Patti Trevino

Written by Patti Trevino

Published: 11 Feb 2024

Camryn Rabideau

Reviewed by Camryn Rabideau

9-best-olive-oil
Source: Rizoscurls.com

When it comes to choosing the best olive oil, it can be overwhelming with so many options on the market. Whether you're using it for cooking, dressing a salad, or dipping bread, it's important to find one that suits your taste and needs. In this article, we'll explore the 9 best olive oils available, providing details on their quality, taste, and uses. By the end, you'll have a better understanding of what makes each olive oil unique, helping you make an informed decision next time you're shopping for this flavorful and versatile ingredient.

Top Picks:

Overall Score: 9/10

Zahara Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Italy is a premium olive oil produced in Sicily. It is known for its rich taste, low acidity, and high polyphenol levels. The olives are handpicked from ancient trees and processed using cold press methods. This EVOO has won several awards and is a favorite among food enthusiasts. Each bottle comes in a beautiful gift box, making it an excellent present for food lovers. The oil pairs perfectly with a variety of dishes, adding a delightful Mediterranean flavor.

Key Features

  • Premium product of Sicily
  • Awarded as one of the best in Italy
  • The maximum expression of Sicilian oil
  • Limited artisanal production
  • The perfect food gift

Specifications

  • Dimension: 11.00Lx3.00Wx3.00H
  • Size: 16.9 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Pros

  • Rich taste and aroma
  • Beautiful gift packaging
  • Healthy and high-quality
  • Versatile in cooking

Cons

  • Potential for leaking during shipping

Zahara Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a top-tier product that delivers exceptional taste and quality. Its numerous awards and accolades speak to its excellence. The careful production process and unique flavor profile make it a standout choice for both personal use and gifting. While there is a minor concern about the packaging during shipping, the overall experience of using Zahara EVOO is highly satisfactory.

Overall Score: 8/10

Partanna Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 101-Ounce Tin, is a high-quality cold-pressed oil from Italy. With a net quantity of 101 ounces, it offers a bold and fruity flavor with a green hue and herbaceous aroma. The oil mellow slightly over time and becomes clearer as the sediment drops to the bottom of the tin. It's great for cooking and finishing dishes.

Key Features

  • Net quantity of 101 ounces
  • Cold-pressed oil
  • Bold and fruity flavor
  • Herbaceous aroma
  • Mellows over time

Specifications

  • Dimension: 6.00Lx3.75Wx10.25H
  • Size: 101 Ounce

Pros

  • High-quality flavor
  • Versatile for cooking and finishing dishes
  • Rich aroma and taste

Cons

  • Occasional dented cans upon delivery
  • Slightly more expensive than other brands

Partanna Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a top-quality product with a rich flavor and versatile usage. While it may be slightly pricier than other brands, the bold and fruity taste makes it a worthwhile investment. The occasional dented cans upon delivery can be overlooked considering the oil’s excellent quality and taste. Overall, this olive oil is highly recommended for anyone looking for a premium cooking and finishing oil.

Overall Score: 9/10

Experience the premium taste of N°1 Drinking Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Italy. This award-winning olive oil is rich in polyphenols and oleocanthal, giving it a distinctive flavor and aroma. Cold pressed within 4 hours of being hand-harvested, this extra virgin olive oil is of the highest quality, making it perfect for both drinking and finishing use. Each bottle comes with lab reports confirming its high polyphenol content and is packaged elegantly, making it an ideal gift for any cooking enthusiast.

Key Features

  • Supercharge with One Shot – Gourmet Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Awarded Winning Taste and Aroma
  • Premium Fresh Single Source Quality
  • Seems Natural, It's Supernatural
  • Premium Italian Gift

Specifications

  • Dimension: 11.40Lx3.70Wx2.10H
  • Size: 16.9 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Pros

  • High polyphenol and oleocanthal content
  • Premium single source quality
  • Elegant packaging, ideal for gifting

Cons

  • Pricier compared to other brands
  • Can be too bitter for some tastes

N°1 Drinking Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a premium product that lives up to its name. With its rich aroma and polyphenol content, it’s perfect for those who appreciate the finer things in life. While it may be a bit pricier than other brands, the quality and taste make it worth the investment. Whether you’re using it for cooking or as a finishing touch, this olive oil is sure to elevate your culinary experience.

