Olive Oil Tip: Let's Go Shopping

Now that you know olive oil is best used as a finishing oil, let's talk a little more about how to shop for olive oil.Here's how you can get the most bang for your buck while still picking a quality product...

1. Look at the color of the bottle. Darker-hued bottles are best -- they help stop any light from making the olive oil age faster.
2. Check the date. See if you can find an olive oil with a harvest date as well as a use-by date. If you find a harvest date, make sure the olives were harvested in the last year.
3. Read the ingredients. The ingredient label sometimes reveals filler oils. Some companies mix different oils into olive oil and call the mixture "olive oil" so they can charge higher prices for cheaper oils.

And finally, be sure to store your olive oil in a cool, dark place. Keep the bottle tightly sealed. This will help your olive oil last for as long as possible. Remember, extra-virgin olive oil has a shelf life of no more than 18 months!

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Stephanie Ronco

Stephanie Ronco has been editing for Food and Health Communications since 2011. She graduated from Colorado College magna cum laude with distinction in Comparative Literature. She was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 2008.