I’m very happy to let you all know that Jovial Foods has once again partnered with My Humble Kitchen! Check out their new website and don’t forget to checkout their online store while you’re there! They’re once again offering My Humble Kitchen readers a coupon code for 10% off PLUS FREE shipping! Use the coupon code HumbleK today!
In My Humble Kitchen, I use a lot of olive oil. I know there’s a lot of misinformation regarding the use of olive oil. Some believe its smoke point is much too low to cook with. The smoke point is the temperature at which the oil begins to release gaseous vapor that is visible to the eye. When this occurs, the decomposition of the oil begins to take place, turning rancid. It effects the flavor, nutrition, and even generates harmful cancer causing compounds that are harmful to your health.
As I explained in a post I wrote called, How to Cook with Extra Virgin Olive Oil the Right Way, my family has cooked with olive oil for generations. In the post I share a video where I test the temperature of olive oil as I lightly fried some french fries and eggs. In it, it shows that using extra virgin olive oil to lightly fry foods and saute is absolutely fine as long as you gently heat up your oil, the traditional way. It received a lot of attention and helped people learn how to safely cook with olive oil without ever reaching its smoke point.
As most of my recipes call for extra virgin olive oil, one of the biggest concerns I’ve received from people is that extra virgin olive oil can be pretty pricey.They’ve asked me how I afford to use it in so much of my cooking. It definitely is more expensive than vegetable oils; however, its nutritional content makes it a far superior choice for one’s health rather than using vegetable oils filled with high amounts of omega 6 fatty acids, chemicals, and additives. (If you’re interested in learning more about healthy cooking oils, please subscribe to my FREE grace filled journey to real food by clicking here.)
Although more expensive, there are a few tricks that I do in my home to keep the price of olive oil more economical.
How to Make Extra Virgin Olive Oil More Affordable
The tricky thing about extra virgin olive oil is that there are so many brands on the marketplace and, unfortunately, many of these brands are adulterated. This means that the oil is a mixture of a variety of oils yet labeled, “extra virgin.”
According to this website, ” Some oil labeled “extra-virgin” is diluted with cheaper olive oils or other vegetable oils. In some cases, lampante, or “lamp oil,” which is made from spoiled olives fallen from trees, is used, even though it can’t legally be sold as food. One fraud ring is accused of coloring low-grade soy oil and canola oil with industrial chlorophyll, and flavoring it with beta-carotene.”
This is why it’s important to know your source of olive oil, their farming methods, and practices.
I know this can be difficult, trust me, I know. Especially when you’re on a limited budget. So for me and mine, below are 3 ways to make extra virgin olive oil affordable.
1. I Buy One Bottle of a Superior Brand of Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Lasts 1-2 Months
One thing I always have sitting on my countertop is a superior bottle of extra virgin olive oil. Since the superior brand of olive oil costs much more, I only use it for eating raw. That way I can get every nutritional value from it.
For this, I buy the Jovial brand of extra virgin olive oil that is 100% organic, first cold press.
Jovial’s extra virgin olive oil is a Reserve Blend of olive oil with integrity, exclusively from three ancient varieties of olives grown in the Veneto region of Italy; Favarol, Grignano and Nostrano. These olives were brought by the Romans to the Veneto region in Italy 1,000 years ago. A small group of passionate farmers are working to save these unique varieties of olives from extinction. Exclusively grown in the Valpantena area and the hills above Lago di Garda, this is true authentic Italian olive oil you can trust.
Below is a video of their farming practices in Italy.
I can assure you that this olive oil is one of incredible flavor. Its gentle, mild, with fruity undertones. It tastes wonderful drizzled raw on salads and to finish dishes like stews, soups, and potages. It’s absolutely wonderful and to know that it was made with integrity filled with everything good makes it that much better.
2. I Buy a Far Less Superior Brand for Cooking – Last 1-2 weeks
For cooking, I purchase a Spanish olive oil from Trader Joes. Although I do not know its origin or the farming practices behind it, I feel comfortable using it since it comes from Spain and is carried by Trader Joes. Olive oil from Spain has had less problems as compared to other countries with adulteration. I encourage you to visit my post, How to Cook with Extra Virgin Olive Oil the Right Way, to see how I use it and how you can learn how to gently raise its heat to avoid reaching its smoke point.
3. I SAVE my Oil
Saving oil is a traditional practice used all over Spain. My aunts have separate oil canisters specifically for saving their oil after cooking fish, meat, or vegetables. Of course, if the oil is too dirty, then it’s tossed.
My oil canisters are made of ceramic from Spain. This one seems like a nice one as well and can be purchased in the States.
Saving your oil can save you a tremendous amount of money throughout the year.
Really, that’s what I do for me and mine. It’s a good mix of getting a great olive oil for it’s nutritional benefits and at the same time to be a bit more economical for cooking purposes.
10% Off and FREE Shipping at the Jovial Online Food Store
Don’t forget… Jovial Foods has once again partnered with My Humble Kitchen. Check out their new website and don’t forget to checkout their online store while you’re there! They’re once again offering My Humble Kitchen readers a coupon code for 10% off PLUS FREE shipping! Use the coupon code HumbleK today!
Do you cook with extra virgin olive oil? How do you make extra virgin olive oil affordable?
This post contains affiliate links.
Thanks so much for this post! I cook with both olive oil and coconut oil. Like you, I use varying qualities for different purposes. One thing I do is use a mister to spray my olive oil when possible. That way, I can use a little less. While these oils are expensive, I think they are definitely worth it if we can afford to purchase them. Thanks, again, for the post.
The brand I use is by MISTO, in case you are interested.
I use olive oil exclusively. Although sometimes I do use coconut oil. It is definitely more expensive but I think it is worth it.
Where can you find out which brands are bad and which are good?
Thank you for this Dianna.
Wondering about roasting veggies in the oven? Do you use olive oil, and if so, at what temp? For instance, I love roasted brussel sprouts but usually roast them at 400. would that be too high?
thanks for the great into!
Stacy