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mike_c

(36,716 posts)
Mon Aug 25, 2025, 01:02 PM Aug 25

does anyone know what unfiltered extra virgin olive oil is good for?

I bought this bottle of unfiltered olive oil thinking, "I'll bet that has more flavor than filtered oils." It is SO bitter. It's inedible, by my standards. I tried using it in a salad dressing, just added a tablespoon or so, then used up all my regular olive oil trying to dilute the bitterness. Ended up pouring the whole mess out.

What on Earth is this stuff good for? Why does anyone even bottle it?

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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does anyone know what unfiltered extra virgin olive oil is good for? (Original Post) mike_c Aug 25 OP
Draining your budget. Traildogbob Aug 25 #1
The fruity olive smell/taste should be much stronger, but it should not be bitter unblock Aug 25 #2
Good for seasoning cast iron! lastlib Aug 25 #3
That's an awfully expensive way to season cAst iron kozar Aug 25 #7
Bitter is not my favourite taste. Old Crank Aug 25 #4
Probably good for gut microbiome bucolic_frolic Aug 25 #5
I got some unfiltered olive ol and it was what I would call "peppery". Not bland for sure. A finishing oil for salads. mitch96 Aug 25 #6
Unfiltered will have delightful justaprogressive Aug 26 #8

Traildogbob

(11,750 posts)
1. Draining your budget.
Mon Aug 25, 2025, 01:07 PM
Aug 25

I like watching the chefs on PBS, but I see gold nuggets pouring out of those bottles to make those dishes. Like most healthy diets, most of us can not afford the good stuff.

unblock

(55,582 posts)
2. The fruity olive smell/taste should be much stronger, but it should not be bitter
Mon Aug 25, 2025, 01:07 PM
Aug 25

It's probably gone bad. If you just bought it, try to get a refund.

lastlib

(26,631 posts)
3. Good for seasoning cast iron!
Mon Aug 25, 2025, 01:12 PM
Aug 25

Rub a thin coating all over your skillet/Dutch oven (wipe off all excess, or you'll have a sticky gummy mess), stick it in your oven at about 475-500 degrees until the oil stops smoking, and you will have a well-seasoned tool for cooking! I love cast iron cookware when it's properly seasoned! You can't beat it, and extra virgin olive oil is one of the best seasonings.

Old Crank

(6,158 posts)
4. Bitter is not my favourite taste.
Mon Aug 25, 2025, 01:12 PM
Aug 25

I use mainly a fruity oil for salad dressings and bread dipping.
I use an inexpensive olive oil, or a neutral oil for actual cooking. Especially when starting a recipe with onion and garlic. I think the flavour gets overwhelmed.
If you can go to a place where you can taste the different oils to see what you like in a flavour profile.
Good olive oil, all olive oil, has gone up the last couple of years. European weather patterns have played havoc with the crops.

bucolic_frolic

(52,234 posts)
5. Probably good for gut microbiome
Mon Aug 25, 2025, 01:28 PM
Aug 25

filter out the solids and bake them in whole wheat pizza crust.

mitch96

(15,447 posts)
6. I got some unfiltered olive ol and it was what I would call "peppery". Not bland for sure. A finishing oil for salads.
Mon Aug 25, 2025, 03:15 PM
Aug 25

If you don't want to throw it out just cut it with regular EVOO till it tastes ok to you.
Sometimes I take bland olive oil and add some minced olives to it to give some extra flavor..
m

justaprogressive

(5,334 posts)
8. Unfiltered will have delightful
Tue Aug 26, 2025, 03:22 PM
Aug 26

additional flavor notes, but these exist at the expense of shelf-life....

Yours has passed its sell-by date. Return for refund.

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