Why 'Squeezing' Olive Oil Will Change The Way You Cook

The internet has gone crazy for a new brand of Spanish olive oil called Graza. In fact, The Strategist says it's the only cooking oil you'll ever need. Food & Wine called it "cool kid olive oil," and TikTok users are obsessed, with many videos of the oil going viral.

What makes this olive oil so unique? Testers love the taste, but everyone is going wild for the packaging. Graza comes in squeeze bottles and when it comes to cooking, control is important. Too much of an ingredient, especially olive oil, can create a kitchen disaster and ruin a recipe. In a review of Graza on Bon Appétit, readers are reminded that professional chefs always transfer their olive oil from large containers to smaller squeeze bottles to have more control over how much goes into a recipe or the pan. It just makes sense.

There are ways to easily and inexpensively incorporate this tool into your home kitchen.

According to Food & Wine, using a bottle to drizzle olive oil makes the job "cleaner, faster, and easier," and using an opaque bottle keeps damaging ultraviolet light out, preventing the oil from turning rancid.

Cook's Illustrated recommends olive oil from a squeeze bottle for ease of measurement. It's easy to overpour when measuring from a large bottle into a small measuring spoon. Squeeze bottles allow you to regulate the flow avoiding waste and mess. Food Network praises squeeze bottle olive oil for keeping the kitchen cleaner — no more drippy bottles leaving a puddle of oil on your counter or stove.

You don't have to buy Graza to discover the benefits of "squeezing" olive oil. Squeeze bottles are available in restaurant supply stores as well as online. Once you find out how easy it is to regulate the amount of olive oil you add to a recipe, you'll want to try this kitchen hack with other foods.

Bon Appétit suggests getting several squeeze bottles to store liquids like balsamic vinegar, different types of oils, or homemade sauces. Outside has a list of favorite sizes and bottle brands, and offers preferred uses. Need a mini bottle to keep at work for a quick drizzle of oil over a salad made at home? A Reddit user recommends checking for smaller bottles at beauty supply stores, where they may even be less expensive.

If you plan on mixing salad dressing or sauces in a squeeze bottle, look for one with a nozzle that closes tightly, or you could find yourself dressing the whole kitchen when you shake it. You also want to label your squeeze bottles, masking tape will work fine, with the type of oil that's in them and the date you made them. Once you start using the squeeze method, you might find you're squeezing more than just olive oil and marinades. For example, you can use a squeeze bottle for honey, which you might find helps you avoid a sticky situation.