The 7 Best Olive Oil Dispensers for Drizzling and Pouring
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Our favorites help preserve and protect the quality of this pantry staple.
Williams Sonoma
Also called cruets, olive oil dispensers are a must-have kitchen item if you buy your olive oil in bulk or if you simply prefer a more stylish alternative to a branded bottle. These containers are often equipped with pouring spouts that allow you to easily drizzle your favorite olive oil into a frying pan or over a plate of grilled meats, and can also be set on the dinner table so you can have dippable olive oil within reach.
"When choosing a container to decant olive oil, selecting a container that offers the greatest protection from light, heat, and the air is essential," says Lisa Pollack, an olive oil specialist and education ambassador for Corto. Too much exposure to any of these elements can make your oil go rancid in as quickly as a matter of days.
When picking out an olive oil dispenser, you'll want to first consider what material it's made of, as some provide more protection against oxidation than others. Other key attributes we considered for this list were capacity and pouring spout style. Read on for more of the best olive oil dispensers.
Best Overall: Emile Henry Oil Cruet
Pros: High-fired Burgundian clay makes this cruet very durable and easy to maintain. It also comes with a 10-year warranty.
Cons: It's on the pricier side. Some colors may be difficult to find.
Emile Henry is one of France's most renowned manufacturers of kitchenware, so it's no surprise that its olive oil cruet is our top choice. Made of the brand's signature high-fired Burgundian clay, this opaque ceramic bottle is ultra durable and its glaze stands up well to daily wear and tear. This bottle holds up to 13.5 ounces of oil and comes equipped with an anti-drip pourer, so you don't end up with a greasy oil ring on your countertop after drizzling oil into your saute pan or over your favorite plate of pasta. Available in a handful of colors, this bottle can match your kitchen decor, or you can opt for a plain white version to keep it neutral. When it comes time to clean your cruet, you can use a bottle brush to wash it by hand or simply pop it in the dishwasher.
Price at time of publish: $45
Material: High-fired Burgundian clay
Capacity: 13.5 ounces (1.69 cups)
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Value: Aozita Glass Olive Oil Dispenser
Pros: Amber glass offers some protection against oxidation. The dispenser also comes with a funnel and multiple spouts.
Cons: Glass isn't as effective at protecting oil from light.
For a wallet-friendly option that does the job well, turn to Aozita's affordable glass dispenser. The shatter-resistant, food-safe glass has an amber tint that will help protect your olive oil from light so it doesn't oxidize quickly. The two included spouts offer two different styles of pouring, and it also comes with a stainless steel funnel for hassle-free refilling and two screw-top caps for longer-term storage. To clean, you can place both the bottle and spout in the dishwasher, but be sure to make sure each piece is completely dry before refiling it with oil.
Price at time of publish: $10
Material: Glass
Capacity: 17 ounces (2.13 cups)
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Ceramic: Sweejar Porcelain Olive Oil Dispenser
Pros: This simple ceramic bottle is available in multiple sizes and colors. It also comes with two pouring spouts.
Cons: The quality of the ceramic material isn't as sturdy as higher-end models.
French- or Italian-made ceramic olive oil cruets can be quite expensive, so if you like the functionality of ceramic but want a more affordable price point, consider this model by Sweejar up to the task. It comes in two capacities (15.5 ounces or 24 ounces) and over a dozen colors, so you can add pick one that goes will with your kitchen aesthetic. The two included pouring spouts also provide a fairly airtight seal to keep your oil fresh, and all pieces are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
Price at time of publish: $20
Material: Ceramic
Capacity: 15.5 ounces (1.94 cups)
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Stainless Steel: Flyboo Olive Oil Dispenser
Pros: Its wide mouth makes it easy to refill, and its cap protects against oxidation as well as dust and insects.
Cons: Its large spout is large, which can mean pouring out more than you intend.
Durable, rust-resistant, and easy to clean, 304-grade stainless steel is a wonderful choice for kitchenware and, in this case, offers plenty of protection from light and air. This model comes in three sizes, ranging from a 17-ounce version that you can keep on the table for drizzling to a 34-ounce size for keeping oil you plan to cook with. We like that this design features a cap that keeps the oil fresh and free from dust and insects. You can also use it to measure your oil. To clean, simply run this dispenser through the dishwasher.
Price at time of publish: $16
Material: Stainless steel
Capacity: 17, 24, and 34 ounces (2.13, 3, and 4.25 cups)
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Decorative: Rachael Ray Stoneware Olive Oil Dispenser with Spout
Pros: The sculptural shape of this bottle looks great on the counter. It's also fairly inexpensive for what you get.
