Olive Oil Reviews

Fact Checked

Squeaky Gate frying high in olive oil ratings

Olive oil may be one of the most versatile and healthy oils to cook with. It can be used for frying your extra bacon brekkie, or as a salad dressing if you’re on a health kick. But not all olive oils are created equal. There are dozens of varieties available on the market like extra-virgin, light, pomace, cold-pressed and organic olive oil, plus more! You’ll also notice a difference in quality between the brands on the shelf. If you don’t want to waste ‘olive your time’ trying to crack the code on olive oil, we’ve done the hard yards for you!

This year, we surveyed more than 1,200 Australian consumers on the olive oil they purchased in the last six months. Brands were rated on taste, cooking performance, packaging, value for money and overall satisfaction. Those that received the minimum sample size (30 responses) are featured in our report.

Our latest ratings saw Squeaky Gate grease up Aussies with its range of olive oils, achieving five stars and rating best across the board. It was also the only brand to receive full marks in any category.

Best Olive Oils

Here are the best brands of olive oil in Australia, as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s latest review:

1. Squeaky Gate
2. La Española
3. Cobram Estate
4. Moro
5. Bertolli
6. Coles
7. Monini
8. Red Island
9. Woolworths Select
10. Woolworths

Squeaky Gate was on fire in Canstar Blue’s 2021 olive oil ratings, rating best across the board. Most other brands sizzled on four stars for overall satisfaction, except for Woolworths which rounded up the scores on three stars.

Olive Oil Brands

Squeaky Gate

Squeaky Gate says it’s opening Aussie households to ‘honest cooking’ with its range of extra virgin olive oil. Part of what makes its products popular, according to the brand, is the fact its olives are harvested and cold pressed by Aussie growers. Squeaky Gate keeps its selection simple with three versatile options:

• Squeaky Gate The Mild One
• Squeaky Gate The Strong One
• Squeaky Gate The All Rounder

Squeaky Gate olive oil is available in 375ml and 750ml bottles, plus in a 3L tin for The All Rounder.

• Squeaky Gate achieved a remarkable five stars across the board, including for overall satisfaction.

La Española

La Española may have originated in Spain, but the brand has firmly established itself as the olive oil of choice for many Australian households. Exclusively stocked by Coles supermarkets, La Española offers a good range of high-quality extra virgin olive oils with a few product options to choose from, including:

• La Española Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• La Española Light & Mild Olive Oil
• La Española Olive Oil
• La Española Light Olive Oil

A 500ml bottle of La Española extra virgin olive oil costs about $9.50 from Coles supermarkets. You can alternatively get 1L tins for $7.50, 4L tins for $27 or 100ml bottles for $3.

• La Española received four stars in most categories, including overall satisfaction. It got three stars for packaging.

Cobram Estate

From tree to table, Cobram Estate says it makes top-quality extra virgin olive oils using the freshest and antioxidant-rich olives. The brand provides a wide assortment of extra virgin olive oil products across its Everyday Essentials, Meal Starters, Infusions and Ultra Premium ranges. Here are some popular products from the brand:

• Cobram Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil Classic
• Cobram Estate Chili & Coriander Meal Starter
• Cobram Estate Ginger & Lemongrass Meal Starter
• Cobram Estate Garlic Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Prices for Cobram Estate products usually start from $6.50 for an extra virgin olive oil spray (225g) and reach up to $45 for a 3L tin.

• Cobram Estate scored four stars for cooking performance, taste, packaging and overall satisfaction. It got three stars for value for money.

Moro

Moro makes 100% Spanish extra virgin, cold-extracted olive oil for every home and occasion. The brand also offers grapeseed oil products and vinegars for cooking. Its extra virgin olive oil range is said to have a trademark traditional taste and quality to it, with classic and herb-infused options available. Here’s a selection from the range:

• Moro Primero Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Moro Delicado Light Taste Olive Oil
• Moro El Tradicional Pure Olive Oil
• Moro Tradicional Olive Oil

A 250ml bottle of infused garlic extra virgin olive oil will usually cost $5.50 in most supermarkets, with prices reaching up to $31.50 for a 4L tin of Moro Primero extra virgin olive oil.

• Moro achieved four-star reviews across most of the board, including for overall satisfaction. Although it got three stars for value for money.

Bertolli

Bertolli olive oils are said to have a distinct, intense, full-bodied, traditional Italian flavour and are made with quality ingredients. Bertolli organic extra virgin olive oil is exclusively stocked in Woolies supermarkets and produced using organic farming standards. Bertolli’s range offers different olive oil products for all occasions, including:

• Bertolli Organic 1L Extra Virgin Olive Oil ─ Robusto
• Bertolli Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil ─ Fruity
• Bertolli 1L Extra Virgin Olive Oil ─ Gentile

A 750ml bottle of Bertolli extra virgin olive oil can set you back $13 at Woolies.

