--- title: Are olive oils other than extra virgin worth using? description: Can I cook with olive oil? Doesn’t it have a low smoke point? image: https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/hubfs/WhatsApp%20Image%202025-08-03%20at%2016.03.23_ce5b3786.jpg --- Translate this page - [![United States of America (US)](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/United%20States%20of%20America%20(US).svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/naooa-faqs/are-olive-oils-other-than-extra-virgin-worth-using#googtrans/en) - [![Spain (ES)-1](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/Spain%20(ES)-1.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/naooa-faqs/are-olive-oils-other-than-extra-virgin-worth-using#googtrans/es) - [![portugal](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/portugal.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/naooa-faqs/are-olive-oils-other-than-extra-virgin-worth-using#googtrans/pt) - [![francia](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/francia.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/naooa-faqs/are-olive-oils-other-than-extra-virgin-worth-using#googtrans/fr) - [![italia](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/italia.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/naooa-faqs/are-olive-oils-other-than-extra-virgin-worth-using#googtrans/it) - [![greece](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/greece.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/naooa-faqs/are-olive-oils-other-than-extra-virgin-worth-using#googtrans/el) - [![arabic-1](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/arabic-1.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/naooa-faqs/are-olive-oils-other-than-extra-virgin-worth-using#googtrans/ar) - [![turkia](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/turkia.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/naooa-faqs/are-olive-oils-other-than-extra-virgin-worth-using#googtrans/tr) - [![japon](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/japon.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/naooa-faqs/are-olive-oils-other-than-extra-virgin-worth-using#googtrans/ja) - [![china-1](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/china-1.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/naooa-faqs/are-olive-oils-other-than-extra-virgin-worth-using#googtrans/zh-TW) [Membership](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/members) [Member Login](https://my.naooa.org/MIC/login) Tree to Table Guide # Frequently Asked Questions This FAQ is part of our comprehensive guide to understanding olive oil from production to consumption. [View Full Guide ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/olive-oil-guide) [ Previous ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/naooa-faqs/but-what-about-news-reports-from-foreign-countries-about-seizures-of-adulterated-olive-oil-and-related-arrests) [ Next ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/naooa-faqs/does-olive-oil-contain-trans-fats) ### Question: Are olive oils other than extra virgin worth using? Absolutely! While extra virgin olive oil may have the most flavor and health benefits thanks to its higher polyphenol and antioxidant count, all olive oil, refined or virgin, has the same high content of monounsaturated “good fat,” which is recognized by the FDA as a great choice for heart health. Even the most passionate EVOO user may at times prefer for taste or budget reasons to use a neutral-tasting oil, depending on the dish they are preparing. In that case, regular and light-tasting olive oils are excellent choices because when compared to the most commonly purchased types of neutral-tasting oils (canola, soybean, corn), olive oils are the least processed (i.e., not extracted with chemical solvents), have the healthiest fatty acid profile and the lowest trans fats, and are enriched with virgin olive oil, which means they also contain healthy olive polyphenols – not nearly as much as in extra virgin olive oil, but more than other cooking oil alternatives which have none.     Even within the extra virgin category there are different qualities, and all may have appropriate uses, depending on your taste preferences and budget. For raw use (like dipping), to finish dishes, or as a condiment, you want the best quality of extra virgin olive oil you can afford. There are many great options in this category, including those in the NAOOA’s [Extra Virgin Alliance](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/extra-virgin-alliance). When choosing extra virgin olive oil for everyday cooking, you may prefer a less expensive one, since some of the flavor mellows when heated (a full list of NAOOA member brands can be found on our [website](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/members)).   (It’s important to note that research clearly shows that when consumers who were accustomed to using other neutral-flavored, solvent-extracted seed oils like canola, vegetable, corn, soy, etc., switched to regular or light-tasting olive oil, they not only kept using olive oil, but they were also likely to soon graduate to using healthier extra virgin olive oil, as well.) ![Book Cover](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Book%20Cover.png?width=1545&height=2000&name=Book%20Cover.png) [ READ IT NOW ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/olive-oil-guide) [ DOWNLOAD GUIDE AS PDF ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/hubfs/2025-05-27%20Tree%20to%20Table%20Guide.pdf) ### Popular Questions [ Can I cook with olive oil? Doesn’t it have a low smoke point? ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/naooa-faqs/can-i-cook-with-olive-oil) [ Isn’t a lot of olive oil fake? ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/naooa-faqs/isnt-a-lot-of-olive-oil-fake) [ Will olive oil make me gain weight? ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/naooa-faqs/will-olive-oil-make-me-gain-weight) [ View Full FAQ ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/olive-oil-guide#faqs) ## For more information --- Sign up for our newsletter to receive announcements and alerts about upcoming blogs and information. ![logo-certified](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/hubfs/logo-certified.svg)The North American Olive Oil Association is committed to supplying North American consumers with quality products in a fair and competitive environment; to fostering a clear understanding of the different grades of olive oil; and to expounding the benefits of olive oil in nutrition, health, and the culinary arts. | © North American Olive Oil Association. All Rights Reserved. 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