Oliveoilis a pantry staple.
For most home cooks, it’s a go-to, heart-healthycooking oilor salad dressing base.
But, how much do you really know about choosing the best olive oil for your cooking needs?
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Many monounsaturated fats can withstand high heat, so it’s a good option for cooking.
It’s also full of flavor and is a healthy choice for a finishing oil or a vinaigrette.
What should you look for when shopping for olive oil?
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Always buy extra virgin olive oil, no matter how you use it.
Extra virgin olive oil, often shortened to EVOO, is the highest-quality classification for the oil.
EVOO should also carry the flavor of fresh olives.
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The oil also undergoes a sensory test, where professional taste-testers look for defects and fruity flavors.
“My recommendation would be [that] you should always buy EVOO, even when you’re cooking.
But Ricchiuti says there’s a reason the other oils are so much cheaper.
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Plus, they likely lack flavor and may not have as many health properties.
However, virgin may be OK in some cases, he said, like using it for a stir-fry.
He suggests that it’s better than other vegetable oils, like corn oil.
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Look for dark glass bottles or metal tins.
Light and heat can degrade olive oil, Ricchiuti explains.
He recommends only buying EVOO that comes in dark glass bottles or metal tins.
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Check for a recent harvest date.
Reading labels is key to making sure you’re getting the best quality product.
The harvest date, which shows when the oil was made, should be as recent as possible.
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(After all, fresh oil is always best.)
Older, less fresh varieties began to lose their health benefits and flavors.
Pay attention to where the oil comes from.
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Look for the region where the oil was made.
Labels also should list the producer or farm.
Review the list of ingredients.
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Another thing to check is the list of ingredients.
double-check “100 percent extra virgin olive oil” is the only thing listed.
Store your oil properly at home.
No-sugar-added recipes you’ll actually look forward to eating.
What are some creative ways to use olive oil?
Olive oil is commonly used to saute meat or vegetables or as a main ingredient in salad dressings.
Olive oil can even be used to make ice cream.
We love thiscitrus olive oil cakefrom Cookie + Kate and thesewhole wheat olive oil chocolate chip cookiesfrom Ambitious Kitchen.
“There are always fun ways to use it,” Ricchiuti says.
“People need to not be scared of it.
It’s good fat.
It’s very healthy.
It has lots of flavor and health benefits.
