I will totally admit right from the start that, in my case, the best oil for bread making is olive oil.
However, I don’t use it always. For you, vegetable oil might be better, especially for your budget. Other recipes will require margarine or butter. For example, the classic sandwich bread is made with butter. But you can replace the butter with margarine, too.
Olive oil is certainly awesome for some breads but artisan breads are just made with the 4 classic ingredients: flour, water, yeast, salt.
The obvious fast is that for a large majority of recipes we absolutely don’t need to use the best oil for bread making. We can just make them with the classic 4 ingredients. Fermentation, proofing, good yeast, good flour, the right bakeware, and baking temperatures are much more important than finding the best oil for bread.
Is it worth it searching for the best olive oil for bread? It certainly is, especially for a recipe like focaccia. Moreover, olive oil is absolutely phenomenal if you want to make a delicious bread dipping oil.
Maybe later on in this article I’ll also get the chance to introduce you to a bread dipping oil recipe. Those kind of bread dipping oil recipes are easy to make and, for lovers of bread, they’re better than the main course.
The same olive oil will also be used for cooking or for salad dressings. Once you get the taste of it, you can’t let go. It’s that good.
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Best Oil for Bread: My Top 4 Picks
1. Robust Flavor: Zoe Extra Virgin Olive Oil
An excellent Spanish olive oil that’s perfect for dipping and for those who prefer a more robust flavor, it’s delicious and the price is not too bad, at all.
2. Best for Cooking: Pompeian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The quantity and the price are two attractive features for this extra virgin olive oil for bread making, cooking, dipping, and salad dressings, it works for everything you want.
3. Expensive and Light Flavor: Papa Vince Olive Oil Extra Virgin
If you’re in the mood for fantastic light flavor, a very high price, and the absolute best quality, this one is a winner, an Italian olive oil meant to be savored.
4. Vegetable Oil for Bread Making: Amazon Brand Vegetable Oil
As the best oil for bread making, you can basically pick any vegetable oil that you find in a supermarket. They’re all standard and very good. I just chose this one as an example but you can buy whatever you find and whichever has the best price. The main thing I like about this is the 1 gal (3.79 L) quantity, it will last a long time.
Top 3 Best Olive Oils for Bread Making
I just selected 3 best olive oils for bread and they’re all fantastic in flavor, none is too strong or overpowering, each can be bought as the best oil for bread making.
The first two are more robust in taste but the last one takes the crown when it comes to one of the most delicious olive oils that you will ever taste but it’s also incredibly expensive.
Obviously, the last one is not at all for cooking, just for dressings and just simply eating it by dipping fresh-made bread into it. It’s that delicious.
If you want to combine cooking with using it for dressings, a large quantity to last a while with an affordable price, choose the second option as a best olive oil for bread.
1. Zoe Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The Zoe Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made in Spain and it was declared the best choice by the NY Times. It will be a perfect choice as the best oil for bread making.
It has quite a robust aroma so it’s definitely not for those who want something light.
But it’s pretty cheap and of good quality.
So, it has two strong attributes and a strong aroma.
And the tin is incredibly beautiful. It makes an impact on me.
It seems to be an excellent first choice as the best olive oil for bread.
2. Pompeian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil 68 oz (2 liters)
This second choice is kind of a surprise.
It’s incredibly affordable! The price is truly great.
For those who use a lot of it, it’s a perfect choice.
It has very good flavor and a very good quality.
It’s quite the surprise.
And it can be used for cooking as well as for drizzling and salad dressings.
It’s pretty amazing and that’s why it gets a top recommendation from my part!
3. Papa Vince Olive Oil Extra Virgin (500 ml)
And here’s an organic one for those of you who are really into organic food.
As you might clearly expect it, this is expensive.
It’s definitely not for me because I use too much during a month.
And I don’t like buying it in such small quantities.
Why do I recommend it anyway?
Because it has a light flavor, it’s of high quality, and healthy.
The light flavor will appeal to everyone, even to those who have dismissed eating olive oil in the past because of its slightly bitter taste.
I wouldn’t buy it, it’s too much for my budget because there are always ingredients to buy and to try out in the kitchen, but not everyone is me.
If I were to buy a bottle of such an exquisite olive oil, I would use it rarely but I would appreciate every bite.
I wouldn’t use it in my bread machine but I would dip the bread made by my bread maker into this olive oil.
Salad dressings will turn out outstanding, even a simple dressing of olive oil and lemon and a bit of honey.
This olive oil meets all the requirements: it’s first cold pressed, unblended, unfiltered, unrefined.
It has all the characteristics to be called a healthy organic product.
It also has the price to prove it. The Papa Vince Olive Oil Extra Virgin can be the perfect gift if you have a lot of money to spend.
Vegetable Oil as the Best Oil for Bread Making
Vegetable oil is mainly used for deep frying and for general cooking in many countries. However, it can also work as the best oil for bread making if you want to keep things on a budget.
It’s so much cheaper than olive oil. That’s what makes it so popular around the globe. You can also find it anywhere and even cheaper options are very good.
It doesn’t have a particular taste so it won’t impact the flavor of your loaves.
You can use vegetable oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, grapeseed oil. And you can also use their organic versions. All these have a neutral flavor.
Margarine/Butter for Bread Making
There are certain recipes which absolutely require butter. One of the most popular examples is sandwich bread.
Sweet breads in general will require margarine or butter. You can use the two interchangeably, depending on your budget or your personal preferences.
The only thing you must keep in mind is that you need to use these two ingredients in their softened state. Don’t use them straight out of the fridge, when they’re as hard as a brick.
