Storing Olive Oil
One of the most important olive oil essentials
is knowing how to store your olive oil.
Why it's important to follow rules for storing olive oil?
If properly stored, your favorite bottle of extra-virgin olive oil can be stored longer than most other oil due to its high content of monounsaturated fat
Storage Locations
When choosing your storage location, remember that heat, air, and light are the enemies of oil. These elements help create free radicals, which eventually lead to excessive oxidation and rancidity in the oil that will leave a bad taste in your mouth. Even worse, oxidation and free radicals contribute to heart disease and cancer.
The heat and light are probably the two things that are most damaging to maintaining the quality of olive oil long-term.
Extra-Virgin Olive oil and other unrefined oils should always be stored in a tightly sealed container, away from heat or light and far away from the stove as possible. oxygen promotes and speeds up rancidity. Olive oil will easily go rancid when exposed to air, light or high temperatures.
But remember that rancidity can set in long before you can taste it or smell it. Although rancid oil won't be harmful to your health, it won't have the antioxidants or all the healthy nutrients that are contained in the fresh bottle of olive oil. Besides, why would you want to eat anything that's gone bad...
Shelf Life For Olive Oil
If properly stored, good oil will keep a longer shelf life of up to 2 years assuming it hasn't been opened. But again, it's best to consume while it's still young and fresh. Once opened, the quality of oil will diminish quicker even with the best storage options so it's best to consume within 60-90 days.
Be sure to check the "use by" date on the bottle if you plan to use it right away. If you plan to keep a bottle unopened for a while you should be able to maintain it longer if you follow the guidelines indicated on this site.
Keep It Cool
Temperature is also important for proper storing olive oil in order to prevent degradation of olive oil. There is no need to store olive oil in the refrigerator although you can. The exception is the premium extra-virgin olive oils, which should not be refrigerated. All in all, it's best to just leave them at room temperature.
Best Olive Oil Containers And
Other Containers To Avoid
The best containers for storing olive oil are dark glass, or dark tinted glass to keep the light out, tin or stainless steel.
Avoid using plastic containers and other types of or metal containers that are made from iron or copper since the chemical reaction between these metals and olive oil can create toxic compounds.
Always store it in a cool, dark place that is away from heat and light.
Finally, be sure to use good containers along tight caps or lids to avoid exposing excess air.
Buy The Best Oil Oil Containers, Caps And Lids
You might be surprised that I'm recommending Amazon to buy olive oil containers but it's one of the best places to shop for nearly everything! Again and again, I'm surprised by how great their prices are in almost all the purchases I make online.
Whenever I'm about to make a purchase I always check Amazon and their prices and they always seem to have the best prices all around. I've bought everything from books to even high-end watches, if you believe it. It's true... Check it out and you won't be disappointed.