• Bertolli was rated four stars in most categories, including cooking performance and overall satisfaction. It scored three stars for value for money.

Coles

Coles offers a variety of budget-friendly alternatives to popular olive oil and extra virgin olive oil products, most of which are available in either a 500ml or 1L bottle. For something a little different, the supermarket stocks extra virgin avocado oil in a smaller 250ml bottle. Other options on the shelves include:

• Coles Refined Olive Oil
• Coles Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Coles Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Coles Olive Oil Extra Mild
• Coles Classic Olive Oil

The supermarket range starts from $2.15 for the Coles Extra Olive Oil spray or $3 for the 500ml bottled variety and goes up to $7 for 1L options.

• Coles achieved four-star reviews for value for money and overall satisfaction, before ending on three stars for taste, cooking performance and packaging.

Monini

Monini has come a long way since the business began in Italy in the 1920s, now offering a versatile selection of oils to households across the globe. This includes a wide offering of various products including its everyday range of extra virgin olive oil, plus 100% Italian extra virgin olive oil, regular olive oil and an organic variety. Monini also sells a number of DOP and IGP oils, described as extra virgin olive oil that features unique characteristics relating to a territory in Europe. Some products include:

• Monini Delicato Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Monini Classico Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Monini Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Prices start from $8 for a 750ml and can go up to $12 for a 500ml alternative of Monini olive oil.

• Monini scored four stars on most factors, such as taste and overall satisfaction. The two exceptions were value for money and cooking performance, where it got three stars.

Red Island

Red Island is said to be known for its premium extra virgin olive oil made from Aussie-grown olives. The brand’s products are claimed to be Australian Extra Virgin Certified, 100% natural and cold pressed without using any heat or chemicals. This apparently helps retain antioxidants and healthy unsaturated fats. Most Red Island extra virgin olive oil products are available in a range of packs and sizes. Here’s a small product selection from the Red Island range:

• Red Island Extra Virgin Olive Oil Cold Pressed
• Red Island Evoo High Heat
• Red Island Evoo BBQ

A 150g Red Island oil spray costs $5, with prices for bottled options starting from around $7 for 500ml.

• Red Island achieved four stars in the majority of categories, including cooking performance and overall satisfaction. It got three stars for value for money.

Woolworths Select

Woolworths Select is the supermarket’s brand of mid-range household and kitchen products. Woolworths Select has a selection of various cooking oils available, including sunflower, canola, coconut and even rice bran oil. The brand offers two olive oil product options, including:

• Woolworths Select Spanish Mellow Olive Oil
• Woolworths Select Spanish Classic Olive Oil

Prices for Woolies Select olive oil start from $4.00 for 500ml.

• Woolworths Select received four stars for value for money and overall satisfaction, plus four three stars in the remaining areas.

Woolworths

Woolworths has a small range of homebrand cooking oils available in stores and online. The supermarket giant’s range of cooking oils includes sunflower, canola and olive oil products at low prices compared to commercial brands. Woolworths has a small selection of extra virgin olive oil products, including:

• Woolworths Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Woolworths Spanish Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Woolworths Extra Virgin Olive Oil Spray

Prices for Woolies’ extra virgin olive oil start from $2.20 for 150g.

• Woolworths achieved four stars for value for money, before landing on three stars for overall satisfaction and everywhere else.

What type of olive oil should I buy?

Well, first work out which type of olive oil you’re most likely to use based on what you’re dishing up. Here are the main varieties of olive oils and what they’re best used for:

• Extra virgin olive oil: best used as a seasoning or in salads
• Virgin olive oil: best for shallow frying and baking
• Refined olive oil: suitable for all cooking purposes but not for salads
• Pure olive oil: suitable for bulk cooking but not for salads
• Olive pomace oil: best for high-heat cooking

The difference between the varieties comes down to how the olives are harvested and how the oil is extracted using different smoke points. As a general rule, extra virgin olive oil is the least processed, which is why it’s generally considered the healthiest member of the olive oil family.

If you’re after the freshest olive oil, look at locally-produced options as they’re generally better than the imported varieties which are kept in storage for longer. And keep your eye out for the Australian Olive Association (AOA) certified logo on any product packaging, plus the harvest date which should also be displayed.

You can also use our olive oil review as a starting point to see how consumers rate different brands on the market on factors like taste and even value for money. Enjoy!

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Blue’s home & lifestyle journalist, Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito. She’s an expert on household appliances, grooming products and all things grocery and shopping. In addition to translating our expert research into consumer-friendly ratings reports, Tahnee spends her time helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services, while highlighting the best deals and anything you need to be aware of.

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