Top pick
Graza Sizzle Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Balanced, green, and peppery
Fragrant and grassy, this oil has a fair amount of pungency and a sharp bitterness our testers enjoyed. Pairs nicely with roasted vegetables, bread, and pasta.
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All of our panelists agreed that the Graza Sizzle Extra Virgin Olive Oil (about 59¢ per ounce), which smelled like fresh living tomato plants, was the best all-purpose oil we tested. One taster detected a bright, crisp green apple aroma, noting, “This one is quite fragrant, which makes me excited to taste.”
This oil starts with a slight caramel flavor, but a bitter pungency blooms followed by a pleasant piquancy. We all enjoyed its grassy flavor, which one panelist said gave her “summer vegetable garden vibes.” The oil was rich but not overly fatty. One tester observed, “The way my tongue is responding reminds me of a good matcha—there’s that astringency, and then a long finish.”
Since plastic can affect the quality of your oil over time, it’s best to finish a bottle of Graza oil within about three months. If you’re concerned about disposal, Graza claims that its bottles are made from post-consumer plastics and are recyclable after use (though this may vary depending on your area). The company also sells refills in recyclable aluminum cans.
Origin: Jaén, Spain
NYT Cooking recommends: Basic Pesto, Olive Oil Refried Beans, Tomato Bruschetta, Chicken Confit With Roasted Potatoes and Parsley Salad