Olive Oil 101
What is Extra Virgin Olive Oil?
It seems like a simple enough question and the answer is both straight forward and complicated.
The simple answer is that it is the highest grade of quality an olive oil may be awarded. It is the freshly squeezed juice of the olive, extracted in a mechanical way that does not cause any degradation, without using excessive heat or chemicals. It is not blended with other oils. And it tastes good, without defects.
The complicated part, however, comes with the various standards from different entities, all slightly different from each other. These standards dictate that olive oil meets both chemical and sensory requirements to be sold as extra virgin. The oil’s chemistry, tested in a laboratory, must meet or exceed specific parameters that indicate the careful handling and storage of the olives and oil. The oil is also evaluated by trained sensory panels as sensory defects cannot be detected by chemical tests.
There are a number of organizations and government entities providing standards and/or testing services to guarantee the quality of the olive oil in their jurisdiction and to stipulate what exactly constitutes Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Additionally, some commercial operations make up standards or names like “light” or “Ultra Premium” which have no legal meaning and are just terms created for marketing.
Keeping Olive Oil Fresh.
When olive oil is exposed to oxygen, light, and heat, it is subject to oxidation and may become rancid. Proper storage can prevent this. Depending on the quality of the oil and on how it was made, extra virgin olive oil in a sealed bottle may last from 3 months to 2 years.
As soon as you open the bottle, the oxidation process accelerates and the oil will degrade fairly rapidly. Make sure you keep your oil in a closed bottle, in a dark container or closet, away from sources of heat like your stove. You do not have to refrigerate it, although refrigeration will not hurt the oil. Buying your oil in bulk is a great way to save money. If you do so, the best way to preserve it is to keep it in a stainless steel container, called a fusti. Fusti are an excellent way to preserve olive oil. For even better preservation, you can top your fusti off with inert gas from a small spray can. If you are using a regular bulk container, try not to open it too often. Fill a couple of bottles for day-to-day use and leave the bulk container carefully closed the rest of the time.
Healthy Olive Oil.
There are arguably few products that have as much positive impact on your health as olive oil does. Healthy amounts of water are good for you, inside and out. Daily exercise fits in this category too. There is a group of “super foods” (e.g. salmon, blueberries, oats, walnuts, spinach, or soy), high in antioxidants, vitamins, and omega-3 and 6, which are important to a healthy diet. But we think that olive oil is in a class of its own for the many ways it can positively impact a healthy lifestyle.
Well-documented by numerous studies around the world, the many health benefits of olive oil make it one of the most indispensable ingredients of a healthy diet. Naturally packed with monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants, not only can a good extra virgin olive oil lower your risk of heart disease and cancer, research has shown that it also provides a wide range of anti-inflammatory benefits that can positively impact illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and asthma.
Even the FDA suggests that replacing just two tablespoons of saturated fat with extra virgin olive oil in your daily diet can have measurable positive effects.