Ack!! You mean my olive oil might be....er....eh..."experienced?"
Would love a list of what doesn't meet expectations.
Linda C

In case anyone is un-hip to site navigation, the words in blue type at the bottom of sushipup's post are known as a 'link'. Clicking on those words will take the user to an article which mentions some brands which didn't meet expectations. The article itself contains a blue link to more details.

Jim

One of the problems was that samples of the same brand brought in different stores were different. So the Bertoli from one store was okay, but another from a different area was not. So no, it is NOT a brand to brand comparison.

We've all been snookered, I'd guess.

Here's the link to the actual report

Here is a link that might be useful: Olive Oil report

PS, the actual report has a list of the samples they used, listed by brand.

sushipup to the rescue with another blue link! There were more brands in the study than I expected, based on the article.

Jim

I got an email about this from my local favorite olive oil people, the Sciabica's. There are more links about olive oil there if you scroll down a bit to their news section.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sciabica

I stopped buying EVOO years ago, I so rarely need the subtlety or added expense of EVOO.

I'm not surprised with the report, I've noticed lately that almost all the oil in the grocery stores is EVOO, there can't be that much EV. I have had a hard time finding just plain OO.

I also am not surprised by the report. I've bought the same brand at my local store and found significant difference from bottle to bottle. A few have been so "off" in taste I actually returned them to the store for refund/replacement. I always assumed the store was to blame - improper storage, exposure to heat, light, etc - but now I'm not so sure.

Anyway, I always buy whatever is on sale for EVO so it really doesn't impact me a lot.

Alexa

If you belong to Coscto, the olive oil they have branded under their "Kirkland" brand has been very a very consistant product for me. It's very fruity. Inexpensive too. I think a litre is $10.

momj47, I have seen "light" olive oils that obviously are not evoo. I believe Colavita brand has light oilive oil.Not sure I've seen straight olive oil. IMO, not sure there is much difference in the strength of flavor between evoo and oo For general cooking purposes I use canola oil especially when I don't want the cooking medium to flavor the food.

Perhaps one of my favorite salad dressings is evoo and Balsamic vinegar. I like Central Market's organic evoo from Italy and Monari Federzoni Balsamic Vinegar of Moderno, also of Italy, that I purchase at Krogers.

Must run. Preparing dinner for 12 this evening. Not often on this board. More often on the electrical board.

If you want a special treat and can afford it Samarelli is a good organic EVOO. It is unbelievably fruity and really bright green. I found it at the Wedge Coop in Minneapolis. When I can find it on sale ($22 for 17 oz) I get an extra one or two. It makes a great gift.

I just got an invite to a niece's wedding. She said "don't look at my registries - just bring me some special food products."

I quit buying the EVOO years ago too, Just so long as it's OO it's fine with me. I'm not at all surprised by the report because nothing is what it is supposed to be anymore. There's no honesty is most business anymore. They're all out for the almighty dollar at any cost.

I know it's just me.

It has always bothered me the name extra virgin, virgin, ---

It's like extra pregnant, pregnant, less pregnant.

Besides, I feel it is kind of chauvinistic, sexist, double-standard, and insulting.

So virgins are better humans?

Sorry.

dcarch

Never have bought and never will buy "light" olive oil. Just plain olive oil is fine for me.

I was gifted with a 3-year supply of really, really good Greek and Italian EVOO. I use it sparingly and treasure it. It runs fairly thick with a wonderful fragrance. Salads only!

Eileen, I got that email from Sciabica's too, what lovely people and great olive oil, too.

Thanks, Helene, now I don't feel quite as guilty about paying so much for olive oil and shipping...

Annie

I feel pretty smug, because I've been buying the Kirkland brand at Costco. A real bargain!

You know, if you take a litre of your everyday canola oil and add 12 ml of the blue antifreeze for RV systems and then blow a whole can of Axe body spray into the oil and shake it up...well you get pretty much what they are selling you.

At least that is what I read on the Internets.

(I am lucky to have a Portuguese family run fish mongers down the road and they bring in OO from the family holdings in Portugal and sell it alongside the fish. Good stuff. Grey market as all get out with labels all wrong but good oil.)

Unless I'm using it as a drizzle with very fresh bread and slice of 6 year old Quebec cheddar or maybe with a bit of aged balsamic on a very simple salad.....it doesn't matter squat!

I use canola oil from bottles, not from spray cans!! I prefer Colavita Premium 100% pure canola oil. However, for a lot less money, you can get a good deal on Krogers pure canola oil.

There are some exceptions when I cook using usually EVOO. When I cook a full pork loin, I thoroughly hand rub the meat with the oil before applying the herb rub I use and sticking slivers of garlic in slits all over the loin. The whole issue goes into a 375 oven until the reading hits 140. Most people cook the snot outta pork. I like mine with a faint pink. Of course, most meat continues to cook after it is removed from the oven while it rests.

I was in Krogers this afternoon and noticed at least six dirrerent brands of "pure" olive oil which of course is not EVOO. Largest may have been $9.00 or so but it was about a quart size.

The subject just came up again, so this thread is worth reviving!

Quite the threads lately.

''Just How Virgin Are You''
''Having A Quickie By Yourself''
''Meat From Strange Men''

My, this forum is spicier than a Szechuan dinner.