10 Best Olive Oils in 2022 (Chef-Reviewed)
Olive oil is a greatly versatile ingredient that can be used for cooking as well as for nourishing your skin or hair. Packed with vitamins, fatty acids, and antioxidants, olive oil provides many health benefits, which makes this super food a well-beloved item of many people.
There is a plethora of olive oil options on the market to meet the high demand. However, the multitude of olive oil in different flavors, types, and qualities may confuse you about which product is best suited for your needs. To save you time and make your decision-making much less difficult, we browsed through various reviews on Amazon and compiled our top 10 best olive oils and a buying guide with tips on how to choose the right product.
Quick List - Top Olive Oil
Pompeian
Farmer-Crafted Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Robust Flavor
Ellora Farms
Certified Olive Oil Without Any Solvents, Additives, or Preservatives
Colavita
Roasted Garlic Flavor for Subtle Sweetness and Fragrance
Danilo is an Italian chef who has grown up cooking traditional dishes under his nonna and mamma's tutelage. He has also worked in Italian restaurants in various countries such as Australia and Japan. The skills he has acquired in a home and professional kitchen have enabled him to preserve and expound on Italian cuisine while dabbling in recipes from other cultures.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
- Why Is Olive Oil so Great for You?
- How to Choose an Olive Oil - Buying Guide
- No. 1Pompeian | First Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- No. 2Ellora Farms | Extra Virgin Olive Oil ｜2 pack
- No. 3Colavita | Delicate and Mild Olive Oil
- No. 4Colavita | Roasted Garlic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- No. 5Papa Vince | Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 5 more products
- Expert Tips on Flavoring Your Own Olive Oil
- Looking for Other Cooking Ideas? We've Got You!
Why Is Olive Oil so Great for You?
Having fat in your diet is always a controversial topic, and many types of fat are not recommended to be used as a beauty product.
Just type in "fat" in a Google search, and you'll find that there are tons of debates and discussions revolving about animal fat, plant-based fat, nutty oil, and so on. However, one of the few fats that is approved as beneficial for your body is olive oil.
What is Olive Oil?
Olive oil is extracted from the olive tree's fruits and has a high amount of vitamins E and K as well as essential fatty acids. However, what sets olive oil apart from other oils is it that it contains an abundance of antioxidants that protect the cells from being damaged by free radicals.
Some of the notable antioxidants include oleocanthal (which reduces inflammation) and oleuropein, which can protect LDL cholesterol from oxidation. Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat that can withstand high heat, so you don't have to worry when deep-frying your favorite ingredients using this type of oil.
Some Benefits of Olive Oil
Because of its vitamins, antioxidants, and various benefits, olive oil is widely used in cooking as well as cosmetics.
Great for Your Overall Health
Olive oil can help prevent and treat some health problems such as atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. It can also regulate blood circulation and support our digestive and excretory functions.
Additionally, olive oil acts as a catalyst to enhance the metabolism in the body and strengthen the bones. The high amount of vitamin A, D, and K, as well as carotene and antioxidants in olive oil assist support our immune system to fight against illness and free radicals.
A Hero for Skin and Hair
As a fat containing great amount of vitamins and antioxidants, olive oil can nourish and moisturize your skin effectively. Especially for those with dry skin, olive oil can soften and exfoliate your skin, slow down the aging process, and reduce wrinkles and stretch marks.
Many people apply olive oil to their skin overnight to improve the skin's elasticity, giving it a youthful look. Besides nourishing your skin, olive oil can help prevent hair loss and tangles. Your tired, dull hair will become silky-smooth in no time!
How to Choose an Olive Oil - Buying Guide
In this buying guide, we narrowed down some aspects that you should look into when purchasing a product, including the type of the olive oil, the bottle color, shelf life, among others.
Choose from Different Types of Olive Oil
There are four main types of olive oil: extra virgin, virgin, pure, and lite. Different types have their own pros and cons, so you should consider them carefully to see which type meets your needs and preferences!
Extra Virgin Oil: Unrefined, Highest-Quality for Salad or Beauty Care
Extra virgin olive oil is extracted directly from olives. This type of oil has low acidity (often less than 0.8%) and the purest, richest taste. Acidity indicates the amount of fatty acids in an olive oil; anything higher than 2% is considered inedible.
