Whether sautéing, baking, or roasting, you may reach for a bottle of olive oil to use. But how do you know that the olive oil you’re about to consume is high-quality?
Here at Fustini’s Oils & Vinegars, we prioritize the quality of ingredients to empower you to enjoy healthy and flavorful food. From our flavored olive oils to SELECT single varietal extra virgin olive oils to flavored balsamic vinegars to wholesome pantry items, we believe that you can taste the difference in quality with our products.
So how do you discern the high-quality olive oil from other varieties that lack that important quality? Here, we’ll share the importance of choosing an authentic olive oil to benefit both your health and your tastebuds.
What Is High-Quality Olive Oil?
High-quality olive oil is extra virgin olive oil that has superior taste and health benefits due to careful processing and handling.
Olive oil is classified as “extra virgin” when the oil is extracted during the first pressing of olives. Regular olive oil is made from a blend of processed oils. That means that one of the key distinctions between extra virgin olive oil and regular olive oil is the absence of processed chemicals. In grading olive oils, extra virgin olive oil represents the highest grade of olive oil, making it truly top notch.
Quality extra virgin olive oil has some key characteristics to be mindful of:
- Freshness: Since time is an enemy of extra virgin olive oil, high-quality olive oil has a recent harvest date, ensuring that the olives used in the oil are fresh and flavorful.
- Production: High-quality olive oil uses a cold-pressed extraction method to ensure that the oil maintains its natural flavor and health benefits.
- Flavor: Quality olive oil has a wonderful flavor of its own, which can vary based on its level of intensity. Overall, the flavor may be pleasantly fruity, have a slightly peppery aftertaste, and can range in color from a bright green to golden yellow.
To learn more about the importance of extra virgin olive oil, check out this blog article on what makes extra virgin olive oil so special.
Gourmet Olive Oil vs Grocery Store Olive Oil
Without tasting in-store, you may assume that any extra virgin olive oil you find on grocery store shelves must be quality olive oil. After all, that’s how it may be marketed and advertised. However, not all extra virgin olive oils are created equal, and there are some key differences between grocery store olive oil and high-quality gourmet olive oil.
Process: The olive oils you may find on grocery store shelves may come from an extraction process that’s less expensive but also introduces unnecessary chemicals and impurities into the oil. The best quality olive oils have a different process that does not introduce those additives in.
Labeling: Grocery store olive oils may not have certifications and labeling that identifies them as quality. Gourmet olive oils, like those at Fustini’s Oils & Vinegars, come with identification of quality. Some even have won awards at olive oil competitions for their impressive flavor and quality.
Location: Grocery store varieties of olive oil may have a general region or country of origin of the olive oil. Gourmet olive oils may have specific regions where the oil is sourced from, especially depending on the time of year when the freshest oils are available.
It’s important to note that price is not really a key difference between gourmet olive oil and grocery store olive oil. Due to the recent scarcity concerns of olive oil, the prices of each have become much similar. Learn more in this blog article about the scarcity of extra virgin olive oil.
Benefits of High-Quality Olive Oil
Prioritizing the quality of the extra virgin olive oil you select can bring you great benefits in both flavor and overall healthy characteristics.
Health Benefits of High-Quality Olive Oil
Olive oil that skimps on quality may be spiked with chemicals and impurities. Choosing a high-quality olive oil ensures that the process used in extracting the oil doesn’t include the addition of those unnecessary impurities like benzine and hexane. This authentic olive oil maintains those great health benefits like providing antioxidants, a healthy source of monounsaturated fat, and antibacterial properties.
Taste and Flavor of High-Quality Olive Oil
In addition to maintaining health benefits, the flavor and overall taste of high-quality olive oil is also distinct and better than lower-grade options. The mechanical process of other olive oils removes or changes the flavor and qualities of the olive oil. With a high-quality olive oil using a cold-pressed extraction method in a centrifuge, all the color, taste, vitamins, and nutrients remain intact. This is a difference you can taste whether using your olive oil to sauté, bake, or use for bread dipping.
How to Find High-Quality Olive Oil
Selecting the high-quality olive oils over compromised and lower-quality olive oils can actually be quite easy. Here are a few things you’ll want to keep an eye out for in finding your high-quality olive oils.
- Read the labels - Be sure you can find the production date and area of origin. For example, at Fustini’s, each of our bottles has a “freshest by” date. You can also learn about the region of origin.
- Check the storage - High-quality extra virgin olive oil should be stored in dark bottles away from direct sunlight.
- Note the process - Do your research to know how the olive oil was extracted. High-quality olive oil uses a cold-pressed method that does not include any other additives.
- Check the flavors - For flavored olive oils, ensure that the added flavors are made from natural ingredients rather than artificial flavors.
Choose High-Quality Olive Oil From Fustini’s
Fustini’s Oils & Vinegars makes it easy to find high-quality, gourmet olive oil and vinegar. With our dedication to working with and developing relationships with suppliers of high-quality olive oil that don’t skimp on the process, you can trust that the oil you find on our shelves is high-quality. From our SELECT extra virgin olive oils to our flavor-infused olive oils, cooking with Fustini’s means cooking with freshness and quality.
Shop Fustini’s SELECT extra virgin olive oils