Read This Before Buying Virgin Olive Oil

1. Read This Before Buying Virgin Olive Oil Anyone who loves gourmet cooking, cannot deny the importance of good quality virgin olive oil. The quality of the oil can make or break your dish. The fine aroma, the subtlety of bitterness in taste and the ravishing golden-green colour, none of these can be overlooked. If you are someone looking to buy a bottle of this golden liquid then there are certain things that you must keep in mind but first let us learn more about olive oil. What is Olive Oil Olive oil is a superb edible oil which is derived from pressing olives. The oil obtained from the first pressing without the use of any chemicals is called extra virgin olive oil. It is considered to be the best olive oil in India because of its extremely high quality and abundance of nutrients; packed with antioxidants, monounsaturated fats and many health-positive properties. The olive flesh which is left after the extraction of virgin oil is used to obtain refined pomace olive oil. It is done through chemical extraction where hexane is used for the process. This is slightly lower in quality as compared to its virgin counterpart but is much more nutritious and ideal for cooking food.

2. How to Select the Right Olive Oil With so many brands offering olive oil in the market at dizzyingly varied prices, it becomes quite intimidating to pick the best olive oil in Indiafor your kitchen. But don‘t worry. You can find the right stuff for you by keeping a few things in mind. Look for a Good Brand If you are new to buying olive oil, it is best to stick to the well-known and popular virgin olive oil brands only. This will eliminate the issue of getting duped with inferior quality oil. Pay Attention to the Label Many olive cooking oils may come with a label simply mentioning ‘olive oil’ or ‘light olive oil’. While these are in no way bad, they may not be extra virgin olive oil but only the refined and slightly lower quality versions of what you are seeking. Read the Label Carefully You must always check for the ‘harvesting’ and ‘use by’ date printed on the bottle. They are still easy enough to figure out even if written in another language, say, Italian or French. Most fine producers often proudly display the harvest date on their bottles. However, figuring out the ‘use by’ date is a bit tricky as it is usually 18 months from the date of bottling rather than harvesting. Avoid Clear Packaging Even if the packaging may be too pretty or fancy, never buy olive oil that’s packed in clear bottles. Tinted bottles or opaque tin containers are a must to conserve the aroma and flavour of the oil as light can destroy it.

3. Buy ‘First Cold Pressed Olive Oil By its very definition, extra virgin olive oil is one that’s extracted from the first press without the use of any chemicals. However, the term ‘first cold pressed’ is still widely used though redundant. Hence, choose your extra virgin olive oil in India wisely. Pick Fresh Olive Oil Only As time passes olive oil tends to lose its flavour and nutrients, hence it is advisable to always choose fresh olive oil only. If it is just out of the mill, even better! Such an oil though is sharply bitter and pungent and less fruity, it is treasured by both connoisseurs and nutritionists as it is indicative of the high quality and plentiful polyphenols. How to Store Olive Oil Here are some tips to store extra virgin olive oil in India. ● EVOO is both light and heat sensitive which is why they come in tinted bottles. If you live in India where it is mostly hot and humid, you must take even more care of this. You can even store it in a refrigerator during particularly hot months. ● It is best to buy small bottles of olive oil and consume it within 3 to 4 months. This is because the antioxidants present in it begin to deteriorate with time, altering its taste and nutritional value. ● If you do buy a big bottle of olive oil, try pouring some into a smaller bottle for daily use and storing the rest of it in the refrigerator. This will prevent the oil from getting repeatedly exposed to air and so will prolong its life. ● Keeping olive oil in the fridge may turn it a bit cloudy but won’t alter its flavour or properties. It will turn normal once it reaches room temperature. ● Asvirgin olive oil tends to turn rancid it is crucial that you only store it in a cool dry place in your pantry. Never keep it near the stove as the heat from it can spoil it.

4. Conclusion Olive oil is packed with tons of health benefits and so deserves a spot in your kitchen. So, now that you know how to buy good quality virgin olive oil and store it well too, go ahead and make your meals more nutritious and delicious too.