All About Olive Oil

So you’re dropping by the grocery store for a quick trip to pick up a bottle of olive oil, and what do you see? Shelves of olive oil labeled with terms such as extra virgin, light, or pure. Why all these different labels – and should you use the same variety for cooking and for salads?

Types of Olive Oil

Extra virgin olive oil

Must be taken from the first pressing of the olive. The free fatty acid content, which indicates the acidity of the oil, must not exceed 0.8 g per 100 g. The lower the acidity level, the more desirable the oil becomes. In addition, the oil must be obtained only through mechanical means (pressing) without the use of heat or chemicals in extraction. Extra virgin olive oil has the highest levels of antioxidant polyphenols, tends to be a deeper green color, and has the strongest flavor. It also has a lower smoke point and is the most expensive. Instead of cooking with it, use it in salads or to drizzle over food before serving.

Virgin olive oil

Must also be taken from the first pressing of the olive. However, the free fatty acid content (acidity level) can go as high as 2 g per 100 g. Virgin olive oils that have poor flavor, odor, or acidity exceeding 2 g per 100 g cannot be sold without further processing.

Refined olive oil

Obtained from further refining of virgin olive oils of poor quality, such as those with very high acidity or flavor defects. The refining process may include the use of charcoal or chemical or physical filters. Refined olive oil is generally colorless, flavorless, and odorless. It has an acidity level of no more than 0.3 g per 100 g after processing. This grade of olive oil is allowed to have alpha-tocopherol (an antioxidant) added to help delay rancidity. Oils become rancid when they are oxidized.

Olive oil

A blend of refined olive oils and virgin olive oils deemed fit for consumption without further processing. It has maximum acidity set at 1 g per 100 g and meets the odor or flavor characteristics of virgin olive oil. This grade of olive oil is allowed to have alpha-tocopherol (an antioxidant) added to help delay rancidity. This is the type of olive oil you might find labeled with the term “pure.”

Olive-Pomace Oil

In addition to olive oils, buyers in some markets may see a type of oil called olive-pomace oil. This is oil derived from further treatment of the crushed olives (pomace) after the initial oil from the first pressing has been extracted. This oil may be obtained by the use of solvents and must be further refined so that it is edible. Refined olive-pomace oil that is blended with a small amount of extra virgin olive oil can be sold as “olive-pomace oil” but cannot be called olive oil.

Additional Labels

In addition to the actual grade of olive oil, you may also see the following terms on the bottle:

• Cold-pressed: Means no heat was used in extracting this oil.
• Unfiltered: Means the oil was not put through a filter to remove sediment that may collect at the bottom of the bottle.
• Estate: Means the oil came from a single farm and is not a blend of oils from multiple sources.
• Light: Means the oil has very little flavor. It doesn’t have anything to do with calories! All olive oils, regardless of their grade or type, clock in at about 120 calories per tablespoon.

The Bottom Line

All olive oils are high in unsaturated fats. The main differences between a higher-grade olive oil and a lower-grade one are the flavor, color, odor, and polyphenol content. Some (but not all) of the polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil degrade when subjected to higher temperatures. For high-heat cooking, use plain or light olive oil. Reserve the extra virgin olive oil for no-cook finishes such as salads or to drizzle over an appetizer or entree right before serving.