ATK posted a new olive oil taste test. My usual go-to California Olive Ranch took a fall from grace. I’m wondering how others’ favorites faired?
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Please save me from having to watch this and just tell me which olive oil won.
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oooooh. that was so painful I just X’d it out . . .
I zipped to the end. From worst to best out of 10:
Recommended, but with reservations:
10-Lucini Premium Select
9-Filipo Berio
8-Terra Delyssa Organic
Recommended:
7-California Olive Ranch
6-Pompeiian Smooth
5-Colavita Premium Selection
4-Srar
3-Botticelli
2-Bertolli Rich Taste
Winner:
1-Carapelli Original
I’ll stick with CA Olive Ranch 100%.
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My favorite EVOO, Manni, did not make the list.
My favorite domestic EVOO, Cobram Estates in Sacramento, also didn’t make their cut.
I feel so worthless …
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Havent heard of either, so maybe they were going for those oils readily available across the U.S.?
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olive oil is an annual product - and every “annual” brings different results.
the only way to ‘interpret/utilize’ these kinds of inane ‘best taste’ excursions is to look for the brands/suppliers who consistently rank at the high end of those chosen for ‘testing’
many European brands are not making-the-grade and are marketed at ‘can’t believe that’ prices because . . it’s been a bad season for olives in the Mediterranean . . .
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I’ve heard Kirkland rates pretty high when it’s tested, but it doesn’t look like they even included it.
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Interesting! I’ve always purchased the Star/Pompeian/Bertoli brands.
I did buy a California Ranch bottle last year, and it seems a little bit harsher in flavor than what I like. I received a bottle one Christmas, I don’t remember the name, but it really burned the back of the throat. I’m glad to see this ATK piece was a recent production.
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They tested it earlier, guess it didn’t make the cut.
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Yeah, a snoozer, but I slogged through most of it with a few jumps ahead. It reminded me to see if I can find any harvest dates on the bottles where I usually shop.
My biggest issue with Costco/Kirkland EVOO (or just regular OO) is not so much the quality, but the quantity.
With few exceptions, most of the Kirkland stuff come in such large quantities it’s nearly impossible to finish a bottle (or more often a “jug”) of olive oil before they are no longer fresh.
Personally, I try to use all my EVOO (at least the ones I use for finishing or to consume as-is) within 30 days after opening.
As much as I like OO, not sure I can ever finish a half gallon (or about 67 fluid oz) of EVOO in a month.
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I have a huge canister of Zoe Greek olive oil I’ve not even opened yet. Hope I like it 
Not sure how long mine lasts, but I use it for everything–not just “finishing or consuming as-is” (if I understand what that means), but as my general cooking oil for sautéing items for chile, spaghetti sauce, curries, etc. That’s how my mother cooked (with Pompeiian, that being about the only one available at the time where she lived), and I am carrying on the tradition, I guess.
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Me too.
I keep the large bottle in the cupboard and decant into a small glass bottle with a bar spout that lives on rhe stove.
Im fanatical about rancid oil and give it a sniff wvwey time I refill the bottle. I dont have any problems with it going off before I use it all.
I have added grapeseed oil (also feom Costco) and like it a little better. It has a more neutral flavor and a higher smoke point…so there are two bottles on my stove.
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Kirkland is my go to OO. I also buy from a Greek importer for a finishing oil. To ipsidixit’s point, we go through a disturbing quantity of OO so it doesn’t have time to get too old chez moi.
I’m not going to watch the video b/c I don’t want my mind changed, LOL
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Rats! Subscription required.
ATK’s taste test of the ten best-selling olive oils from five years ago put Lucini in the #1 top spot. This test from a few days ago put Lucini in the 10th, or last, place. The two testers in the latest video called it “super robust” and seemed to really like it, one even calling it their overall favorite, but said it was “too much for the larger group” who’s opinions I gather were taken into account for the final results that put it in last place.
I think I’m overthinking this.
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Some people consider that a desirable quality. I returned a bottle of Calamata olive oil to Trader Joe’s for that reason and was told it’s a feature, not a bug.
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It does show how different people taste things. I’m still salty about TJ’s no longer carrying it, as it was my favorite olive oil. I found it to be on the grassy side, but never experienced that burn.
