As a food blogger of nearly 2 decades, and as a mom, wife, and occasional host to various gatherings, I do A LOT of cooking. And a large majority of what I cook requires oils, whether that be during the cooking process or as a dipping, marinating or finishing oil. If you’ve been around for a while, you know I’m an especially big fan of infused oils, and I recently had the opportunity to try Benissimo’s incredible variety of high quality infused oils. 

About the Benissimo Oils Company

Benissimo Oils started in 2003 and is produced by Hongar Farms, an Austrian company that’s been in the food business for over 450 years. Their herbs are sourced from local Georgia sellers and dried in house, ensuring all of their products are 100% natural with no artificial flavors, colorings, preservatives, sodium, or cholesterol. In fact, the Benissimo brand was one of the first herb-flavored oils on the market, and by their third year in, they were the #1 selling brand of flavored oil. 

Their products are a labor of love, created with only the freshest ingredients and purest of flavors, inspired by the concept of food bringing people together. And many of their oils boast a ton of health benefits, including being a great source of omega-3s, healthy fats, antioxidants, oleic acids and vitamins A, D, E, and K. They’re also super versatile oils, and can be used as salad dressing, for marinating, for sauteing, or just as a bread dip.  All Benissimo oils are bottled at a certified facility in Tucker, Georgia, which has an outstanding record of quality, safety, and cleanliness, and they ship direct to customers with safe, sustainable (and recyclable!) bubble bottle mailers. 

About the Oils

To get a well-rounded idea of Benissimo Oils, I decided to try out a few different kinds. Here’s a list of the ones I chose and everything I know about them:

Avocado Oil: Let it be known: I LOVE avocado oil! Benissimo’s blend is 100% pure avocado oil, and it’s such a versatile oil! It has such a high smoke point that you can use it in almost anything! You can replace most other oils and butter with it. You can top your hummus with it, add a tablespoon to a smoothie for a smoother texture and an addition of healthy fats. You can even bake with it! (And we did. Check out the decadent brownies we made with this avo oil!)

Spicy Sriracha Oil: As someone who specializes in Asian cooking, I thought it was a no-brainer to opt for Benissimo’s Spicy Sriracha Oil. This herb-infused oil features dried garlic, super spicy red pepper flakes, sweet garlic and vinegar. The oil blend is a mix of safflower and canola, and it’s great for drizzling over dumplings, noodles, rice… anything you want to add a little spice to!

Pepper Oil: What struck me about the Pepper Oil was the beautiful blend of red chili peppers and flakes visible right in the bottle! Like the Sriracha oil, it features a spicy flavor, but it’s a milder oil in comparison. The oil blend contained within is a mix of canola oil and extra virgin olive oil, and the peppers are De Arbol peppers. While this oil is great for cooking veggies like green beans and Brussels sprouts, I really enjoyed this oil on pasta!

Parmesan Garlic: When it came to the Parmesan Garlic Oil, I was intrigued. Parmesan as an oil? I have to know how this tastes! And let me tell you, I was not disappointed. The flavor of the oil is subtle, but amazing. Thyme, oregano, minced garlic cloves, and parmesan come together in a blend of canola and olive oil to form an herb oil infusion that will make your tastebuds dance with joy. This is one of those oils that’s perfect for roasting veggies or as a pizza drizzle. HIGHLY recommend!

Toasted Sesame Seed Oil: This was another oil that I thought would work well for Asian dishes, and what do ya know? I was right! And as far as sesame oils go, this is a good quality option with all natural flavoring. (Because toasted sesame seed oil has a low smoking point, this is not necessarily one you’ll want to cook with.) Its rich flavor goes great with finished dishes like Hainanese chicken, roasted duck, or even on top of stir fry dishes! And it’s made with 100% pure sesame seed oil, which give it that pure (but toasty) taste. Check out this oil here. 

Roasted Garlic Oil: Last but not least, I HAD to try the Roasted Garlic Oil. (I’m kind of a garlic fiend.) Honestly, this one was my favorite, not only for the flavor, but because it’s one of those all-around, versatile oil infusions that’s great for everyday use. It features a blend of canola and extra virgin olive oil, rosemary, garlic, and thyme, and there’s just SO much you can do with it. The delicious roasted garlic flavor goes great with veggies, chicken, steak, pasta, and honestly anything you like garlic on! In fact, read on, and I’ll show you how I made sheet pan veggies and potatoes with this oil. 

Some of My Favorite Things About Benissimo Oils

Here are a few things I REALLY love about these oils.

The Variety: Though I’m only highlighting 5, Benissimo has a TON of other great oils, including Organic Avocado Oil, Balsamic Garlic Oil, Basil & Sundried Tomato Oil (I look forward to trying this one next!), Italiano, Mediterranean Garlic, and Siciliano Garlic. There’s literally one for every dinner or lunch occasion, no matter what you’re cooking or eating. As someone who thrives on variety and going off of “what do I feel like today?” vibes, I appreciate their wide array of options. These oils actually inspire me to see what I can make given this lineup. AND, if you’re set on wanting to try a few, but don’t know which ones, Benissimo has a Chef’s Essentials 4-pack that contains 3 of their garlic blends as well as their Italiano Oil.

