Glen Powell Just Launched Cooking Oils — This Is the $9 Bottle I’m Reaching for Morning, Noon, and Night (It Tastes SO Gourmet)

The pantry staple I reach for every day — without fail — is olive oil. It’s my go-to for roasting vegetables and making salad dressings. I’ve tried a wide array of olive oils, and prefer the ones that really bring some flavor: punchy, robust, and herbaceous. 

You know who else likes a good olive oil? Glen Powell. Fresh off of launching a line of condiments this spring, the famous actor recently expanded into cooking oils. I was curious to see how they compared to each other and the bottles already in my kitchen, so I spent the last few days sampling all three. 

Smash Kitchen’s trio of cooking oils (and sprays) hit Walmart shelves nationwide earlier this week. (The company plans to roll it out to more retailers soon.)

• 100% Pure Avocado Oil: Sourced from Spain, the high-heat cooking oil has a smoke point of 500°F and a neutral flavor that’s ideal for searing, roasting, frying, and more. The bottles come in two sizes: 16.9 ounces for $10.97 and 25.4 ounces for $15.97. 
• Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Made by cold-pressing single-origin olives from Spain, this is most similar to a classic everyday cooking oil. It has a 365°F smoke point and also comes in two sizes: a 16.9-ounce bottle for $8.97 and 33.8-ounce bottle for $13.97. 
• Organic Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil: This single-origin oil is produced from olives grown in a specific region of Spain, and has a bolder, more peppery finish. Like the EVOO above, it has a 365°F smoke point, and its more intense flavor is a perfect match for whipping up salad dressings or finishing dishes. It also comes in 16.9-ounce bottles for $8.97 and 33.8-ounce bottles for $13.97. 

I liked the slim look of the bottles and the bold lettering that would easily stand out on grocery store shelves. I also appreciated their relatively affordable price (some cooking oils can be well over $20). If it tasted like those fancy oils, even better. 

To really put these oils to the test, I tried each one on its own first and then with bread (of course). I also cooked with them to see how they stood up to the heat in my kitchen.

After I poured a small amount into a bowl, I dipped my finger into it, and then did the same with a piece of bread. It has a bright, almost floral, herbaceous flavor with a zesty finish. It was slightly more subtle than I expected. In fact, I wish it was even punchier. That said, it still would make a delicious base for any salad dressing, and I know I’ll be getting a lot of use out of it. 

Next, was the classic extra virgin olive oil, which TBH, tasted similar to the robust one. It looked pretty similar, too — if anything, it was ever-so-slightly more green in color. I used it to make a fried egg one morning for breakfast; nothing stuck to the pan, and I didn’t end up with a smoky kitchen. (Always a win!) The egg crisped up nicely around the edges and came out of the pan smoothly, so cleanup was a breeze (another plus). It’s a great everyday olive oil that I’ll reach for time and time again. 

Unlike the olive oils, the avocado oil is much more neutral in flavor and has a buttery finish. I tossed some broccoli with the oil before roasting it at 400°F in the oven and waited to see how it would handle the high heat. Again, it worked like a charm. Nothing stuck to the pan, there was no burning or scalding. The neutral flavor of the oil really just let the natural sweetness of the roasted broccoli shine. 

Have you tried Smash Kitchen’s cooking oils? Let us know in the comments.