An Italian chef has shared the three golden rules you should follow when purchasing olive oil. Cooking professional Roberta revealed that many unwittingly buy oil that isn’t authentic or good quality.
In an eye-opening TikTok video, she said: “I’ll explain how to choose the real Italian olive oil. Many times, the extra virgin olive oil we find in supermarkets seems Italian, but in reality, it is a mixture of olive oils from several countries.
“So keep an eye on these three things – first, it must clearly say ‘extra virgin olive oil’.
“Second, look for the country of origin. If it doesn’t say the country, it can be a mixture of very low quality.
“Third, always check the harvest date. If only the expiration date appears, the olive oil can be old.”
As well as sharing her three tips, Roberta urged foodies to buy olive oil that comes in dark-coloured packaging.
She added: “Another key detail: always choose a dark bottle or tin, as the light damages the oil.”
Roberta is correct to issue this advice – as light, especially sunlight or strong artificial light, can cause olive oil to degrade more quickly.
This occurs through a process called oxidation, which results in a loss of flavour, aroma, and nutritional quality.
Dark-coloured bottles (like green or brown glass) or opaque containers block out much of the harmful light, helping to preserve the oil’s freshness, taste, and health benefits for a longer period.
For best quality, store olive oil in a cool, dark place and always reseal the bottle tightly after use.
People found Roberta’s advice extremely useful – and her short TikTok clip has garnered more than 1,900 likes and plenty of positive comments.
One commenter gushed: “I love you so much, chef Roberta.” Meanwhile, another said: “You have my respect!”
Some even say they want to visit Roberta in her restaurant, which is called Aroma Roma and is located in San Jose, Costa Rica.
If you’re looking for more foodie tips, don’t go anywhere because we’ve got you covered.
Previously, we revealed that courgettes taste much better when you do one thing. Meanwhile, Mary Berry has shared her tried-and-tested method for making perfectly crispy roast potatoes every time.
Dining and Cooking