Olive oil: Best Buys
Our Best Buys oils impressed on taste, aroma, complexity and balance
Our expert taste test of extra virgin olive oils reveals that you don’t have to dig deep in your wallet or purse to get good quality olive oil for your favourite olive oil recipes.
Of the 12 supermarket and branded extra virgin olive oils that our experts tasted, two of our Best Buys are from budget supermarkets and, per 100ml, they’re by far the cheapest on test (both 33p per 100ml).
We’ve tested big names but our experts agree that the best olive oils are from Aldi, Lidl and Waitrose. These Best Buy extra virgin olive oils all received four stars (out of a possible five).
But no matter how good an olive oil, to keep it fresh for olive oil dipping or any other use, our experts say that you must store it in a sealed bottle in a cool, dark place.
| Olive oil: Best Buys | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Olive oil | Price | Verdict | Star rating |
| Waitrose 500ml | £2.48 | The Best Buy extra virgin olive oil from Waitrose (50p per 100ml) costs 17p more per 100ml than our other Best Buy olive oils, but it's mid-priced compared with other olive oils tested. Our experts said that this four-star oil had a great taste, with hints of pepper and chilli, and it didn’t leave a waxy aftertaste. The panel felt that this olive oil's bitter aftertaste would complement a salad with sweet ingredients, such as orange |
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| Lidl Primadonna 750ml | £2.49 | Best Buy Primadonna extra virgin olive oil from Lidl costs just 33p per 100ml and was also given four stars. It was described by our experts as a delicate olive oil that’s ideal for everyday use. As for olive oil recipes, our experts felt that this olive oil would work well for dressing salads as well as sweet tomatoes |
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| Aldi Solesta Evoo 750ml | £2.49 | Aldi’s Solesta Evoo extra virgin olive oil (also 33p per 100ml) received four stars because of its ‘enticing aroma’ of tropical fruits and lemon. The taste was well-balanced but it didn’t quite match up to its aroma. |
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