Olive Oil Grades

Olive is the main type of cooking oil used in Italy, Sicily and all over the Mediterranean. With the popularity of the Mediterranean diet in the United States many are now starting to incorporate olive oil into their daily diet. With that being said, many Americans do not understand the labeling of olive oil. These labels can be confusing on trying to figure out which is the higher-grade olive oil and which is the lower grade. This has made many of us so frustrated in the grocery store that we just want to throw our hands up in the air and grab some vegetable oil and put it in the cart. But, other types of cooking oils do not have that delicate taste that olive oil adds to many dishes or the health benefits. The only way to resolve this quandary is to learn the different grades of olive oil and to become educated in what these terms mean.

Label and Wording of Olive Oil

100% Pure Olive Oil
This term is used on the lowest quality of olive oil that is sold in many grocery stores. This oil is a mixture of low-grade olive oils and is mainly used for frying where flavor is not an issue. Even though it is edible, it lacks the flavor of higher grades of olive oil and is generally cheaper in price then other types of olive oil.

Extra Virgin
This refers to olives that are used are not as ripe as “Virgin” olive oil. This oil is produced in one pressing of the olives.

Virgin
This means that the olives that are used are slightly riper than the olives that are used in “Extra Virgin” olive oil. “Virgin” olive oil is produced the same way that “Extra Virgin” olive oil is.

Light and Extra Light
This olive oil contains the same amount of calories as all the other types of olive oils. It is a mixture of refined low-grade olive oils that is achieved through chemical processing.

Knowing and understanding the labels and wording on olive oil can help one to choose the right grade of olive oil for a dish. Different grades of olive oils are used in certain recipes and in types of application when cooking. Olive oils can be as flavorful as fine wine or as bland as a glass of water, by understanding these terms can help to determine which oil is right for the job.