How To

How to Choose Olive Oil

What type of olive oil do you need?
What type of olive oil do you need?
Contributor
By Amy Brantley
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)

You see all the TV chefs using olive oil, but when you get to the grocery store it can be rather confusing. There are so many different types to choose from. Should you choose an extra virgin olive oil or plain olive oil. Which type do you need for the foods you'll be preparing? Don't worry about it. You just need to keep a few things in mind.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Consider how you'll be using it. It's important to determine how you'll be using the olive oil because this helps you decide what type you need. Some types of olive oil are simply too strong for certain dishes. In other words, not all types of olive oil work for every dish.

  2. Step 2

    Decide what level of flavor you want. Once you've decided what you need the olive oil for, you can determine what level of flavor you need. For example, regular olive oil would be perfect for cooking and baking. On the hand, extra virgin olive oil would be perfect to serve with a bread course. This is because regular olive oil has a light flavor, where an extra virgin olive oil has a much stronger flavor.

  3. Step 3

    Make sure it's 100% olive oil. Do not be tempted by price. You may find a brand of olive oil that is extremely cheap, but look closely. Chances are that product is a mixture of olive oil and others oils. This means that the product won't be as healthy or tasty as 100% olive oil.

  4. Step 4

    Think about flavors. Infused olive oils are perfect for certain cooking recipes. For example, an olive oil infused with garlic would make the perfect dip for a crusty bread. You can also find pepper infused olive oil that would taste great on pasta.

Tips & Warnings
  • Extra virgin olive oil is great on salads.
  • Never use extra virgin olive oil in baked goods.
  • Don't buy more oil than you can use. It will go rancid.
Photo Credit

Chance Agrella

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