However, if you’re using a microwave to soften them, pay close attention because these fats shouldn’t be added in liquid or melted form. They just need to be at room temperature.
Why I Love Olive Oil for Bread
Olive oil is not exactly cheap but I always try my best to have a bottle for cooking, like a best olive oil for bread, and a bottle for dipping and dressings. You can also use the same bottle for both purposes.
I just love it.
Whether you make your bread by hand and bake it in a conventional oven or you use a bread maker like I usually do, adding olive oil is optional. Most of the time, I use a bread machine, I leave it to a machine to make and bake the loaf.
However, the basic bread recipe consists of only four ingredients: flour, yeast, salt, and water. You don’t necessarily need to have a best olive oil for bread in order to make bread.
It will be delicious either way.
My rule is: if I have it I add it if not I stick to the usual recipe: water, salt, yeast, and flour. It’s cheaper that way, too.
When I’m hungry, I just need 4 things: prosciutto or Jamón Ibérico, olive oil, a baguette, and delicious tomatoes, preferably the ones grown by my mother. The first 3 are a must.
With my hands I tear the baguette apart in one bite pieces, then I dress it with amazingly flavored oil, and on top tiny slices of prosciutto. It’s the most amazing thing.
If you want to replicate this recipe, I should give you one little warning: eat with your hands, otherwise it won’t be as delicious.
Now, let me tell what you need to know in order to pick an amazing oil, the best oil for bread making worthy of your money.
How to Pick the Best Olive Oil for Bread
- If you intend to use it as an ingredient in bread making, whether you’re using your hands or your bread maker, then you can get one that’s not that expensive
- The taste differs from product to product
It’s a question of taste, just like it is with wine drinking.
I like one that has a slightly powerful taste, has a boldness, a flavor that’s not like anything you’ve ever tasted.
I don’t like the mild tasting ones.
But I’m not a fan of those who have a really powerful aroma, either.
- Since it’s a question of taste, you can know which is the best olive oil for bread that will perfectly match your tastes after trying a bunch of flavors
Olive Oil Types
In this case, the easiest classification is made by countries:
- The Italian is the one I like best because it has a herbal aroma and grassy flavor. It’s dark green. It’s beautiful and delicious.
- The French one is the best choice for those who like a more subtle aroma.
- The Spanish has a nutty, fruity flavor. This one is also very good.
- The Greek one is the most powerful. I had a hard time getting used to it when I used it for salad dressings. It gave me the sensation that it overpowered all the other flavors. But as a best olive oil for bread it can work because you won’t feel it.
- And the Californian is also light and mild, with a hint of fruits in its flavor.
Virgin and Extra-Virgin Olive Oils
The safest choice for cooking is the virgin olive oil, which is also known as olive oil.
It’s great for bread making or pasta or pizza or any other type of food that comes to mind.
Then comes the extra-virgin.
Last but not least, the premium extra-virgin is of the highest quality.
They’re really good because they are made without using excessive heat and without using any other chemicals.
I prefer buying a virgin or extra-virgin and use it for everything: bread making, cooking, drizzled over bread, and for dressings.
It’s not cheap but I wouldn’t give it up, I couldn’t.
If you’re interested in the many health benefits that this ingredient has, buy an extra-virgin one.
That’s how you can be absolutely sure that your body is getting those benefits.
Last but not least, store your best olive oil for bread in a cool and dark place. I guess that’s about everything you need to know.
I didn’t want to get you bored with all the details so I kept this guide on choosing the best olive oil for bread short and concise.
Bread Dipping Oil Recipe
Now that we’ve settled our discussion on the best bread oil, let’s see what delicious bread dipping oil recipe you can make with it as soon as you get your bottle of the best olive oil for bread.
You can use any type of bread you prefer for this bread dipping oil recipe. But a crusty bread that can be made with the help of a baking stone or in a Dutch oven is truly the best.
A bread dipping oil recipe is the perfect appetizer for any crowd. It’s one of those things that you can’t get enough of and you shouldn’t because it’s also healthy. I think it can work as a perfect alternative to garlic bread.
Also, the recipe is adaptable. If you don’t have one or some of the ingredients around, just add the ones that you do have and maybe next time you can add the others that you were missing. You don’t have to follow it exactly.
The olive oil is the star if the show, that one is a must obviously.
Furthermore, you can use either dried or fresh herbs, whatever you have in the kitchen. Obviously, fresh herbs are the preferred option due to their strong fresh flavors but it works nicely with dried herbs, too.
I absolutely love basil so, I keep a pot in the house just for bread dipping. I have to buy the basil needed for pasta and pizza recipes or Thai recipes because I use large quantities on those occasions.
Besides basil, you can also add thyme, oregano, and rosemary. These can totally be used in their dry form because they still retain a strong flavor. In my opinion, dried basil has no appeal.
If they are fresh, chop all the herbs by hand. Don’t use a food processor for basil, it’s too delicate.
The ingredients for a bread dipping oil recipe are:
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil
- teaspoon fresh oregano (half a teaspoon if it’s dried)
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, which are entirely optional but it’s a nice addition for those who like spicy food
- 3 big gloves of finely minced garlic, which should be added just before serving or just add garlic powder if you want to keep it really simple, 1 teaspoon is enough – if you really want to elevate a bread dipping oil recipe you can use oven roasted garlic, a whole head of it, the sweetness is unparalleled
- a splash of lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, optional but it will add a depth of flavor that you will definitely enjoy
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to complete this delicious bread dipping oil recipe
And now we’re truly done with our quest for the best olive oil for bread, I hope you’ll enjoy your best oil for bread making as much as I enjoy mine.
