Olive oil is perfect for everyday cooking, but if you have some really nice olive oil you use for dipping, you probably won’t use it as often. You can extend its shelf life by keeping it stored the right way.
Photo by John Seb Barber
If you use a lot of olive oil to cook with, you might be tempted to keep it right by the stove. While that might be OK for the cheap stuff you use up quickly, Kelli Dunn at The Kitchn suggests you keep your expensive olive oil stored elsewhere:
Olive oil has three enemies: oxygen, light, and heat. When exposed to those elements, the oil will turn rancid more quickly….Olive oil should be stored in a cool, dry, dark cupboard, away from the heat and light.
It also helps to put in a dark-coloured bottle that barely lets any light in, or even a stainless steel container. It’s also important to make sure your container has a proper cap or lid so oxygen doesn’t slowly degrade the oil. These storage tips will work for any olive oil, but it’s especially nice for fancy or infused varieties.
The Best Way to Store Olive Oil [The Kitchn]
Comments
One response to “Keep Your Olive Oil From Going Bad With These Proper Storage Tips”
That advice applies most to infused olive oils as they go bad faster than straight oil.
For plain olive oil, don’t keep your fancy stuff too long term anyway – The flavour deteriorates over time and you can taste a serious difference between this years and last years harvest.
If you’re not getting through it within a year, you might want to buy smaller bottles more often.