How Long Does Olive Oil Keep? Shelf Lives Of Olive Oils
How long does olive oil keep? Do you have a jug of olive oil sitting back in your cabinet, which makes you wonder if it is still edible or not?
Do not worry, because we are here to help you with your worries about today!
Although it takes quite a while before olive oil expires, you can't keep them forever in your pantry.
Eventually, after some time, you might have to get rid of the expired oil. There is only a definite time that you are allowed to keep those fancy bottles.
But the question is, for how long?
So, the typical jug of olive oil that you usually purchase from a gourmet store or supermarket in your local area can last, ranging from two up to four years on average.
However, we also have to acknowledge that the shelf lives of olive oils vary across different qualities.
Some other factors such as the place where it is harvested, how it is stored, and how it is pressed can also affect olive oils.
Knowing How Long Olive Oil Keep
So, how long does olive oil keep?
Like any other type of food, you will know if the olive oil has gone bad already if it tastes and smells terrible.
Its smell is comparable to putty, crayons, and Elmer's glue.
Some will describe it close to French fries that were kept way too long in a deep fryer when it comes to its taste.
Please take note that its rancid taste is different from the spicy or a bit sharp oil.
If you have ever tried a high-quality oil that has gone bad, it would probably taste like a splash of pepper.
But if you still find it hard to know if your olive oil has gone bad already, I think the best way to figure it out is to know its taste when it is still good.
You know, when it comes to rancidity, there is no single taste that can verify it.
The best thing to do to use that gourmet bottle in your cooking as soon as you receive one. Please read here how to use olive oil.
Or you can do your research by heading towards the nearest olive oil stores for free samples.
Identifying The Shelf Life Of A Bottle Of Olive Oil
The best way in determining the shelf life of that fancy jug of olive oil you bought somewhere during your vacation (or on local stores since they are on a sale) is to identify the expiration as well as the harvest dates.
Most often than not, reputable brands would include these dates on the packaging of their product.
Remember that the better indicator among the two is the harvest dates compared to the bottling dates.
Producers would include this date because olives used to make oil are only picked once a year, and it would take some time before olive oil is up for bottling, distribution, and storing.
Usually, olives are harvested during the fall season, so it is best to get the olive oil having the most recent autumn as the harvest date. For sure, that would be the freshest olive oil. Learn More here what is the best olive oil.
Manufacturers would also include the length of time that a particular oil can stay fresh by listing a "best by" date, usually around 24 months from the harvest date.
But of course, this varies among different oil. Some would begin to oxidize a year after the harvest.
Although the harvest date is a great way to determine your olive oil lifespan, then the best way is your sense of taste and smell, which we have briefly discussed earlier.
Remember that learning why your olive oil goes rancid and how it happens can help you become a better cook and understand oil quality.
Of course, this too makes you become a better and more discerning consumer
Importance Of Production
Oil quality is significantly dependent on the conditions of the olives during harvesting, storing, and transporting.
If the olives are not very fresh or if they are bruised, it tends to oxidize faster, which in turn, results to shorter keep and rancid taste or smell.
That is why good oil usually results from olives that pressed when they are still slightly unripe during the day of the harvest. Please read here how much olive oil should i have a day.
The conditions inside the grocery store would, of course, matter, too. Olive oils need to be stored in a substantial container to hinder the light from oxidizing it.
So when buying one, you should avoid those stored in clear bottles that expose the beautiful olive oil inside. Instead, you can look for tin containers or dark glass.
If you want to be sure, only trust the best, try the organic extra virgin olive oil from Torre & Olive.
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It’s A Wrap!
How long does olive oil keep? Like how the fruits themselves have a shelf life, olive oils also have a specific length of time, and you can keep them in the corner of your cabinet.
Commonly, olive oils can last from one up to two years from the date they are bottled.
But if what you have in your pantry is virgin olive oil, you have to take note that it might last a bit shorter. Usually, it only ranges from 12 up to 18 months.
If your olive oil is already sitting inside your pantry longer than the time mentioned earlier, then it probably has gone rancid already.
To avoid rancidity, you need to store them in a cool and dark area.
But as you clean your cabinet, make sure to check the best-by date and toss it away if it is already expired.
Although the rancidity of olive oil will not make you sick, it might ruin the taste of the dish you are cooking.
You can still know if it has gone bad without the bet-by date by tasting or smelling it.