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Stocking stuffer gold: The $14 olive oil Giada De Laurentiis uses on ‘almost everything’

Updated

Looking for an add-on gift or stocking stuffer for that person on your list who loves to cook up a storm? Here’s something they’ll savor: Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil, the favorite pantry staple of Food Network star and Italian clean-cooking queen Giada De Laurentiis, as she told Bon Appetit magazine.

Lucini is, accordind to De Laurentiis and a huge fan base, the holy grail of extra virgin olive oils. And EVOO is the only type that real-deal food enthusiasts would ever use for cooking and eating.
$14 at Amazon

In case you think a celebrity chef like De Laurentiis uses only the most high-end extra virigin olive oil (EVOO) imported straight from Italy, think again: Her beloved Lucini is less than $14 for a 16.9 fluid ounce bottle at Amazon right now. Oh, and it’s actually made in Argentina!

EVOO isn’t your run-of-the-mill olive, as your culinary giftee surely knows. It’s made from the first cold-pressing of the olives — a time-consuming process — so it’s unrefined, more pure, tastier, healthier and even lighter in color. It’s the holy grail of olive oils and the only type that real-deal, health-conscious food enthusiasts would ever use for dripping and drizzling — and, in many cases, cooking too.

Giada De Laurentiis, Lucini extra virgin olive oil
If Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis is devoted to Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil, you know it has to be next-level. Photo: REUTERS/Gus Ruelas (GUS RUELAS / reuters)

Of course, that means EVOO is usually more expensive than other kinds of olive oils, but Lucini EVOO’s price point is totally doable for something so frequently used in the kitchen.

De Laurentiis told Bon Appetit she uses Lucini EVOO on “almost everything,” including chicken breasts, salads and even her morning oatmeal. “There’s no such thing as too much olive oil,” she told the publication. And since De Laurentiis herself is Italian, you know she takes her olive oil seriously.

When a respected chef like De Laurentiis gave Lucini EVOO her seal of approval, we knew it was the unexpected stocking stuffer we needed in our lives.
$14 at Amazon

Amazon customers are just as satisfied with the flavor Lucini EVOO 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,” one five-star reviewer wrote.

“This is the best Tuscan oil. Ripe olives with a nice tannic end. That keeps its structure,” another foodie echoed.

Some might argue that EVOO shouldn’t be used in cooking — only for dressing and garnishing — but De Laurentiis proudly cooks with her Lucini EVOO. So 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 your salads. Feel free to pour Lucini EVOO on ice cream, drizzle it on cheese and even sprinkle it on a fruit salad.

Don’t be surprised if a beauty lover on your list prefers to use this tasty stuff on their skin!
$14 at Amazon

Amazon shoppers are loving Lucini EVOO’s myriad uses, but mostly they’re loving the price. “Love a REAL olive oil that doesn't break the bank but gets the flavor job done!,” one wrote. Another explained De Laurentiis’ possible reason for opting to use an Argentinian EVOO instead of one from her motherland.

“Lucini is one of a few medium priced EVOO's that limit the acidity level to 0.05%, which is the mark of a high quality EVOO in Italy,” this shopper explained. “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.”

Lucini extra virgin olive oil tops Giada De Laurentiis' shopping list — and this year, it should top your stocking stuffer list, too. (Photo: Amazon/Getty)
Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil tops Giada De Laurentiis' shopping list — and this year, it should top your stocking stuffer list, too. (Photo: Amazon/Getty) (Amazon/Getty)

If food is the way to your giftees’ hearts, then Lucini EVOO is about to cause some serious swooning this holiday season.

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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