Overall Score: 9/10

Ellora Farms Olive Oil is a certified PDO extra virgin olive oil from Crete, Greece. It's known for its rich fruity aroma and peppery flavor. Sustainably produced, single origin, and fully traceable. Its protective designation of origin ensures its quality and environmental consciousness.

Key Features

  • Protective Designation of Origin (PDO): Certified by the European Union
  • Single Origin & Single Estate: Harvested and bottled in Kolymvari, Crete
  • Fully Traceable: Can be tracked from grove to shelf
  • Sustainable Approach: Carbon neutral facility, green production methods
  • Cold Extracted: 100% first cold press of Koroneiki olives

Specifications

  • Dimension: 8.00Lx5.00Wx3.00H
  • Size: 33.8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Pros

  • Certified PDO Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Sustainably and ethically produced
  • Fresh, rich, and fruity aroma
  • Smooth taste with peppery finish
  • Fully traceable and single origin

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Smaller than expected size
  • Top of can is difficult to keep clean

Ellora Farms Extra Virgin Olive Oil stands out for its rich, fruity flavor and peppery finish. Its fully traceable, single origin, and sustainable production methods make it a top choice for those seeking authentic extra virgin olive oil. While it’s on the pricier side and comes in a smaller size than expected, the product’s quality and taste make it a worthwhile investment for cooking, dipping, and dressing.

Overall Score: 8/10

PJ KABOS 2024 Fresh Harvest is a premium Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil of Single Origin with a 16.9 fl oz tin. It has a rich, clean taste and is high in healthy antioxidants, suitable for various cooking needs. It is certified by the International Olive Council and has limited family production. The oil comes from olive groves near the site of Ancient Olympia in Greece. Its taste exhibits abundant fruitiness, medium bitterness, and pungency with notes of arugula, flowers, mint, and green almond.

Key Features

  • FRESH 2023/24 HARVEST
  • Healthy diet & Lifestyle
  • The real deal
  • Single origin & Traceable
  • Delicious taste
  • Limited, Family production
  • Direct customer service by extra virgin olive oil producer
  • Very high in polyphenols
  • Freshest harvest
  • Best before june 2025

Specifications

  • Dimension: 2.44Lx1.81Wx8.27H
  • Size: 16.9 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Pros

  • High in antioxidants
  • Limited family production
  • Great for various cooking needs
  • Direct customer service
  • Very high in polyphenols
  • Freshest harvest

Cons

  • Some containers arrived dented
  • Higher price point

PJ KABOS 2024 Fresh Harvest Olive Oil offers a premium quality product with a rich, clean taste that is suitable for various cooking needs. It is high in antioxidants and embodies the authentic Mediterranean taste. While some containers arrived dented and the price point is higher, the limited family production and direct customer service make it stand out. Overall, this product is highly recommended for those seeking high-quality olive oil for their culinary creations.

Overall Score: 8/10

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: The Truth in Your Kitchen is a comprehensive guide to understanding the importance of quality and real extra virgin olive oil. The book covers how to select the right oil, different ways to use it, and the benefits of incorporating it into your cooking. It is designed to be an informative and engaging read for anyone who wants to learn more about this essential ingredient.

Key Features

  • Comprehensive guide to extra virgin olive oil
  • Tips on selecting the right oil
  • Ideas for using olive oil in cooking

Specifications

  • Dimension: 5.50Lx0.75Wx8.50H
  • Customer Rating: 3.9/5

Pros

  • Informative and engaging
  • Covers various aspects of olive oil

Cons

  • May be too detailed for casual readers

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: The Truth in Your Kitchen is a worthwhile read for anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of this essential kitchen ingredient. While it may be too detailed for casual readers, the comprehensive information and engaging presentation make it a valuable resource for cooking enthusiasts.

