Not all extra-virgin olive oils are created equal
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Sales of olive oil have gone up substantially the last few years, thanks to it's heart-healthy benefits. You can pay anywhere from a few dollars to more than $100 for a bottle.
Extra-virgin olive oil is supposed to be flawless, but our news partners at Consumer Reports say some brands don't live up to that high standard.
Consumer Reports just tested nearly two dozen extra-virgin olive oils to see if they make the grade - and not all of them did.
A good olive oil is a real treat, whether you're dipping a piece of crusty bread into it, adding it to a bean salad or drizzling it onto a tomato, mozzarella, and basil appetizer.
Consumer Reports tested 23 extra-virgin olive oils from a number of countries including Italy and Spain, as well as the state of California. Expert consultants assessed freshness and olive fruit flavors to determine if there are any defects, like oxidation.
"As the oil ages, it goes from slightly stale, wet cardboard, papier-mâché flavors all the way to rancid, painty notes," says Erin Gudeux of Consumer Reports.
Extra-virgin olive oils are supposed to be top quality.
"It not only has to pass some basic lab tests, but on top of that it has to have an absolutely defect-free flavor, no off-notes at all," says Gudeux.
But testers found only nine of the 23 oils truly tasted like extra-virgin olive oil. And several big-name oils, including ones labeled extra-virgin from Bertolli and Goya, rated only fair.
But Consumer Reports did find two excellent olive oils. Both come from California.
The McEvoy Ranch olive oil has an intense aroma with a distinct, balanced olive fruit flavor - but it's pricey at $22 a bottle.
Far less costly is Trader Joe's California Estate olive oil at $6 a bottle. It has very complex and balanced flavors, with a strong aroma.
Either would be a welcome addition to any dish that calls for drizzled olive oil.
Two other less-expensive olive oils are rated very good in Consumer Reports' tests. They're the Kirkland Signature Select toscano from Costco and Whole Foods' 365 Everyday Value 100-Percent California unfiltered olive oil.
Be aware, when it comes to cooking, there's no need to use a pricey olive oil. That's because high heat can destroy the subtle flavors. Use the good stuff on salads and bread.
Extra-virgin olive oil is supposed to be flawless, but our news partners at Consumer Reports say some brands don't live up to that high standard.
Consumer Reports just tested nearly two dozen extra-virgin olive oils to see if they make the grade - and not all of them did.
A good olive oil is a real treat, whether you're dipping a piece of crusty bread into it, adding it to a bean salad or drizzling it onto a tomato, mozzarella, and basil appetizer.
Consumer Reports tested 23 extra-virgin olive oils from a number of countries including Italy and Spain, as well as the state of California. Expert consultants assessed freshness and olive fruit flavors to determine if there are any defects, like oxidation.
"As the oil ages, it goes from slightly stale, wet cardboard, papier-mâché flavors all the way to rancid, painty notes," says Erin Gudeux of Consumer Reports.
Extra-virgin olive oils are supposed to be top quality.
"It not only has to pass some basic lab tests, but on top of that it has to have an absolutely defect-free flavor, no off-notes at all," says Gudeux.
But testers found only nine of the 23 oils truly tasted like extra-virgin olive oil. And several big-name oils, including ones labeled extra-virgin from Bertolli and Goya, rated only fair.
But Consumer Reports did find two excellent olive oils. Both come from California.
The McEvoy Ranch olive oil has an intense aroma with a distinct, balanced olive fruit flavor - but it's pricey at $22 a bottle.
Far less costly is Trader Joe's California Estate olive oil at $6 a bottle. It has very complex and balanced flavors, with a strong aroma.
Either would be a welcome addition to any dish that calls for drizzled olive oil.
Two other less-expensive olive oils are rated very good in Consumer Reports' tests. They're the Kirkland Signature Select toscano from Costco and Whole Foods' 365 Everyday Value 100-Percent California unfiltered olive oil.
Be aware, when it comes to cooking, there's no need to use a pricey olive oil. That's because high heat can destroy the subtle flavors. Use the good stuff on salads and bread.