The Flavor: This point could also easily fit in with the variety factor, but the flavor profiles of these oils are just as varied as the type of oil in their collection. While some oils are more subtle in flavor, others are a little richer, and they range from spicy to toasty to fresh chopped garlic to green herb flavor. But none are ever bold enough to overpower your dishes, only enhance them. Whatever your desired flavor, there’s something for everyone, no matter your palette. 

The Price: For the quality of what you’re getting, these oils boast some very reasonable prices. You can find most infused oils on Benissimo’s site for just $7.99! There are 2 kinds of Avocado Oils available as well (in 8.45oz and 16.9oz bottles) that range from $8.99 to $13.99. Considering that Benissimo utilizes only the freshest, best tasting ingredients for their oils, I would expect their prices to be far higher. But they’ve made them accessible to all budgets, and I love them for that. At their low prices, they also make great gifts! Imagine a 4 or 5-pack in a wrapped basket with a few baguettes. You’ll never have to worry about shopping for gift recipients ever again!

The Versatility: I really love that Benissimo’s oils are so wildly versatile, both in what you’re eating and how you make it. There’s a little something for everything. Asian dishes? Go with their Toasted Sesame Seed Oil or Spicy Sriracha, if that’s your vibe. Having an Italian-inspired dinner? Opt for their Italiano or Sicilian Garlic oils. Their assortment of oils are also great as finishing oils for drizzling, bread dipping, marinating, stir-frying, sauteing… you name it!

Sheet-Pan Veggies & Potatoes Using Benissimo’s Roasted Garlic Oil

I wanted to test out Benissimo’s Roasted Garlic Oil, so I decided to whip up some sheet pan veggies and potatoes! 

For this amazing side dish, I chopped up some Brussels sprouts, carrots, and golden baby potatoes and put them in a ziploc bag.

Then, I added some Roasted Garlic Oil, sealed it, and shook it up! 

After the veggies were sufficiently coated, I poured them onto a parchment-lined sheet pan, sprinkled on some salt and pepper, and put them in the oven at 400°F for 25 minutes.

When they came out, they were deliciously roasty. I love that little bit of toasty char on the sprouts.

Check out the full video here:

 

This was a SUPER easy way to make a healthy and delicious side, and I LOVED the hint of roasted garlic that the Benissimo oil added. I have so many meals in mind that I can’t wait to try out with the rest of my oils!

5 Tips for Storing Infused Oils

With oils as good as these, you want to keep them fresh! Here’s how to store commercial-grade infused oils in your own kitchen so they stay fresh:

1. Keep Them at Room Temperature: Commercial-grade infused oils should be stored at room temperature. Keeping them away from extreme heat and cold helps them maintain their flavor and consistency.
2. Keep Them in a Cool, Dark Place: To extend their shelf life, be sure to store your oils in a cool, dark place. A dark cabinet that’s away from any heat sources like stoves or ovens is the best place for them.
3. Seal it Tight: Make sure that your oil bottles are tightly sealed after you use them. Exposure to air accelerates the degradation process, and this can lead to rancid oils.
4. Check Those Dried Herbs: Oils infused with dried herbs tend to spoil more quickly than plain oils. Always check to see if those dried herbs are still in good condition before use.
5. Use Within 12 Months: Commercial-grade infused oils have a shelf life of about a year. Use your oils within this timeframe to get the most out of their quality. 

Disclaimer: Commercial-grade infused oils are much safer (and last a lot longer) than homemade varieties because of the standard acidification process that keeps clostridium botulinum, the toxin that causes botulism, from growing within the oil. This toxin is sometimes found on fresh herbs like garlic and rosemary, and keeping it in oil can provide it the best environment to flourish. That’s why any homemade oil infusion using fresh ingredients should be refrigerated and used within 2 to 4 days.

Alternatively, you can use dry herbs for your infusion, which, due to their zero moisture content, have no risk of botulism. Dried herb oil infusions should be refrigerated and used within 3 months. We HIGHLY recommend going the route of commercial-grade when it comes to infused oils, which is another reason why we love Benissimo!

The Final Word

We love the oils we’ve tried from Benissimo, and can’t wait to try more! Are you curious to try your own? Click here to order direct from their site. We recommend getting the Chef’s Essentials 4-pack and building on from there. 

Special Offer: Monthly Oil Shipments

To ensure you never run out of these delightful cooking oils, consider subscribing for monthly shipments. Enjoy the convenience of having fresh, high-quality oils delivered right to your doorstep, so you can keep creating delicious meals without interruption.

Don’t forget to follow them on Facebook and Instagram. They have a TON of great ideas on their socials on how to use these oils to make the most of your meals.

Which oil do you want to try? How would you use it? We’d love to hear all about it! Be sure to leave us a comment.