The 5 Best Olive Oil Dispensers of 2024, According to Testing

The Bottom Line

The OXO Good Grips 12 oz. Precision Pour Glass Oil Dispenser topped our list for its ease of use and cleanup. You can drizzle and pour EVOO to your heart’s content without it leaking or dripping. The wide design makes it easy to clean and dry by hand, though it’s also dishwasher safe.

Our Testing Process

To find the best olive oil dispensers, we tested 11 options in our lab in Birmingham, Alabama. We examined each one, noting those that were made from durable materials and/or featured an attractive aesthetic. Then, we filled each with olive oil, monitoring each pour to see which dispensers were indeed able to hold the volume indicated by the manufacturer. 

At various meal times over the course of several days, we drizzled olive oil over dishes, observing which ones poured evenly and cleanly without any mess. We kept the filled dispensers on the countertop near a light or heat source for a couple of days. Afterward, we tasted the oil, observing whether the flavor was still fresh or if it had changed. 

When the dispenser was empty, we cleaned it per the manufacturer’s guidelines, noting how easy or challenging it was to complete the task. Lastly, we submitted each empty olive oil container to a gentle push-over test on the countertop to see if any of them broke or otherwise sustained damage.

We selected the best olive oil dispensers based on testing results and other factors, including capacity, design, ease of use and storage, and overall value.

What to Know About Oil Dispensers Before Shopping

Material 

Vocino says the best olive oil dispensers are those that don’t conduct heat very well, like ceramic or glass, to preserve taste and freshness. Metal or copper is fine for table cruets, she says. Either way, make sure you store your dispenser properly when not in use. 

“Whether you keep your olive oil in its original container or a dispenser, make sure you don’t store oil next to your stove or oven or above the heat of your stove or oven because it can cause the oil to turn rancid,” she says.

Weight

When considering the weight of an olive oil dispenser, keep in mind it’s not just the weight of the empty bottle, it’s how heavy it is when filled with olive oil as well. 

The heaviest dispensers on our list are a little over a pound, though the OXO Good Grips 12 oz. Precision Pour Glass Oil Dispenser weighs just 8.4 ounces (about 0.5 pounds).

Capacity 

Bigger isn’t always better, and this is especially true in the world of olive oil dispensers. “In general, you never want to buy large bottles of olive oil unless you're going to go through it quickly,” says Vocino. “I recommend using a smaller dispenser since it will be used up faster, and the spout allows you more control over how much you pour out.” 

She recommends choosing a bottle with an airtight seal that holds 16 fluid ounces or less. 

Dimensions

As seen by the selections on our list, the best olive oil dispensers come in all shapes and sizes. There are the traditional tall glass ones and stouter stainless steel for easy pouring at the table. The taller ones are indeed prone to tipping over if you bump into them while preparing a meal, but rest assured all of the ones on our list survived a pushover test.

Regardless of the dispenser’s height, you’ll want one that’s easy to grip so you can pour and drizzle to your heart’s content. That said, consider a style that’s easy to pick up and pour from when you’re cooking, and you’ll likely want something compact if you plan to leave it on a table during a meal. 

Other Olive Oil Dispensers We Tested

Olipac Elegante Olive Oil Dispenser

True to its name, the Olipac Elegante Olive Oil Dispenser indeed has an elegant design, but we found it very difficult to control the flow of oil. It was also hard to remove the topper without dripping oil, so it makes for messy refilling.

BergHOFF Leo Glass Oil Dispenser

We found the BergHOFF Leo Glass Oil Dispenser easy to fill but tricky and messy to use. The instructions say to hold a finger against the lid, but it makes for an uncomfortable grip. It continued to drip quite a bit after pouring out a steady flow. 

Le Creuset Olive Oil Cruet

The Le Creuset Olive Oil Cruet was easy to fill and it had a nice grip, though it did feel a bit heavy when full. The flapper—which seems quite flimsy—got in the way of the pour, though, so we struggled to control the flow. It was also difficult to clean.

Your Questions, Answered

How should you store an olive oil dispenser?

When it comes to olive oil dispenser storage, you’ll want to make sure you have proper space on your countertop for it. 

“Whether you keep your olive oil in its original container or a dispenser, make sure you don’t store oil next to your stove or oven or above the heat of your stove or oven because it can cause the oil to turn rancid,” says Vocino. 

How do you clean an olive oil dispenser?

You may get used to having your olive oil dispenser as a form of decor on your countertop, but you’ll still want to remember to clean it from time to time. 

“When cleaning an olive oil dispenser, you want to make sure that you have a process that will completely remove the residual oil from the dispenser,” says Vocino. “This is especially important if you infuse your olive oil with things like garlic or rosemary.” 

Hot water and dish soap are the way to go if you’re handwashing it, though it’s often fine to put it in the dishwasher as long as the manufacturer recommends it. 

Vocino’s tip is to rinse an empty, washed olive oil dispenser and spout with distilled white vinegar. “This will really help get rid of the odors from the previous fill,” she says. Rinse everything again thoroughly with hot water to get rid of the vinegar smell, then stand it upside down on a drying mat until it’s completely dry.

What are the benefits of an olive oil dispenser?

Aside from aesthetics, the best olive oil dispensers make it easier to pour the golden goodness. Vocino says it’s fine to pour directly from the original bottle of oil if the recipe requires quarter cups of it, but a dispenser makes it easier to pour smaller amounts.

“For instance, if you need to just drizzle some oil over a pan of roasted veggies or a salad, a dispenser's spout can help with a more precise pour,” she explains.

Who We Are

Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer from Staten Island, New York, covering all things home and lifestyle for Better Homes & Gardens. To compile this list of the best olive oil dispensers, Barbara analyzed lab insights from our testing site in Des Moines, Iowa. She also consulted bestselling cookbook author and Eat Happy Kitchen founder Anna Vocino for her expert insight.