Seems close to impossible, you might think. “Affordable” is a relative term. So let’s put this in perspective. We, the Flexitarians, spend a lot less on meat, especially red meat. So we can invest a bit more in good quality olive oil. But as we use a lot of olive oil, we need to watch the price/quality trade-off.
Let’s have a word about smoke points first. Not an exact science, it depends on the variety and age of the oil, but here are some estimates:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: 350°F/175°C
- Virgin Olive Oil: 425°F/220°C
- Refined Olive Oil, like Extra Light: 450°F/230°C
The smoke point is the temperature at which oil or fat is decomposed and where possibly toxicological relevant compounds are formed. Most flexitarian dishes don’t require higher temperatures than the ones above. In general, there is no deep-frying required, sautéing and pan-frying is the preferred method. So what about deep-fried breaded shrimps (the famous Shrimp Scampi) or breaded squid rings? It’s Italo-American cuisine! Italian food was adapted to the US preference for deep-fried food, a pretty unhealthy habit.
Next a warning about storage: Extra Virgin Olive Oil should be stored in a dark, cool place. Bright light and warm temperatures tend to degrade the oil quickly. Find the coolest and darkest spot in your home. Don’t put it in the fridge, though!
What type to use:
Refined Olive Oil: When frying foods or subjecting it to high heat, extra light olive oil is my choice of cooking oil. Extra virgin olive oil gives you little additional benefits in this situation as many of the beneficial micro ingredients vanish at high heat. So you are just wasting a lot of money using extra virgin olive oil.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: In general I prefer to use it only in dishes where its texture and flavor enhance the dish. To buy good, unadulterated extra virgin olive oil requires knowledge, trust and a bit of money. There is so much fraudulent ‘extra virgin olive oil’ around. You might have heard about the class action suits filed in Federal Court in California against Bertoli and Deoleo.
Where and what style to buy:
Choosing the right olive oil is a matter of taste and purse. Should you be in an olive growing area you might want to do some tasting, like with wine. Most producers are set up for olive oil tasting. Read more about Olive Oil: how to taste it.
In the US I recommend for Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVVO):
- a medium-fruity type for everyday use (cooking, salad dressing) – like the Kirkland Signature Extra Virgin Italian Olive Oil (Costco), the 100% California Grown Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Target) or the Oleoestepa Seleccion from Spain (Whole Foods), all of them in a reasonable price range
- a fruity and slightly spicy extra virgin olive oil for drizzling over dishes and into soups and sauces, like the 100% Greek Kalamata Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Trader Joe’s with an excellent price/quality. It has a nutmeg-like spiciness and is complex and a fresh aroma and pleasant bitterness.
In Southern Europe, you can buy your favorite EVOO directly from a reputable olive oil mill. As I am in the Provence once a year that’s what I do. I always bring one or two bottles of my favorite extra virgin olive oil from Moulin Jean Marie Cornille, the cooperative in Maussane
Read more about the different quality grades and benefits: Olive Oil: Is it really virgin?
