Tip of the week: How to choose good olive oil
Look for ‘extra virgin’; Check the harvest date; Think domestic; Sample it at home
Look for ‘extra virgin.’ Oils that earn the highest grade conferred by the International Olive Council must pass a taste test and have very low acidity. Beware the terms “refined” and “pure.” The first designates oil that’s been processed with solvents to mask odd odors and flavors. The second, oddly, describes a blend of virgin and refined.
Check the harvest date. Olive oil is good for about two years, and fresh olive oil tastes better than older oil. Also, note where the oil is from. If it was “produced” in Italy but the olives were grown elsewhere, the travel time likely caused some degradation.
Think domestic. California oils “consistently score higher in quality than -imports”—probably because they’re fresher.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sample it at home. Taste the oil when you get it home. If it tastes or smells of wax, salami, or peanuts, it’s rancid, so return it.
Source: HuffingtonPost.com
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Big Tech's answer for AI-driven job loss: universal basic income
In The Spotlight A new study reveals the strengths and limitations
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'I will not be silent' on Gaza, says Kamala Harris
Speed Read In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Harris supported Israel's right to defend itself while expressing a desire to end Palestinian suffering
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
'How long can TikTok dominate as a social network?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published