Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Picking A Fresh Cold Pressed Olive Oil From The Shelves

By Jerry Reynolds


The word "cold pressed" has been used as a label describing olive oil. Its use is generally unregulated. Should you walk into any supermarket today, the shelves are filled with several kinds of extra virgin oils, and given that you have no benefit to taste any, you may not get the taste of their quality unless you learn to read their labels carefully. In this way, you will be able to distinguish cold pressed olive oil from the brands that do not offer the real deal.

When it comes to buying tips, there are several things you need to consider choosing a high quality and fresh bottle of olive oil that is cold pressed. Just like wine, you need to give priority to its taste, year of manufacture and the region in which it was produced. This brings challenges similar to those faced by those shopping for a quality wine. The region where it was produced could have had a bad year and determining the best from several tastes could be a nightmare, particularly for new buyers.

The easiest way to select the right from the wrong is to sample taste and smell. However, not all stores offer the opportunity to the shoppers to sample the taste, therefore locking them from having the real deal. In this case, they are forced to rely on other aspects such as the labels, the color and the packaging to make their selection.

Generally, the top quality extra virgin olive oils have different taste profiles, the main ones being buttery, fruity, nutty, herbal, spicy and floral. These are only determined with the help of tongue or the nose. Generally, from a good olive, you should expect a clean and fresh taste. It does not leave that waxy residue after swallowing. In most cases, the flavor is subtle and assertive, but if it is overpowering, then it might be an indication that it is rancid.

The taste may vary from floral, spicy, nutty, buttery, fruity, to herbal depending on the manufacturer and the brand. A fresh product should not leave a waxy residue after you swallow. The flavor should be just subtle or at most assertive, but should not be overpowering, as this may be a clear indication that it is going stale.

It is only possible to judge the taste through the nose and the tongue, when it is good, expects a clean and fresh taste, with no waxy residue when swallowed. It may be subtle or assertive in flavor, but when the flavor is overpowering, it may be an indication of rancidity.

Looking at the color may also give a clue as to whether the product is fresh or not. The fresh ones tend to have colors such as grass green, bright green or even golden yellow. The deep and rich colors, in this case, may not be an indication of the fresh product.

In summary, the fastest way to select the right oil is to consider if it has DOP certification in addition to specifications such as the date of harvest (should be fresh), the region of origin (give an idea of the taste and quality), and the container used for packaging. In this regards, a dark tainted glass bottle is the best container. The environmental elements like heat, light and air are great enemies of these oils and storing them in a clear bottle of plastic containers expose them to photo-oxidation making them taste bitter or rancid.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment