It’s Not Like Wine

A lot of people mistakenly believe that olive oil gets better with age, like most wines. That’s not the case, though. In olive oil, you want it to be fresh. The fresher it is, the better. Fresh oils have assertive flavors that tend to overtake the fruity flavor. However, those in-the-know love the pungency of the flavors because it’s a sign of healthy polyphenols.

Use It Liberally

Discover new ways to enjoy olive oil. It’s not just for your salads and pastas. Or for cooking meats and fish. You can drizzle it over a hot baked potato or over a crushed ripe tomato on top of rice.