One of the most available items in every household is olive oil and some people treat it with fine wine. Some people are even part of some clubs that are dedicated to olive oil. The oil is delicious and healthy and it is very useful in almost all our cooking. Many people use it to stir-fry while some use it to toss beautiful salads helping to enhance the flavor of the salads.
There is a set of best olive oil that can be used for salads and we have made a list of five of put best favorites. Because you will need a variety that is extra virgin, Bragg, Sky Orangics, La Tourangelle, Colavita, and Pompein are the best of our choices. 2)
Types of Olive Oil
You have to first understand the types of different olive oil that is available in the market before you get to make the best choice for salad dressing.
Olive Pomace Oil
This particular variety is considered to be one of the lowest grades of olive oil that can be consumed and you might not get to find it common. You will get it from the byproducts when you press and extract higher quality of olive oil which you will now top with other variety of olive oil.
It is left nearly flavorless by allowing it to pass through a chemical process of high heat and this leaves it without nutritional value. You can only benefit from the price of the oil because it is made from sets of scraps.
Refined Olive Oil
Our regular variety of olive oil can sometimes be referred simply as olive oil, refined olive oil, and pure olive oil. Regular variety of olive oil can be gotten usually by blending refined oil and cold-pressed unless it is stated specifically as “pure”. The process involved in manufacturing the oil includes the heat stage and a chemical that alters its aroma and flavor and also burn some of its nutritional value.
This oil is more heat resistant and is better to be used for light-sauteing, cooking, of baking. Light olive oil is also an example of refined olive oil though its flavor is lighter, its fat and calories are not lighter.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
This is usually called EVOO, it can be considered to be the best when using to finish meals like using as salad dressings or seasoning. This is the oil that can be gotten from the very first press of your olives batch and it retains the nutritional value, flavor, and aroma as much as it can.
Virgin Olive Oil
This particular variety is slightly milder in taste than the extra virgin variety though you can get it similarly and their nutritional retention is also very close. It is not considered to be refined but it has a bit more acidic properties that the EVOO and it is not too common as you will most likely not find it at your grocery store.
The Best Olive Oil for Salads
Having understood the different kinds of the olive oil available and their differences, let’s check out the best sets of olive oil that is healthy for salad dressing:
Rank (S/N) | Product (s) | Best Feature (s) |
1. | Bragg Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil | It is a trustworthy and reliable healthy brand |
2. | Sky Organics Extra Virgin Olive Oil | It has an unfiltered and lighter flavor |
3. | La Tourangelle, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil | It is artisanal and has a unique potent flavor to it. |
4. | Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil | It is praised highly for quality and authenticity. |
5. | Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil | This is the best of our favorites with the price, quality, flavor, and some other things. |
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Bragg Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
It is considered to be a brand that has been synonymous with health and quality.
Key Features:
- It is made from organic olives that are mostly grown on 100 years old trees and it is imported from Greece.
- This brand met and exceeded the standard quality set by the IOC (International Olive Council).
- Non-GMO Project Verified, Organic, Gluten-Free, and Kosher.
Biggest Drawback or Downside: It is not filtered with a series of nutritional constituent but the peppery flavor is lighter and you will only get to choose whether or not it is an advantage.
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Sky Organics Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Cold Pressed
This was orchestrated by a family who started to mark a healthier and natural option when they could not see a high-quality option that fitted their budget. The products have been designed for DIY users as well as the skincare market, however, the EVOO is 100 percent excellent for salads.
Key Features:
- It has over the years been awarded 22 taste awards.
- The olive oil is not filtered and it retains its best nutritional values as best as possible.
- Sourced and cold-pressed from different organic olive farms in Greece.
Biggest Drawback or Downside: The brand has a lighter flavor despite that it is extra virgin and unfiltered. People may find this positive but for the true connoisseurs of olive, it is not the best whenever the back of the throat is not burnt a little when it is sipped.
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La Tourangelle, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
This variety has an artisanal area attached to it and Master Roaster within California produced it. It is very rich in quality and there are also several specialties such as sesame, avocado, walnut, and many others.
Key Features:
- It is made from the early set of the olive harvest and then pressed that same day on-site to help preserve its level of antioxidant and also the aroma and flavor.
- It is sourced with natural products and sustainability.
- Organic and cold-pressed.
Biggest Drawback or Downside: Some people find the signature flavor peppery or too strong impacting the salads.
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Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Cold Pressed
This is a very traditional and family brand that is yet to compromise quality despite now being expanded internationally. The brand has a big bottling facilities of olive oil in Italy which can be regarded as the pinnacle of the production of the olive oil.
Key Features:
- Tested and got approval for authenticity and quality from the IOC (International Olive Council) and NAOOA (North American Olive Oil Association).
- It is reportedly from Italy that possesses some of the most reputable groves of olive oil in Europe.
Biggest Downside or Drawback: Because it is packed with plastic, it has been considered to be a dark-colored BPA plastic. You should use a dark glass jar to keep olive oil, but if you don’t have, using your quality metal is still the best.
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Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
When you consider olive oil, this is considered the best crowd-pleaser as they have done all true connoisseurs will do by labeling it so that a normal person can get to grab it without any doubt.
Key Features:
- It is grown under some ideal conditions that help it to preserve the antioxidants and also sustain its environment.
- It is owned and as well operated by those who have olive oil inside their blood such as olive women, farmers, and craftsmen.
- It is referred to as “The Olive Oil People” and it has been in existence since the start of the early 1900s.
There are three common options to select from:
- Pompeian Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
- Pompeian Smooth Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
- Pompeian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Biggest Downside or Drawback: Its only downside is that some people worry concerning the quality with claims that it does not solidify inside the refrigerator. The criticism is, however, not true because many of the olive oil is winterized to not solidify and this cannot be used to test the quality. Most of the complaint about this product is with how it was shipped and not the product directly.
Related Questions
Is olive oil good for weight loss?
People sometimes think olive oil has a very small factor that allows it to help in weight loss and it contains monounsaturated fatty acids that are healthy for the heart as well as help balance the levels of blood sugar. It has anti-inflammatory properties which can help when you are doing physical exercise. It also has contained in it range of antioxidants and nutrients and that makes it better than other oils and butter. However, it still has high calories and must be taken in moderation for weight loss.
What are the benefits of drinking olive oil?
Many people drink their olive oil and it has been considered to be good for fitness and health to use its anti-inflammatory advantage as well as many other properties that help it to fight diseases. Olive oil has a lot of positive components, but drinking it has not been certified good.
The nutrients contained in your olive oil are quite better when processed by the body when it is eaten with some other foods in the body. It contains high fat and calorie content and it means drinking it might allow you to gain some weights.
What is the healthiest olive oil?
If you want the DR/TL version, extra virgin olive oil can be considered the healthiest olive oil. Organic and cold-pressed packaged inside the dark glass container whose quality has been certified is even better.