This is considered the highest quality oil since it is raw, unrefined, and does not go through many production processes, thus retaining all of the antioxidants and inflammatory properties. As a result, the price is relatively high.
This oil is great for marinades, salads, dipping, and drizzling, as well as for your hair and skin. You should not use this olive oil for deep frying, since the smoke point is only around 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you’re after some of the best extra virgin olive oil in the world, I would recommend those that come from Italy, specifically from Tuscany or Puglia regions and those from the southern Italian region.
The reason for this is location. Italy is surrounded by seas bringing in different winds that boost olive plant growth and quality. You can also expect top-notch quality from olive oils made in Spain, which is no surprise as about half of the world’s supply comes from Spain.
Virgin Olive Oil: Decent Acidity Level, Not Intensely Processed
Virgin olive oil, similar to extra-virgin, is not intensely processed. However, it has a higher acidity level than extra virgin, but it cannot exceed 2%.
Even though the flavor is not as dense and bold as extra-virgin olive oil, virgin oil is still great in terms of quality for an affordable price. Many people use this type of oil for marinades, salads, sautéing, or beauty care.
Pure Olive Oil: Light Flavor, Great for Cooking
Pure olive oil often undergoes various treatment processes such as refining. The final product is often taken from the second press, thus has a lower purity compared to virgin and extra-virgin oil.
Compared to unrefined oil like extra-virgin, refined oil such as pure olive oil tends to lose a bit of olive flavor and color, as well as bitterness. Therefore, it contains fewer antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. You can easily find this type of oil in supermarkets. Usually, this oil is great for cooking, frying, or deep-frying.
Extra-Light or Pomace Olive Oil: Affordable but Processed
This olive oil has an extremely mild or light flavor since it has been processed multiple times. If you want some very mild olive flavor on your sauces or foods, you can use this type of olive oil since it will not overpower the taste of other ingredients.
Some cleansing oils also use light olive oil, since it is safe for people's skin while pretty affordable in terms of pricing. If budget is your main concern, then light olive oil is an option to consider.
Pay Attention to the Shelf Life and Production Method
As a rule of thumb, you should buy fresh olive oil for the richest taste. It's also useful to pay attention to the harvest date. The more recent, the fresher it is! If you don't see the harvest date on the label, you might want to consider another product for safety and freshness reasons.
You should also pay attention to its production method. Great olive oil should be cold-pressed with no heat involved during the extraction process since heat could remove the delicate aroma and taste of olives.
If you have the means to, go small and artisan when it comes to olive oil. The reason for this is big commercial brands use their best olives for selling. Meanwhile, the not-so-good olives are turned into oil.
With small, home-grown bands, you can expect that they use their best olives in oil production. Therefore, if you’re after top-notch olive oil, going small is advised.
Consider an Olive Oil Based on Its Taste and Color
A good olive oil should have a grassy, fruity fragrance with a pronounced green or bright yellow color. The taste should be peppery, bitter, and even pungent.
Therefore, when choosing olive oil online, you should look at the review section and see if there are any comments on the taste of the olive oil. If people say the color is light with no bitter taste, then it's likely that the oil has been exposed to heat or light and lose some of its nutrients.
Furthermore, many olive oils are infused or flavored with different ingredients such as garlic, herbs, or chili for a different taste. If you want to add some more flavors to your cooking, you can choose those products as well!
Instead of buying olive oil with added ingredients and paying more for them, you can actually make it yourself. I grow my own chilis, such as habanero and Trinidad Scorpion. You can mix and match for great flavor.
There’s a drying and “fermenting” process, however, which might be tedious. A quick alternative would be to use dried chili, opening them and pouring in the seeds and skin into a bottle of olive oil. The quality of homemade spicy olive oil made with fresh chili is unlike others. You can use it on pizza, meats, and basically anything you want to spice up.
Look at Bottle Color and Certification
To retain its freshness, olive oil should not be exposed to heat or light. Especially for extra-virgin olive oil, you should look for the one with a dark-colored or opaque container since it will protect the oil from being damaged by light.
If you still want to choose a clear bottle, you can put it into boxes or in a closed cabinet to protect the oil from light or going rancid. If you're someone that uses a lot of olive oil quickly, though, this may not be as much of a concern!