Overall Score: 7/10

The Olympian Myth Koroneiki Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a high-quality, polyphenol-rich olive oil recognized for its numerous awards and naturally antioxidant-rich qualities. It is produced by a Greek family of olive farmers and is ideal for vegetarian dishes, dipping, and healthy cooking. The product comes with a QR code that connects each bottle to the field, providing information on harvest date, lab reports, certificates, awards, and food pairing suggestions. The oil has very low acidity and is a keto diet superfood, offering high polyphenol content with a delicious, robust taste. Despite impressive customer ratings, some users have experienced issues related to packaging and dented containers.

Key Features

  • 70X more hydroxytyrosol polyphenols than average EVOO
  • Top 50 olive oils of Greece list
  • Naturally antioxidant-rich
  • Very low acidity (0.21%)
  • Keto diet superfood
  • Grown and produced by a Greek family of olive farmers

Specifications

  • N/A

Pros

  • Award-winning with high polyphenol content
  • Delicious and robust taste ideal for cooking
  • Comes with a QR code for traceability

Cons

  • Issues with packaging and dented containers

The Olympian Myth Koroneiki Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil offers a delightful, robust taste and high polyphenol content, making it an excellent choice for cooking, dipping, and vegetarian dishes. However, potential concerns regarding packaging and container quality should be considered before making a purchase.

Overall Score: 8/10

Les Terroirs De Marrakech Olive Oil is a premium, award-winning EVOO harvested from bicentenary olive trees. It is known for its robust flavor with complex green aromas. The oil is both carbon neutral and polyphenol rich, making it suitable for a wide range of culinary combinations and an exquisite dipping or finishing oil. Its distinctive glass bottle adds an elegant touch to any kitchen. Packed with health benefits and certified organic, this olive oil represents the finest Moroccan culinary culture.

Key Features

  • High quality cold-pressed organic extra virgin olive oil
  • Robust flavor with complex green aromas
  • Carbon neutral & polyphenol rich
  • Prestige company expressing the best culinary culture
  • Used by Michelin starred restaurants

Specifications

  • Dimension: 2.88Lx1.88Wx12.25H
  • Size: 17 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Pros

  • Carbon neutral and polyphenol rich
  • Award-winning and premium quality
  • Suitable for a variety of culinary combinations

Cons

  • Bottle cap may leak during transportation

Les Terroirs De Marrakech Olive Oil is a premium product with a robust flavor and rich aroma. It is packaged in an elegant glass bottle and is suitable for a variety of culinary applications. The oil is also carbon neutral and polyphenol rich, making it a healthy and environmentally friendly choice.

Overall Score: 8/10

Threpsi Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a high-quality, cold-extracted olive oil made from 100% Koroneiki olives by small-scale family farmers near Kalamata, Greece. The oil is certified organic and has a truly extra virgin status, tested to be far below the threshold for oleic acid content and peroxide level. The olive oil offers a balanced flavor, is mindful of best by date, and is said to taste delicious. However, some customers have reported issues with leaking during shipping and difficulties with returns. The product comes in a 16.91 Fl Oz bottle and is gluten-free.

Key Features

  • Certified Organic: True
  • Truly Extra Virgin: True
  • Small Family Farmers: True
  • Koroneiki Olives: True
  • Extracted Cold: True
  • Unit Count Type: Fl Oz
  • Allergen Information: Gluten free

Specifications

  • Dimension: 2.25Lx2.25Wx11.25H
  • Size: 16.91 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Pros

  • Certified organic
  • Truly extra virgin
  • Made by small family farmers
  • Great taste
  • Mindful of best by date

Cons

  • Issues with leaking during shipping
  • Difficulties with returns

Threpsi Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil stands out for its exceptional quality, full-bodied taste, and the use of organic, cold-extracted Koroneiki olives. While some customers have experienced issues with shipping and returns, the overall consensus is highly positive, praising the oil’s flavor and health benefits. If you’re a fan of Greek olive oil, Threpsi is definitely worth trying.

