Olive oil is one of the most popular ingredients in the world. It is used for cooking, flavoring, garnishing, and adding extra appeal to a wide variety of dishes. It is also consumed as an ingredient in certain cocktails.
The use of olive oils can bring out the true value and taste of certain dishes, particularly ones where lighter flavors are needed. Its aroma is distinctive and is often associated with real, authentic Italian cuisine. Not to mention the preconception that anything with olive oil in it is r healthy.
However, not all olive oils are made the same. Some will inevitably differ in quality, taste, color, aroma, and even mouthfeel. This is why it’s important to consider your choices and look at these five olive oils that we comprehensively ranked here.
Every single one of them provides excellent value for money. They all taste amazing, promise fresh and clean aroma, and are perfect for cooking a slew of delicious dishes. Go ahead and check them out now!
Best Olive Oils Comparison & Rating
Image | Olive Oils | Rating |
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| 97% | |
| 95% | |
| 94% | |
| 93% | |
| 91% |
Want to Learn More?
Before you decide which olive oil to buy, you might want to find out more about the best options available. This is to make sure that you will absolutely enjoy the olive oil that you would get for your kitchen. Also, be sure to click the yellow buttons below to see their best deals on Amazon! With that, here are five of the best options that we rounded up especially for you.
ZOE Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 3.5 x 2.5 x 5.5 inches |
Container | Tin |
Capacity | 2x 750 mL |
Weight | 4.2 pounds |
This pair of olive oil containers can keep the contents fresh for a very long time. The taste of the oils is exactly as you would expect from real extra virgin olive oil. When left unopened, they are guaranteed to last for years. When first opened, the freshness of the aroma and the intensity of the flavor would immediately be noticed. The contents are quite versatile, as well, and are perfect for traditional Italian dishes.
Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 11.8 x 8.1 x 3.9 inches |
Container | Tin |
Capacity | 3 liters |
Weight | 6.34 pounds |
This is good olive oil to have if you are working with vegetables, meats, and salads. The oil can even be used for baking certain types of bread. The taste is perfect and the aroma is exactly as you would expect. Pasta can be coated evenly without making it too greasy. It does not come with an unpleasant aftertaste either.
Colavita Roasted Garlic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 9.88 x 2.83 x 2.8 inches |
Container | Plastic |
Capacity | 946 mL |
Weight | 1.96 pounds |
For those who love their olive oils to have a bit of garlic in them, this is a great choice. You can literally smell the garlic oozing out of the bottle after you open it. The taste is distinctive and rich, as well. This can be used to cook with or to create excellent dips for bread. It’s perfect for making flavored toasts, as well.
La Tourangelle Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 3.25 x 3.25 x 8 inches |
Container | Metal Bottle |
Capacity | 750 mL |
Weight | 1.8 pounds |
For foodies who like a little more kick in their dressings, this olive oil is the one to get. It really delivers on its promise of being peppery. This makes it an absolute delight when paired with hot sauces and dip for chips. The packaging is quite tight and secure, so spillage is not a big problem. Making marinades and dressings with this is quite easy, as well.
Pompeian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 17.82 x 8.88 x 11 inches |
Container | Glass |
Capacity | 2 liters |
Weight | 4.2 pounds |
This is quite the consistent olive oil in terms of flavor and aroma. They both have just the right amount of intensity and robustness and are undeniably authentic. It’s best used to make as dressing or as vinaigrette by mixing it with various flavorings. Using this to slather bagels and other types of artisanal bread is recommended, as well. This can even be used as part of a cosmetic treatment.
Olive Oil Buyer's Guide
One of the biggest points of consideration, when you are thinking of buying olive oil, is the taste. It needs to taste like actual olive oil, with the right level of intensity and mouthfeel. It should never taste rancid, metallic, or sour because this indicates that it is already expired.
High-quality olive oil has good clarity and color. It must not be murky or have debris of any kind. The light should also filter easily through the substance when you hold it up to a light source like a bulb.
Olive oil can come in four main types, which are extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, refined olive oil, and pure olive oil. They will differ in terms of color, taste, and aroma, particularly when it comes to intensity. This is an important consideration since it can affect the quality and characteristics of your dish.
Olive oil, even the ordinary variety, can be quite expensive when compared to ordinary cooking oil. As such, you need to consider just how much you are going to buy based on what you will be using it for. Sure, you could save money if you buy in bulk, but olive oil is perishable and will go bad if not used.
Then there is the matter of the aroma, which is quite distinctive with olive oil. The intensity might differ depending on the type that you get, but you still know that it is olive oil when you smell it. Like with the taste, if the smell starts resembling gas, iron, or grease, it means that it has gone rancid.
FAQs
This is the type of olive oil that was extracted using cold-press without any heat involved. It’s also the first batch of oil that is coming out of the olives. In comparison, regular olive oil has gone through heat treatment and has been mixed with other oils from other sources. This makes extra virgin olive oil purer in both taste and substance.
In so far as it is healthier, has a more distinct flavor and aroma, and is purer. However, extra virgin olive oil does have limits in that it can be used for fewer things. For example, making savory bread would be less overpowering with regular olive oil than extra virgin olive oil. The former is also cheaper and can be bought in great quantities.
You technically could, but this would be a waste since olive oil is not typically used for that. Frying, especially deep-frying, would use a lot of the product. Olive oil is much more expensive than its more affordable counterparts like canola, palm, or coconut oil. It also has a much stronger taste and smell.
Olive oil can be used for a wide variety of dishes, including salads, pasta, savory pies, pizza, soups, and so much more. It is often intended to add flavor, aroma, and lubrication to dishes that might otherwise be bland or tasteless. Olive oil can also be used for various cosmetic reasons and beauty treatments.