Australians are devastated after being forced to give up a popular pantry staple due to its rising price, with thousands of people no longer able to afford it.
A Reddit post highlighted how the rapid increase in the price of olive oil has affected households across the country.
‘So the price of olive oil is crazy right now. Where do you get yours from? asked one desperate shopper.
‘I used to buy 4-liter cans because they would be a little cheaper, but even they have become more expensive, to the point of paying $20 per liter. “I’m probably going to rely more on coconut oil until I can find a reasonable deal.”
WhatsNew2Day Australia previously revealed that the average price of olive oil increased by 100 percent from 2021 to 2024 due to drought and fires in Europe.
The rapid increase in the price of olive oil has affected households across the country.
Australian olive oil is also in short supply due to last season’s poor fruit harvest, which is driving up prices along with shortages in the Mediterranean.
Home chefs have reported turning to other types of oils such as vegetable and coconut oil, but many claim that they are “not the same.”
“I gave up olive oil, I’m trying to pretend it was stolen by aliens and I have to figure out how to live without it,” one joked.
Australian olive oil in short supply due to poor fruit harvest
“I miss my olive oil,” said another.
Shared are some of the best tips for purchasing and extending the life of your olive oil bottles.
‘I buy 10 liter drums in bulk on Kangaroo Island. “It’s good quality and reasonably priced,” said one man.
‘Aldi. But they rarely have bulk products so Costco,” another shared.
‘The Asian grocer near me has Australian olive oil for $6 a liter. I honestly couldn’t believe it when I saw it!’ one revealed, and others noted similar deals at Italian grocery stores.
Some had unconventional tricks.
‘I collect bottles on Facebook Marketplace. “People are always moving away or moving away and leaving out kitchen staples,” said one woman.
“Buy an olive oil sprayer,” another recommended. ‘It may also be helpful to use a silicone pastry brush to spread it. Reduce your use, no matter how much you look for alternatives.
“You can also strain and freeze if you have tons left in the bottom of the pan – this can be very helpful in enhancing the flavor of dishes.”