A Simple Guide to Picking a Great Olive Oil

A good extra virgin olive oil can make a big difference. The thing is, you don't need to reach for the premium, more expensive bottle every time. Save it for finishing dishes — salads, warm bread, a bowl of pasta, roasted vegetables — where its flavor can really stand out. For everyday cooking like sautéing or grilling, a simpler but still good-quality olive oil does the job beautifully.

Think of it the way you might think of wine: there's an everyday bottle, and there's the one you bring out when it deserves a moment.

How to choose a good olive oil

1. Mind the packaging. Choose olive oil packaged in dark glass or tin, since light slowly degrades its quality. At home, store it somewhere cool and dark, away from the stove. Once opened, try to use it within three months — and if you don't cook with it often, simply buy a smaller bottle.

2. Look for a harvest date. Choose a bottle that shows the harvest date, not just the packaging date. Olive oil is at its best within 12 to 18 months of harvest, so fresher is always better.

3. Check for certifications. Authentic, high-quality oils often carry third-party seals on the neck or label — like PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), PGI, or the COOC (California Olive Oil Council) seal. They're a quick sign of accountability and quality.

4. Choose one you genuinely enjoy. A good olive oil should taste grassy and fruity, with a slight peppery bitterness at the back of your throat. That little bite is a sign it's rich in antioxidants — and it's exactly what you want.

Great olive oil isn't about the price tag. It's about freshness, care, and a flavor you reach for again and again.

Our favorite easy-to-find brands

You don't have to visit a specialty shop to find something wonderful. Here are the bottles we love that turn up at most grocery stores.

Premium, for finishing:

• Bono
• Cutrera
• Lorenzo No. 5

Good-quality everyday options:

• Colavita
• Lucini
• Olitalia

Keep two bottles in the cupboard — a workhorse for cooking and a special one for finishing — and you'll taste the difference in the simplest meals. A drizzle over warm bread, a swirl into soup, a finish on ripe tomatoes: this is where a great olive oil earns its place at the heart of your kitchen.