THE QUICK PANTRY
OILS AND VINEGARS
A well-stocked pantry is the busy cook’s best friend—and high-quality oils and vinegars can add flavor in a flash. Here are our top-rated brands.
IN THIS SECTION:
VEGETABLE OIL
The neutral flavor of vegetable oil makes it ideal not only for sautéing and frying, but also for baked goods that need more moisture than butter alone can provide, and for salad dressings where the stronger presence of olive oil is not desired. Our winner in a recent taste test was Crisco Natural Blend Oil, which is a mix of canola and soybean oils. It also has the unusual addition of sunflower oil, which, we found, keeps the oil fresher and more flavorful.
EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
Extra-virgin olive oil has a uniquely fruity flavor that makes it a great choice in uncooked applications, such as vinaigrette or pesto, or for drizzling over pasta dishes. Many things can impact the quality and flavor of olive oil, but the type of olives, the harvest (earlier means greener, more peppery; later, more golden and mild), and processing are the most important factors. The best-quality oil comes from olives picked at their peak and processed as soon as possible, without heat or chemicals. Our favorite brand is Columela Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Spain, which is made from a blend of olives and has a fruity flavor.
BALSAMIC VINEGAR
True balsamic vinegar is made in just two provinces of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, sold in an official bottle, and labeled with the word tradizionale—and is very expensive. Fortunately, we found an affordable, and flavorful, balsamic vinegar at our supermarket that we liked both on its own and in prepared dishes. Lucini Gran Riserva Balsamico offers a “nice compromise between sweet and tangy” and has a “sweet, nuanced flavor.”
RED WINE VINEGAR
Red wine vinegar has a sharp but clean flavor, making it the most versatile choice in salads. While acidity is the obvious key factor in vinegar, it is actually the inherent sweetness of the grapes used to produce the vinegar that makes its flavor appealing to the palate. Our favorite brand is French import Laurent du Clos Red Wine Vinegar, which was described as having a “good red wine flavor.”
WHITE WINE VINEGAR
In addition to brightness, white wine vinegar contributes a sophisticated yet subtle flavor to vinaigrettes and anything else it’s used in. When it comes to cooking, we prefer Colavita Aged White Wine Vinegar, left, which we found to be “nice and smooth” and to have a “subtle sweetness.” For vinaigrettes, we prefer Spectrum Natural Organic White Vinegar, right, which won fans for its fruity overtones and flavors of “caramel” and “oakiness.”
CIDER VINEGAR
Apple cider vinegar adds a potent hit of flavor to many dishes. Though cider vinegars can range in flavor from sweet to puckeringly tart, we prefer sweeter vinegars, and we like them to have a notable apple flavor. Our favorite, French-produced Maille Apple Cider Vinegar, won raves for its “deep, warm” flavor profile and “definite apple” taste.
