How do you choose an olive oil?

blunomore

blunomore

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Supermarkets have a bewildering array of olive oils to choose from. How does one decide?

I have given up and normally just go for a middle of the range one (price wise).

Help, please :)
 
Cheapest one on offer. As long as it's proper Olive Oil and not that mixed stuff.
 
A regular virgin olive oil for cooking and an extra virgin olive oil for salads... Read the labels to make sure it's not a blend posing as the real thing and then check the prices.
 
blunomore said:
What do they mix it with ?
Click to expand...

I seem to remember seeing some that are Olive Oil mixed with some other vegetable oil like canola etc. You get the taste of Olive Oil but it's much cheaper. Not for me though.
 
Olive oil in clear glass in no good as light destroys the oil's beneficial properties. Extra-virgin has a lower acidity than virgin olive oil and is more expensive. Mediterranean countries mostly use the extra-virgin. That's all I know about olive oil. :o

How large is the range at the supermarket?
 
jingaling said:
Olive oil in clear glass in no good as light destroys the oil's beneficial properties. Extra-virgin has a lower acidity than virgin olive oil and is more expensive. Mediterranean countries mostly use the extra-virgin. That's all I know about olive oil. :o

How large is the range at the supermarket?
Click to expand...

Huge range! Maybe 20 different types/brands to choose from!

I found this very interesting article on the topic: http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2007/09/8-tips-for-usin/
 
I tend to try out a new one every time I buy. Olive oils are like red wines, each one has their own unique characteristics and some of them are just lousy. Latest one I am trying is a local brand, can't remember the name now.
 
Must be cold-pressed. So I have read.
 
blunomore said:
What do they mix it with ?
Click to expand...

Take a look here:


http://beta.mnet.co.za/carteblanche/Article.aspx?Id=1821

One of the oils sent for testing to Bloemfontein - Aphrodite - contains a colourant that Lodewyk has identified as Lipo Green LT.

'According to the manufacturer, this dye is particularly developed for inclusion into petro-chemical solvents and also used, for instance, in solvents that are used in the cleaning of motor engines. So this is definitely not for food grade, this is not good or fit for human consumption or to be included in an oil like this,' he says.
 
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Billy said:
Take a look here:


http://beta.mnet.co.za/carteblanche/Article.aspx?Id=1821

One of the oils sent for testing to Bloemfontein - Aphrodite - contains a colourant that Lodewyk has identified as Lipo Green LT.

'According to the manufacturer, this dye is particularly developed for inclusion into petro-chemical solvents and also used, for instance, in solvents that are used in the cleaning of motor engines. So this is definitely not for food grade, this is not good or fit for human consumption or to be included in an oil like this,' he says.
Click to expand...

I remember that... Threw up in my mouth a little back then too.
 
Cold press/first press is usually the expensive olive oil (and the best one) over R100 a liter.

I usually buy around R60-R70 a lt as is good enough for me and my pocket. Due to the crisis in europe, lots of cheap spanish, italian & greek olive oils are available at Fruit & Veg.

I bought once in checkers a 2lt Extra virgin spanish olive oil in PLASTIC bottle for R80 (R40 per LT) which was the cheapest i've seen (and not bad quality).

Also in fruit & veg city you can buy olive oil by the liter with prices around R45-R65 depending of the quality (you can buy the empty bottle and choose your oil).
 
Where is DJ... when you need him?

He screwed us royally (and himself) when he committed forum suicide with his volatile personality.
 
I only buy San Sebastian X-virgin, cold pressed. It can be bought in a 2L "ses-man-can" box wine-type dispenser, or square bottle. It's made & processed & bottled on an olive farm on the Breede River, near Cape Infanta and I think it is one of the southernmost olive producers world-wide.
 
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