Official certification is also another aspect that you should consider. Olive oils that are certified by organizations such as California Olive Oil Council as 100% extra virgin tend to have better quality than others. Ones approved by 'AOC' (France), 'DOP' and 'DPO' (Italy), or 'DO' (Spain) are of great quality as well.
When it comes to choosing the olive oil bottle, a rule of thumb would be glass for better quality. A plastic bottle shows the manufacturing process, budget, and quality since plastic packaging is relatively easier to produce.
The same goes for olive oil that is shipped from abroad. Imagine the changing temperatures that a plastic bottle is more susceptible to. If your olive oil lasts more than a month, you have more reason to avoid plastic packaging as certain chemicals like PVC could seep into the oil and alter its flavor.
How to Choose an Olive Oil - Buying Guide
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Pompeian First Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil | | Farmer-Crafted Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Robust Flavor | |
2 | Ellora Farms Extra Virgin Olive Oil ｜2 pack | | Certified Olive Oil Without Any Solvents, Additives, or Preservatives | |
3 | Colavita Delicate and Mild Olive Oil | | Light Taste With a High Smoke Point of 428 Degrees Fahrenheit | |
4 | Colavita Roasted Garlic Extra Virgin Olive Oil | | Roasted Garlic Flavor for Subtle Sweetness and Fragrance | |
5 | Papa Vince Extra Virgin Olive Oil | | Long-Lasting Good Fat with Low Acidity for Many Diets | |
6 | Pompeian Extra Light Olive Oil | | Naturally Non-Allergenic Olive Oil, Great for Sauces | |
7 | Fratelli Mantova Black Truffle Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil Spray | | Truffle-Flavored Spray With Bag-on-Valve Technology | |
8 | PJ Kabos Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil | | 100% Olive Oil from Ancient Olympia Vicinity with Low Acidity | |
9 | Mabrouka 100% Premium Moroccan Virgin Olive Oil | | 100% Natural Certified Moroccan Virgin Oil | |
10 | MaryRuth Organics Extra Virgin Olive Oil | | Organic Ice-pressed Oil with Great Health Benefits and Fruity Flavor |
Farmer-Crafted Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Robust Flavor
Since 1906, Pompeian has been perfecting its olive oil using a cold-pressed method to produce the best-tasting and the highest quality. This farmer-crafted olive oil has a medium consistency and a robust flavor that is great on pasta, marinades, and salad dressings.
It is a good choice for dipping and drizzling as well. Many reviewers complimented this product for its rich flavor that noticeably enhances the taste of Italian or Mediterranean dishes, or simply some bread.
However, some reviewers warned that the oil might leak on delivery. The flavor may be too strong and can overpower other ingredients, so use your judgement.
Certified Olive Oil Without Any Solvents, Additives, or Preservatives
The product is processed through a green method, meaning that there are no solvents, additives, or preservatives involved. Furthermore, you can trace and verify the oil's origin and life cycle, so you know what you're getting!
Made from the unique ingredients and traditional methods of Kolymvari region in the island of Crete, Greece, the olive oil has an irresistible fruity aroma. There is a slight bitterness with notes of herbs and pepper as well.
Even though many reviewers love the high quality and the sophisticated flavor of the olive oil, some thought that the price was a bit expensive.
Light Taste With a High Smoke Point of 428 Degrees Fahrenheit
If you are looking for an olive oil product that has a light, delicate flavor and will not outshine other ingredients, you should consider Colavita's olive oil. Compared to extra virgin olive oil, it has a higher smoke point (428 compared to 374 degrees Fahrenheit).
The olive oil tastes quite buttery as well, thus suitable for pan-frying, braising, baking, or sautéing. The extra plus point is that this product is carbohydrate and cholesterol-free.
Many reviewers complimented the product for its high smoke point. Nevertheless, since the olive oil is mild and nearly tasteless, you should not use it for dressings or dipping.
Roasted Garlic Flavor for Subtle Sweetness and Fragrance
This garlic-infused product has a mellow, fragrant flavor that can make a simple dish become much more enticing. Either for cooking or straight-up dipping, this olive oil works well for all situations. Many reviewers said they virtually used the product for everything, and it never disappointed them.
Even though it is also certified by Monash University as suitable for a low FODMAP diet, you should still refrain from buying or consult with your doctor if you cannot eat garlic safely. Naturally flavored with garlic, the product may still be able to trigger a reaction.