Best Olive Oil Buyer's Guide

  • Types of Olive Oil
    • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
      • Made from the first press of olives
      • Low acidity level (less than 1%)
      • Best for drizzling over foods and salad dressings
    • Virgin Olive Oil
      • Slightly higher acidity level (less than 2%)
      • Not as high quality as extra virgin, but still good for cooking and dressing
    • Pure Olive Oil
      • A blend of virgin and refined olive oil
      • Less flavor than virgin oils, but great for high-heat cooking
    • Olive Oil
      • A blend of virgin and refined oils
      • Has a milder flavor and higher smoke point, suitable for frying and baking
  • Packaging
    • Dark, glass bottles
      • Protects the oil from light and air, prolonging shelf life
      • Look for a bottle with a tight-fitting cap to prevent oxidation
    • Tin cans
      • Good for long-term storage
      • Keep away from excessive heat and light to maintain quality
  • Quality Indicators
    • Harvest Date
      • Look for bottles with a harvest date, not just an expiration date
      • Fresher oil will have better flavor and health benefits
    • Certification
      • Look for seals of approval such as "PDO" (Protected Designation of Origin) or "PGI" (Protected Geographical Indication) to ensure quality
    • Taste Test
      • If possible, sample the oil before purchasing to ensure it meets your taste preferences
      • Look for fruitiness, bitterness, and spiciness in the flavor profile
  • Nutritional Value
    • High in Monounsaturated Fat
      • Good for heart health
    • Contains Antioxidants
      • May help reduce the risk of chronic diseases
    • Low in Saturated Fat
      • Better for overall health compared to other cooking fats
  • Usage
    • Cooking
      • Use extra virgin olive oil for low to medium-heat cooking and drizzling over foods
      • Use pure olive oil for high-heat cooking such as frying and baking
    • Salad Dressings
      • Extra virgin olive oil is best for making salad dressings due to its bold flavor
    • Finishing Dishes
      • Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over finished dishes for added flavor and richness
  • Storage
    • Cool, Dark Place
      • Store olive oil away from heat and light to maintain its quality
      • A pantry or cupboard is a good place for storage
    • Use Quickly
      • Olive oil doesn't improve with age, so use it within a few months of opening for the best flavor
  • Price
    • Quality vs. Price
      • While higher-priced oils may indicate better quality, do some research to ensure you're not overpaying for a subpar product
      • Look for value in terms of taste, quality, and health benefits
  • Brands
    • Research
      • Look for reputable brands with a history of producing high-quality olive oil
      • Read reviews and seek recommendations from trusted sources
  • Culinary Uses
    • Flavor
      • Different olive oils have varying flavor profiles, so experiment with different types to find what works best for your cooking needs
    • Experimentation
      • Don't be afraid to try new recipes and techniques with olive oil to expand your culinary skills

Remember, the best olive oil for you will depend on your specific culinary needs and taste preferences. Experiment with different types and brands to find your perfect match. And always remember to store your olive oil properly to maintain its quality and flavor. Happy cooking!

Frequently Asked Questions about 9 Best Olive Oil

What makes olive oil the best choice for cooking?

Olive oil is considered the best choice for cooking because it has a high smoke point, which means it doesn’t break down and produce harmful compounds when heated. It also has a delicious flavor that can enhance your dishes.

How do I choose the best olive oil for my recipes?

Look for extra virgin olive oil, which is the highest quality and is made from pure, cold-pressed olives. Check the label to make sure it’s not mixed with other oils and has a certification seal for authenticity.

Can olive oil benefit my health?

Yes, olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, which have been linked to various health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease and inflammation.

What are some creative ways to use olive oil in cooking?

You can use olive oil for sautéing vegetables, making salad dressings, drizzling over bread, and even marinating meats. It can add a delicious and healthy touch to any dish.

How should olive oil be stored to maintain freshness?

To maintain the best quality and flavor, store olive oil in a cool, dark place away from heat and light. Make sure the bottle is tightly sealed and use it within a few months of opening for the best taste.

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