At the time that Poseidon gave the Greeks a waterway through the city to provide them with fresh water, Athena gave them olive trees. Guess who got a city and a temple named in their honor? Hint, you won’t find the God of the sea’s name on the map.
Frankly, we appreciate olives and their juicy extractions no less than the Greeks. This is why we brought you a list of the 5 best olive oils for salads, and basically every other dish you can come up with.
In This Guide
Best Olive Oils for Salads
We've come up with five fantastic options for the prefect olive oil to accompany your salad.
Let's take a closer look at each of these great options.
Mina Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Less acidity, high nobility.
This oil is distinctive in being of such low acidity and in its method of extraction. This enhances its quality and flavor.
Pros
- Acidity is less than 0.2%
- Cold extraction ensures nutrition value and flavor are intact.
- Purity is guaranteed by harvest from only one Moroccan family farm.
- Harvest date and best by date are both printed on the back label.
- Savory peppery taste with a pleasant bitterness.
- Good price.
Cons
- Comes in a plastic bottle, although it's BPA free and recyclable.
Get more information on Mina Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Partanna Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The more, the merrier. If you’re looking for a bottle that endures, this is the one for you!
It has a strong bitter taste that stings in the back of your throat. It’s a pro if you enjoy a robust taste, however, it might be a con if you’d rather a milder one.
The pop-up sprout causes a bit of a hassle, so watch out for it.
Pros
- Two sizes; 34 Fl Oz and 101 Fl Oz.
- Rich flavor with subtle notes of artichoke and spiciness.
- The dark tin helps keep the oil fresh longer and is environmental.
- One origin; Sicily Italy.
- 3% acidity.
Get more information on Partanna Extra Virgin Olive Oil
La Tourangelle Extra Virgin Olive Oil
A true angelle, no bitterness whatsoever!
Its mild peppery taste makes it the perfect choice if you’re not big on bold olive oil taste in your meal.
It has 3 small sizes; 5 Fl Oz, 16.9 Fl Oz, 25.4 Fl Oz which make for easy use.
Best of all, this spray is a great choice for small portions of salad.
Pros
- Good price.
- Best by date is indicated on the bottle.
- No bitterness, mild taste overall.
- Perfect smell and density.
- The smallest size is in a spray bottle, which is very convenient.
Cons
- The bigger sizes come in a pourable can with a sprout, not in a spray bottle.
- The oil always seeps into the area around the sprout.
Get more information on La Tourangelle Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Mantova Garlic Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil
A hint of garlic makes everything wilder!
This fancy one is just the right combination of olive and garlic. It’s preferable to use without heating for a more prominent garlic flavor.
The garlic is infused, so you won’t find chunks or herbs in your oil. Will leave you to decide if it’s a pro or a con.
Pros
- Free of trans fat, cholesterol, gluten, GMO, and sodium.
- A tad bit of sweet almond flavor and delicate, mellow body.
- The glass bottle keeps the oil fresh.
- Origin in Italy, free from any additives.
Cons
- Pricey but worth it!
Get more information on Mantova Garlic Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Pompeian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Quality and Quantity, will have you queuing for a few drops.
This one is for the budget-buyers. Don’t worry you will find this of both good price and quality with sizes that range from 16 Fl Oz to 128 Fl Oz
Pros
- Low-budget price.
- Flavor and smell are noticeable but not overpowering.
- Hints of pepper, fruit flavor.
Cons
- Plastic packaging
- Comes from many countries, not one origin.
Get more information on Pompeian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Which Olive Oil Is Right for You?
A good olive oil for you might just not be for everybody else. It’s alway best to not follow a friend’s recommendation blindly. Instead, check out all the factors that make one olive oil different from another, and you will find you already made up your mind.
Taste
The Mina, Partanna, and Mantova extra virgin olive oils will give you the delicate bitterness you desire. A proof of their authenticity right on the tip of your tongue.
The Pompeian and the La tourangelle, on the other hand, are tender on your taste buds. They will leave a trace on your dish without dominating.
Size
There’s also the matter of size. While the La Tourangelle Extra Virgin Olive Oil has three small sizes ranging from 5 Fl Oz to 25.4 Fl Oz., the Partanna Extra Virgin Olive Oil has two huge sizes; 34 Fl Oz and 101 Fl Oz.
Consider how big your household is and how keen you are on olive oil. Is it a matter of daily use for you? Or occasional use? Keep in mind that olive oil does expire.
Origin
Don’t forget that every olive oil’s place of origin is savored with every drop. A bottle of Moroccan oil will content your nostalgia for home. Another one, made in Sicily, will satisfy your urge to try Mediterranean cuisine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is olive oil healthy for you?
Extra virgin olive oil isn’t sacred merely for the delightful taste it adds to Vinaigrette and salad dressing.
Research proves that it can lower your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It also might protect you from having a stroke or from getting Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, it helps treat Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Q: The extra olive oil fridge test, myth, or truth?
Determining the quality of olive oil by testing whether it solidifies in the fridge or not is no more than a lie.
Olive oil’s solidification is affected by many reasons. A few of those are the growing conditions of the olives, their type and the time and method of processing.
Q: Why does low acidity mean better quality?
First of all, let’s clear one thing. Low acidity has nothing to do with bitterness nor taste.
Low acidity means a low number of free fatty acids. Fatty acids are mere healthy oleic acids, separated and gone bad. They are freed from their compound, the triglyceride during the extraction process. A great loss of oleic acids is a great loss in the quality of the oil.
Choosing the Best Olive Oil for Salad
These are five great options for your favorite salad when it comes to the perfect home made dressing.
Let's take a look at them one more time:
Our favorite on this list is the Mina Extra Virgin Olive Oil. We love it for its impeccable quality and taste which reveals true richness.
We're also big fans of the Mantova Garlic Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil, the addition of garlic gives the salad a unique touch and simply makes any dish complete. Also, being free of trans fat, cholesterol, gluten, GMO, and sodium, gives us the comfort of a healthy diet.
If you're making smaller salads, or a single serving of salad, then we love the unique spray of the La Tourangelle Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
No matter what your preference is, you are sure to find the best olive oil for salad in this list.
Last update on 2022-08-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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