"There's no such thing as too much olive oil," says Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis. (Getty Images)(NBC via Getty Images)
Olive oil has tons of health benefits. Experts say it could lower your risk for heart disease, decrease inflammation and possibly even help you live longer. Of course, it's also delicious. Food Network star and Italian clean-cooking queen Giada De Laurentiis told Bon Appetit magazine that her favorite pantry staple is Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Celebrity-endorsed, affordable and available at Amazon? Sounds like stocking-stuffer gold if you ask us!
While I'd like to think that knowing I own and adore this No. 1 bestseller would inspire you to give it to Mom, I'll admit — the fact that Ina Garten is a fan probably makes it more appealing. It's made of durable cast iron that'll last for years, comes pre-seasoned and can withstand heat from any cooktop (it can even be used over a fire). Nothing's better when it comes to achieving the perfect sear on your meat, and I can say from personal experience that it makes the best pancakes too.
"It's already seasoned and I love that!" wrote a Lodge loyalist. "It is my favorite pan now. It’s pretty, so I leave it sitting on my stove all the time. Nothing is sticking to it and it's super easy to clean, has great heat distribution and is excellent quality. This will be passed down for generations."
Check out my full Lodge Cast Iron Skillet review for more.
"I eat olive oil with almost everything — from my oatmeal in the morning to salads to cooking with it, there’s no such thing as too much olive oil,” she tells Bon Appetit. This bottle is one of her go-tos, and according to the brand, it has a "mild" flavor profile with "notes of almond and a momentary peppery finish." Use it for everything from drizzling over vegetables to sauteing.
You might think that a celebrity chef like De Laurentiis uses only ultra-high-end extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) imported from Italy. Well, think again: Lucini is $20 for a 16.9-ounce bottle. Oh, and it's actually made in Argentina! This bottle has "last-minute gift" written all over it, especially for any home cooks in your life.
EVOO isn't your run-of-the-mill olive oil. It's made from the first cold-pressing of the olives — a time-consuming process — so it's unrefined, as well as purer, tastier, healthier and even lighter in color. It's the holy grail of olive oils and the only type that real-deal, health-conscious foodies would ever use for dripping and drizzling — and, in many cases, cooking.
Of course, that means EVOO is usually more expensive than other olive oil, but Lucini's price point is totally reasonable for something so frequently used in the kitchen.
De Laurentiis told Bon Appetit that she uses Lucini on "almost everything," including salads and even her morning oatmeal. "There's no such thing as too much olive oil," she said. And since De Laurentiis is Italian, you know she takes her olive oil seriously.
Amazon customers are just as satisfied with the flavor that Lucini delivers. "I went to Italy six years ago and stayed at a vineyard where they make their own organic olive oil. This Lucini olive oil tastes so much like that in Tuscany; it's the only kind I will use," reported one five-star reviewer.
Some argue that EVOO shouldn't be used for cooking — only dressing and garnishing — but De Laurentiis proudly cooks with it, as does her (very opinionated) fellow famous chef Gordon Ramsay. Even the Culinary Institute of America recommends cooking with EVOO.
And then there are all the little-known foods and dishes you can garnish with EVOO. Nope, it's not just salads — you can pour it on ice cream, drizzle it on cheese and even sprinkle it on a fruit salad.
Amazon shoppers love Lucini's myriad uses but mostly love the price. "Love a real olive oil that doesn't break the bank but gets the flavor job done," wrote a satisfied foodie.
Another buyer explained why De Laurentiis may opt to use an Argentinian EVOO instead of one from her motherland. "Lucini is one of a few medium-priced EVOOs that limit the acidity level to 0.05%, which is the mark of a high-quality EVOO in Italy," they said. "Having experienced taste-testing of high-quality EVOO in Italy, this is excellent quality. I use it for everyday cooking as well as for salad dressing and tossed with pasta."
"Caught this on sale and while still fresh," said a final fan. "Totally delicious in salad dressing. A little meek in hummus and baba ghanoush, but no harm done."
Another Food Network star kitchen essential? Ina Garten's beloved Lodge Cast Iron Skillet, which also arrives before Christmas:
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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