Favorite Olive Oil?

[Mysterian]

Thank you all for some of these suggestions thus far! I did not know Jean Reno even had his own blend.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I just bought some Great Value yesterday. I went to put it away and saw there was a little left in the last one - also Great Value. We like it and we know what we’re getting. Sometimes I go to buy other brands but I’m not sure about them. We do use it a lot.

 

[unrequited23]

The best olive oil I've ever had in my life was brought home as a souvenir from my Mom's trip to Greece--so light, so flavorful never had anything like it. It was in a metal container--about the size of a soup can. I regret that I didn't save the container so I could try to find more.

 

[porschegrl]

For an everyday olive oil, I like California Olive Ranch. My grocery store carries the 100% California. Sometimes I get the Arbequina or Arbosana from the local specialty food store.

For a finishing oil, dipping bread, etc. I like an Hojiblanca. Green and a bit spicy. I've been buying Oro Bailen brand off Amazon.

 

[bcla]

Thank you all for some of these suggestions thus far! I did not know Jean Reno even had his own blend.

I prefer Juan Moreno.

 

[BrianL]

We have a Mighty Olive store here that has all kinds of flavor infusions. I don't get them often as I don't cook with oil much, but they are good. My mom loves them! They are a bit pricey though.

 

[White Cat]

Publix.

 

[Skippy918]

I have the inexpensive olive oil I use for cooking. Then I have my high end local artisan garlic infused olive oil that I use for dipping and seasoning for stir fry’s and potatoes or anything I want a hint of garlic with.

 

[mumto3girls]

I use the big bottle from Costco.

 

[Imzadi]

We have a gourmet specialty food shop here in NYC called Fairway Market, that is famous for their specialty cheeses counter, specialty coffee beans and olive oil bar. Pre-Covid, one could taste the different blends of olive oils they have.

Of course the pandemic shut that right down, and they never re-started sampling their olive oils. But, before they stopped sampling, I found one olive oil there that I really love. It's Fairway's Catalan Arbequina House Blend. It's not really for cooking. It’s more for finishing a dish, dressing a salad, or bread dipping, where the olive oil is one of the main stars and not a hidden component. It is that flavorful, but not bitter. It has a slight peppery taste to it. As others have said, the mass market, manufactured bottles of olive oil just don't compare in taste.

Fairway Market has hit on hard times since the pandemic and also having a Trader Joe's move in a few blocks from them. I don't know what I am going to do for olive oil if they close down or stop making their specialty olive oils.

 

[Imzadi]

My sister and I take the ride to Ocean City, NJ to go to Capella's. They have all kinds of infused olive oils. We get the garlic. One bottle lasts me forever because I don't use it much, but I think my sister is making cocktails with it because she always seems to need some. It's so good! They also have an online store:

https://capellaoilandvinegars.com/shop/

Wow! I will have to stop in next summer. Although, I see they also have a 6-bottle gift pack, where one can choose their own flavors.

 

[Christine]

In reading this thread and thinking about olive oil, it really is almost like wine!!!

I think if you're just in general cooking something and sauteeing it, the oil doesn't matter because any flavor/good properties are broken down by the heat. But for other things, like drizzling, salads, dipping etc, I feel like using the "old grocery store" brands is like pouring canola oil on it. When I started tasting various olive oils from different regions/different olives I was really surprised by the variations. I happen to love it when I come across an olive oil that is very green and peppery--almost causes a little burn in the throat. I don't saute with that type as it would really just kind of ruin the flavor, but it's so nice to have a great olive oil when make the caprese tomato dish. It really makes a difference.

 

[mrodgers]

I've always understood extra virgin olive oil is for dipping, dressing, eating and regular olive oil is for cooking.

I don't eat anything putting extra oil on. I don't make Italian dressing or oil and vinegar as Olive Garden dressing I find delicious when I use Italian.

I don't find any difference cooking in different brand olive oils. It all seems the same to me, vegetable, corn, canola, olive, all seem the same to me. I don't deep fry food however. Little oil in the pan, no difference, but it would be a big difference deep frying as I have had french fries deep fried in just about all of those oils and olive oil is horrible for deep frying. Peanut oil is the one for french fries, yummy.

 

[Christine]

I've always understood extra virgin olive oil is for dipping, dressing, eating and regular olive oil is for cooking.

I don't eat anything putting extra oil on. I don't make Italian dressing or oil and vinegar as Olive Garden dressing I find delicious when I use Italian.

I don't find any difference cooking in different brand olive oils. It all seems the same to me, vegetable, corn, canola, olive, all seem the same to me. I don't deep fry food however. Little oil in the pan, no difference, but it would be a big difference deep frying as I have had french fries deep fried in just about all of those oils and olive oil is horrible for deep frying. Peanut oil is the one for french fries, yummy.

Yes, olive oil, especially EVOO, has a very low smoke point and should really never be used for anything that requires even a hot toss in a skillet. Refined olive oil can take more heat. I don't think I'd even consider deep frying with olive oil, lol!!

 

[leahgoogle]

After researching, I found that most US produced olive oil is cut with other cheap oils, unfortunately. I get California Olive Ranch which is suppose to be pure, but who knows! It does have a good flavor.

 

[DLgal]

Trader Joe's Premium Cold Pressed EVOO

 

[Donald Duck Family]

It's Christmas 2022, and everyone is talking about Olive Oil. Or they will be, because I've started a thread about it.

There are so many brands to choose from. Which do you prefer?

Myself, Pompeian Extra Virgin Organic (smooth or robust, either one). And if Pompeian wants to send me some for free, I wouldn't say no. (Just DM me for my address, Pompeian, and maybe throw in a shirt or something?)

I go for Pompeian too. I can usually get it on sale for a good price.