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Olive Oil Discussion Thread

d'Kong76 Mar 23 2014 06:01 AM

No, not Popeye's girlfriend... she was Olive Oyl. Olive oil is a scam, right? $9.99/gal vs. up to $50- $60 gallon ... can anyone really tell the difference. I use a lot of it. Salad 5-6 days a week, saute stuff in it, use it to brown meat, etc. Over the years, I've been a coffee nerd, a wine nerd, a beer nerd ... any olive oil nerds wanna make a case here?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 23 2014 06:54 AM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

There was a whole book about the shady evoo industry a few years ago. Haven't read it but like a lot of grocery-store food, label claims we think might be important (like in this case, "extra virgin") aren't regulated or verified. Fairway does an awesome job with specialty evoos, and usually has a selection out to taste, which should illustrate the difference between the various ones. We deal with the cost by buying in those gigantic tins. It is one of the things that will inspire a visit there. One alternative to oo making a comeback in our kitchen -- butter. Obviously, try not to use too much of it but to sautee veggies -- yum.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 23 2014 07:54 AM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

I also buy the extra virgin in bulk. The price for a giant container at BJ's is much better, per ounce, than you'd get at the supermarket. I don't exclusively use olive oil, though. I also get canola oil. I use either, depending on what I'm making.

Ceetar Mar 23 2014 08:00 AM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: There was a whole book about the shady evoo industry a few years ago. Haven't read it but like a lot of grocery-store food, label claims we think might be important (like in this case, "extra virgin") aren't regulated or verified. Fairway does an awesome job with specialty evoos, and usually has a selection out to taste, which should illustrate the difference between the various ones. We deal with the cost by buying in those gigantic tins. It is one of the things that will inspire a visit there. One alternative to oo making a comeback in our kitchen -- butter. Obviously, try not to use too much of it but to sautee veggies -- yum. yeah, that's where I go. the big flavored bottles from Fairway. $20 is more than the price for the more typical supermarket stuff, but I enjoy the added flavors. I don't really use it as much as I could, the wife doesn't really care for the oil taste mostly so I tend use butter some/more too or just plain veggie oil for sauteing. I've never had the $50+ bottles so I can't really comment. feels like a scam. I feel the same way about most high-priced wines (excluding old vintages) though.

d'Kong76 Mar 23 2014 09:07 AM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

I use canola oil and olive oil both in bulk. I just happen to need olive oil so I was thinking about it. Like wine, I like to find a good buy when getting it. I don't think there's a Fairway near here except at the three-par golf course a town or two away. I'm making home fries NOW with a canola oil/butter mix. Have a head of escarole I wanna make later with some garlic so will need to go olive oyl shopping at some point. I feel all nerdy!!

d'Kong76 Mar 23 2014 11:39 AM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

I suppose that should read par three? Nerd.

cooby Mar 23 2014 12:10 PM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

I love olive oil. I use it to fry about everything*, especially potatoes. Add a little Lawry's Salt and yum, yum. We use this brand, which we call "hiney oil", for obvious reasons. Or if not so obvious, because it has this pop up spout. Yeah, we are a little juvenile sometimes :) *not for popcorn though, yuck.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 23 2014 12:56 PM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

I also sometimes use sesame oil, when I want to add a little Asian flavor. It can be expensive, but there's an Asian grocery store near me where it sells pretty cheap.

d'Kong76 Mar 23 2014 01:03 PM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

Love sesame oil.

seawolf17 Mar 23 2014 04:21 PM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

My wife has an olive sensitivity, so we don't use EVOO, which is too bad. I used to use Genco Pura, though. It's the best in the business.

Fman99 Mar 23 2014 07:19 PM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I also buy the extra virgin in bulk. The price for a giant container at BJ's is much better, per ounce, than you'd get at the supermarket. I don't exclusively use olive oil, though. I also get canola oil. I use either, depending on what I'm making. I do as well, about 50/50 depending on what I'm cooking. I don't mind the cost, a $5 bottle of EVOO lasts me a few months anyway.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 24 2014 10:06 AM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

Regular olive oil/cheapo EVOO for cooking, fancy stuff for salads/roasting veggies. Taste matters much more with the latter. And if your fancy oil supply is sitting around for months before you finish it, you should probably buy smaller containers; it degrades rapidly, taste-wise, from the moment you pop the bottle/canister/big-ass-barrel, and you're pretty much dealing with a different oil by the end of that period. Sesame oil is the superpert tits, not just for sautees and marinades, but for good Asian-y summer salads and the like.

TransMonk Mar 24 2014 10:51 AM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

My wife spends a bunch of money here, though I think it is more on the vinegars than the oils. She is, what the hipsters would call, a foodie.

Lefty Specialist Mar 24 2014 10:58 AM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

I just use 10W-40. Never had a problem.

Frayed Knot Mar 24 2014 11:38 AM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

I don't want to know what FMan does with his supply of olive oil.

d'Kong76 Mar 24 2014 02:52 PM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

Lefty Specialist wrote: I just use 10W-40. Never had a problem. Lol!

Ceetar Mar 24 2014 04:29 PM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 24 2014 05:13 PM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

Ceetar-LWFS visible-canister-spice similarity score: 100% (exact brand-match and everything, which is a little creepy) Izzat a hunk of that Himalayan pink salt?

d'Kong76 Mar 24 2014 05:18 PM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

Like Badia stuff, usually a great buy. McCormick! Overpriced stuff.

Ceetar Mar 24 2014 06:35 PM Re: Olive Oil Discussion Thread

yes, hunk of pink Himalayan salt. Great flavor, and it's always fun to fresh grind it. yeah, I've sorta shifted away from McCormick, but some spices linger longer than others. I know they technically lose potency and crap, but no way can I keep up with that. I don't need to make sure I have fresh thyme and rosemary just to season potatoes occasionally. I've been happy with Fairway's stuff too though, picked up a Whiskey Rub mix that I've been using on chicken cutlets.