Olive oil question...

[Zeze]

They're graded by industry. That means cheapest generic XV is and should be same quality as super expensive XV right?

Just want to clear this that I've been curious about.

 

[lxskllr]

No! They're supposed to graded, but there's a lot of fraud in olive oil. Checkout the wikipedia entry. Your best bet is trial/error. Try a cheap one, and see how you like it. If you like it, great! If not, try another one. I'm suspicious of the high dollar oils. I suspect a lot of them are selling a pretty bottle, but I've never tried them. I use a lot of oil, and don't have the spare cash to spend on "exotic" oils.

 

[mmntech]

Olive oil is a lot like wine. That's especially true if it's cold-pressed. Quality and flavour depend on where and how it was grown, the type of olive used, how the producer processed it, etc. Like wine, expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. Never buy any less than virgin though. Lower grades are refined or mixed with other oils.

As said above, and like with wine, you have to taste it to see what you like.

 

[DesiPower]

Get extra virgin

 

[Zeze]

Get extra virgin

Reading fail.

 

[DesiPower]

Reading fail.

broken punometer?

 

[zinfamous]

No! They're supposed to graded, but there's a lot of fraud in olive oil. Checkout the wikipedia entry. Your best bet is trial/error. Try a cheap one, and see how you like it. If you like it, great! If not, try another one. I'm suspicious of the high dollar oils. I suspect a lot of them are selling a pretty bottle, but I've never tried them. I use a lot of oil, and don't have the spare cash to spend on "exotic" oils.

listen to lxskllr. adulterated olive oil is a huge, huge cash cow for organized crime. Some 70-80% of the stuff that comes out of Italy, Spain, and Greece is generally a grape seed oil blend. supposedly, this business is more profitable than cocaine, or comparable, at least.

the problem is that the grading system is mostly subjective. The acidity levels that determine virgin vs extra virgin are easy to reproduce with any type of oil or supplement. Despite what the label claims, the underlying system to determine such grades is flawed, so you can't really trust it.

I've found myself very happy these days buying the stuff that comes out of CA. it's rather cheap (in state, anyway), and it's a good enough product.

 

[zinfamous]

and remember--virgin is for cooking; extra virgin is for garnish--to be eaten as-is.

 

[DesiPower]

and remember--virgin is for cooking; extra virgin is for garnish--to be eaten as-is.

lol :biggrin:

 

[zinfamous]

lol :biggrin:

well, it's true...

:hmm:

 

[Demo24]

I've quite enjoyed the olive oils from Earthfare. They have one in liter bottles that's from Argentina, and I enjoy it the most. However I run through olive oil at a dizzying rate so instead I tend to get the 3l cans of it, which still tastes fine and lasts me longer. However if you don't use much OO, then don't get the larger quantities as it will go 'bad' with time after you open it.

 

[feralkid]

I've found myself very happy these days buying the stuff that comes out of CA. it's rather cheap (in state, anyway), and it's a good enough product.

I'd like to see that be the way of the future.

 

[BoomerD]

The best we've ever had:

http://www.sciabica.com/

Locally grown and processed.

 

[Fritzo]

Kroger brand is actually a decent mild olive oil. The brand at Costco is top notch as well (can't remember the name).

 

[crashtestdummy]

Also keep in mind that when used in cooking, all oils pretty much taste the same. So get a little bit of really good oil for flavoring to add after, but cook with cheap seed oils.

 

[FDF12389]

Just don't buy olive oil from target, they scan your ID, make you read a long winded discloser, take your prints, etc. I'm super serious.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Just don't buy olive oil from target, they scan your ID, make you read a long winded discloser, take your prints, etc. I'm super serious.

Well which are you? Soup or serious?

 

[bobdole369]

WHole foods store brand is remarkably good price/value ratio. It's often on b1g1.

 

[lytalbayre]

I buy local oil grown and pressed near Brentwood CA. Every year we go cherry picking and usually pick up a gallon of olive oil. Extra virgin, made from some type of Spanish olive. It's the best olive oil I've ever tried... and it's only like $20 per gallon.

 

[Scarpozzi]

In Italy, anything that's not labeled "extra virgin" only has to contain 10% olive oil. When I travelled over there a few years ago, that was one of the things I learned from the olive groves I visited. Also make sure you buy a reputable brand and only 'cold pressed'.

 

[Sentrosi2121]

My sister-in-law's husband lives in Italy. His parents own an olive farm. Guess where I get my oil from? About as fresh as it can get.

 

[Howard]

Lucini's a safe bet.

 

[dmcowen674]

Just don't buy olive oil from target, they scan your ID, make you read a long winded discloser, take your prints, etc. I'm super serious.

Crap, thought they were just doing that for the Balsamic Vinegar.

 

[Skitzer]

That only happens in Chicago

 

[rivan]

I like Costco's store brand.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...bdoff&browse=1