Selecting Olive Oil

How do you know what to look for when selecting olive oil for recipes? Flavour, smoke point, nutrtitional value, grade, and variety are all contributing factors.

The wonderful flavours of olive oil are what set it apart from all other vegetable and seed oils.Read a little more about how Olive Oil Flavour influences your choice when selecting olive oil.

Will you be heating the olive oil? Which method of cooking are you planning to use? The smoke point is another consideration when selecting olive oil for recipes that involve heating the oil.

The number one reason I use olive oil is for its health benefits. It is a rare occasion when I deep-fry, so most of my family’s olive oil consumption is in dips, dressings, mixed with butter as a table spread or on popcorn.There are a lot more nutrients in olive oil than what is listed on the label

The olive oil grades will perform differently depending on how you choose to use them.The international olive oil council lists 9 grades in total, but we mostly see extra virgin, pure, or pomace olive oils in the stores. I use only extra virgin, pure olive oil has been refined and has a higher smoke point, but lacks flavour and nutritional value.

Each of the olive varieties offers a unique flavour, but the variety also impacts polyphenol content,shelf life, and quality of the oil.