Is kirkland extra virgin olive oil good

• Pros:
• USDA organic olive oil
• Made from cold extracted olives (cold pressed olive oils like Costco's Kirkland Signature Extra Virgin Olive Oil  are the highest quality because heat kills nutrients)
• 120 calories per tablespoon
• 2 liter plastic bottle
• Low acidity
• Olives sourced from Italy, Tunisia, Portugal and Greece
• One of the highest polyphenol levels of all olive oils making it super healthy
• High oleic acid levels making it heart health
• Low acidity and rancidity making it high quality and safe
• Mild aroma and flavor perfect for salads and cooking

Ingredients Concern:  None

Cons:  Extra large bottle gives you a huge supply of olive oil, yet it needs to be used within a short period of time after opening to avoid rancidity

Costco Wholesale Corporation in Seatlle, Washington creates this olive oil product. It is packaged in Italy with olives sourced in Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Tunisia. Costco is know for creating products at a great value and this olive oil is no exception.

See our article on olive oils. This olive oil is cold pressed and extracted which is one of the most important aspects of a good olive oil mainly because heat kills the nutrients and polyphenols. It is also important to check for a harvest date which this one has. Harvest dates prove freshness. Note that olive oils should be used by the BEST BEFORE date as it can become of poor quality with air and light exposure for extended periods of time. 

There is scientific evidence behind this olve oil for cooking as it is healthier  - baking, frying, sauteing, and using in substitution of butter. Olive oil in general is also great for reducing risk of coronary heart disease by helping the risk factors including high cholesterol and blood pressure[1-4], reduced risk of breast cancer and colorectal cancer [6] and improved blood sugar control[7]. 

This olive oil received a 5/5 rating due to 1) cold pressed, 2) high polyphenol count 3) olives are verified by Bureau Veritas to be from the Mediterranean 4) the color and aroma 5) the fact that it is extra virgin olive oil which means its healthier 5) its kosher and 6) it is USDA organic so you dont have to worry about eating pesticides. 

Cooking, frying, baking, sauteing, and substituton of unhealthy butters;For coronary heart disease (2 tablespoons daily of Kirkland Signature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil may help reduce risk of coronary heart disease)

Kirkland Signature Extra Virgin Organic Olive Oil has healthy fats (monounsaturated fats) - oleic acids. Eating about 2 tablespoons of olive oil a day can lower the risk of coronary heart disease due to the monounstaurated fats as long as taking it does not increase calories for the day. It can help improve the risk factors associated with heart disease including high blood pressure and high cholesterol[1-4]. In a study, olive oil may have a protective effect on the development of Colorectal cancer and may reduce the progression of it[6]. The high content of oleic acid found in Kirkland Signature Extra Virgin Organic Olive Oil which can help increase insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels[7].

Key Ingredients:  100% organic olive oils

All Ingredients:  None discovered

Kirkland Signature Extra Virgin Organic Olive Oil has a mild aroma and flavor which can be used for salad dressings and also for cooking, frying sauteing, and baking. It can be used for baking much more than traditional Italian cookies, like biscotti, and cakes which are usually made with olive oil, but also can be used to bake quick breads, muffins, scones, brownies, cookies and even crusts. Substitute butter for olive oil.

Store bottle away from light and heat. Its important to use olive oil within 15 months of its harvest date and not by the "best by" date. Also, choose only oils that have dark glass bottles and keep out of light to avoid rancidity. These statements have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

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Samin Nosrat is an olive oil expert. 

Nosrat's Netflix show, "Salt Fat Acid Heat," highlighted the importance of pure, decadent olive oil, with the chef visiting Italy to see olives being pressed. On her website, the chef highlights brands such as Roi and Tondo that use Italian olives and promise luscious textures and fruity finishes. 

Yet, Nosrat says in her daily cooking she doesn't rely solely on these expensive options. Instead, she told The Seattle Times that she recommends Kirkland Signature organic extra-virgin olive oil for everyday use. 

"It's really good!" she told The Times. 

Others back Nosrat's take. The olive oil was also a favorite of nutritionists polled by Reader's Digest. 

Read more: You may be eating a lot of bad, rotten olive oil — here's how to find the real stuff

Members can purchase two-liter bottles of the organic olive oil for $16.99 on Costco's website. For comparison, half a liter of the Nosrat-recommended Tondo DOP Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil costs $32. 

An earlier version of this article included a study of American olive oil quality that has been criticized as misleading by experts.