Cons: It's only available in one size, which is quite large.
This stoneware olive oil dispenser from Rachael Ray is a fun, sculptural addition to your kitchen counter. It holds up to 24 ounces of oil at once so you won't have to refill as often, and it also has a flip top pouring cap to protect your olive oil from oxidation. Available in a rainbow of colors, it features a built-in handle that gives you plenty of control to drizzle your favorite EVOO over pasta, poached fish, or your favorite bruschetta. Enjoy hassle-free cleaning, as this vessel is completely dishwasher safe: Just run it through a normal cycle and be sure it's completely dry before refilling it.
Price at time of publish: $14
Material: Stoneware
Capacity: 24 ounces (3 cups)
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Copper: Olipac Olipac Tosca Olive Oil Dispenser
Pros: This dispenser would look beautiful on the counter. A wide mouth makes it easy to refill.
Cons: A bit of oil drips out of the spout after pouring.
Designed in Italy, this stainless steel olive oil dispenser has a traditional copper finish and practical design that piece doesn't require the maintenance of true copper. In other words, no need to hand wash or maintain its patina. Standing at 7 inches tall, it holds close to three cups of oil and features a straight spout that helps you pour with a controlled and steady flow when you're finishing dishes or bathing focaccia dough.
Price at time of publish: $35
Material: Stainless steel
Capacity: 23.7 ounces (2.96 cups)
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Farmhouse: Revol Ponsas French Porcelain Olive Oil Dispenser
Pros: This high-quality dispenser is made by a 225-year-old porcelain company. It's glazed inside and out and is dishwasher safe.
Cons: It's only available in one size and color.
This farmhouse-style olive oil dispenser is made by Revol, a family-run company that has been making culinary porcelain goods for well over 200 years. Crafted in France, this cruet is made of very durable, hand-glazed porcelain and features a handle for easy carrying and maneuvering. The included spout is made of stainless steel and allows you to easily control how much oil you pour at once. It's also of exceptional quality and can last for many years. To clean, run it through the dishwasher and make sure it is completely dry before filling it again.
Price at time of publish: $70
Material: Porcelain
Capacity: 26 ounces (3.25 cups)
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Our Favorite
If you buy olive oil in large quantities, having a functional and durable dispenser on hand is a necessity. Our top pick is the Emile Henry Olive Oil Cruet because of its durable construction and excellent performance, plus its 10-year warranty.
Factors to Consider
Material
Olive oil dispensers come in a few different materials, like glass, metal, and ceramic, which each have their own merits. But, there's one type of container to avoid: clear glass. No matter how stylish, clear glass vessels are not an ideal choice because they simply let in too much light. "Any additional amount of light speeds up the inevitable oxidation of the oil," says Pollack. She recommends dark glass or ceramic which both offer some protection against light that may speed up the oil's deterioration.
Spout Design
Pollack recommends having the option to cap your dispenser completely so that the oil doesn't come into contact with too much air when it's not in use. "Avoid pouring spouts that are continuously open air to permeate into the bottle unless you are actively cooking," she says. She also suggests keeping multiple pour spouts on hand so they can be replaced and washed often. If changing out the pouring spout isn't an option (or you simply don't want to), look for a spout that seals, either with a flip-top cap or some kind of rubber or silicone cap to keep air out.
Size / Capacity
"The smaller, the better," says Pollack. You'll want to pick a size that allows you to go through your decanted oil quickly so it lessens the amount of time the oil is exposed to air, heat, and light, all factors that will decrease the lifespan of your EVOO.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use an olive oil dispenser?
If you buy olive oil in bulk, an olive oil dispenser will help you keep a more manageable-sized bottle on hand that you can easily maneuver to finish dishes, oil a saute pan, or put onto the table as a condiment.
How often should you wash an olive oil dispenser?
"If you're unsure if a container needs cleaning, we recommend that you smell and taste it," says Pollack. "You can recognize rancidity if an oil smells or tastes like wax, play dough, wet cardboard, or stale nuts, and feels greasy or thick in the mouth." If your oil or container begins to smell unpleasant, it's safe to say that it's time to clean it.
How do you clean an olive oil dispenser?
It depends on your container. Always check the manufacturer's specifications to see if the vessel is dishwasher safe before running it through a wash cycle. Otherwise, you can clean your dispenser by hand with hot, soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge. Thoroughly rinse and dry your container before refilling it.
Our Expertise
Bernadette Machard de Gramont is an LA-based freelance writer specializing in food, wine, and kitchen products. After a two-year stint at Williams Sonoma headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight.
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