Long-Lasting Good Fat with Low Acidity for Many Diets
With a free fatty acids level under 0.26%, this olive oil has the lowest acidity on the market. As a result, it has a long shelf life of up to 4 years.
It is produced using a water-less two-phase continual cold-pressed method, allowing the olive oil to retain all of its antioxidants. It's also hand-picked and 100% from Italy, so you can rest assured knowing exactly where your olive oil is coming from.
Many reviewers commented that the taste of this olive oil was full-bodied, fruity, and peppery. Despite the great flavor, the price was a bit pricey.
Naturally Non-Allergenic Olive Oil, Great for Sauces
If you want some light olive oil that is perfect to make sauces or used in baking, this non-allergenic, may be a good choice. The light and subtle flavor means that you can combine it in many dishes, without overpowering the main ingredients.
Many reviewers used it for either mayonnaise or aioli sauce and were impressed by the results. It does not burn quickly, and the price is relatively affordable as well.
However, some reviewers received products that expired soon after, so you should contact the manufacturer to be sure of the expiration date.
Fratelli MantovaBlack Truffle Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil Spray
Truffle-Flavored Spray With Bag-on-Valve Technology
Flavored with black truffle, the olive oil can add pronounced and unique flavor to your risotto, pasta, bread, or any other dishes. In addition, the revolutionary bag-on-valve system of this spray helps expel the oil without the need for additives or emulsifying agents.
You will also receive the freshest, best quality oil as well since the olive oil is not affected by light. Some reviewers mentioned that the product was both naturally and artificially flavored, so you should make sure that you are not allergic to any ingredients.
100% Olive Oil from Ancient Olympia Vicinity with Low Acidity
Earning a gold medal at the 2020 Los Angeles Extra Virgin Olive Oil competition, this olive oil has proved that its flavor is one of the top-notch! The flavor intensity is from delicate to medium and great for either cooking or dipping.
It has a pleasant aroma of green fruit, grass, and fresh herbs. You can find some fruitiness, bitterness, as well as some pungent notes of tomato leaf and spices.
The acidity during production hovers around 0.17%, a pretty low level. The smoke point is up to 395 degrees Fahrenheit. However, many people said that the olive oil taste was pretty light, and the price was high for the amount received.
100% Natural Certified Moroccan Virgin Oil
This product is produced using a first cold-pressed method. The olives are hand-harvested and all production processes are treated with care.
Some reviewers said that the taste was quite robust and could add to your dishes a noticeably unique flavor. However, if you prefer something mild, this olive oil might not be for you. The price is affordable as well. Yet, some reviewers said they could not find an expiration date on the bottle, so you should check with the manufacturer to be sure.
Organic Ice-pressed Oil with Great Health Benefits and Fruity Flavor
Produced using an ice-pressed method, this olive oil is 20 to 30 times colder than those produced using the traditional method. Therefore, the olives' original nutrients still remain without being affected by temperature.
This oil has a ton of polyphenols, indicating that it's rich in anti-inflammatory properties and can benefit your cardiovascular health. Some reviewers said that you should store the product carefully to avoid it from being affected by heat.
Expert Tips on Flavoring Your Own Olive Oil
Danilo says, "Want to get the best-tasting homemade flavored olive oil? Remember to always dry the extra ingredients you will be adding. For example, you can cut fresh chilis in half, sprinkle them with rock salt, and put them under the sun to dry. The salt will absorb excess moisture for the drying process.
They will need about two weeks under the sun, changing the salt when needed. When they’re dry, place the chili into the oil in a bottle. Store in a dark place and let rest for two months. Every five days to a week, overturn the bottle to ensure a good mix. This process is like winemaking.
What you get with careful preparation and aging is superior quality. If you don’t dry your extra ingredients well, they will grow mold when inside the oil and cause it to expire faster."
Looking for Other Cooking Ideas? We've Got You!
If you are hoping to find some options that can make your cooking life much easier, look no further! Check out our links for recommendations.
Top 5 Olive Oil
No. 1: Pompeian｜First Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil
No. 2: Ellora Farms｜Extra Virgin Olive Oil ｜2 pack
No. 3: Colavita｜Delicate and Mild Olive Oil
No. 4: Colavita｜Roasted Garlic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
No. 5: Papa Vince｜Extra Virgin Olive Oil
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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