Store Olive Oil
Olive oil is an ingredient that can be used in cooking and to flavor foods such as pasta and salads. It is produced from pressed olives and comes in varieties such as virgin and extra virgin. Olive oil is a very fragile type of oil, and it is important to store it correctly to avoid the chance of it turning rancid. If stored properly, certain types of olive oil can be kept as long as a year. The following guide will help you properly store your olive oil.
Steps
- Choose a location for your olive oil that is away from heat, air and light.
- These negatively affect olive oil, because they can cause too much oxidation, making the oil turn rancid.
- Store the oil in a cool, dark place.
- The best temperature to store olive oil is at 57 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius).
- A room at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) is fine, especially if you use a dark tinted or opaque container.
- Keep the olive oil in a dark cupboard away from heat sources such as the stove.
- Put olive oil in an opaque or dark glass bottle or stainless steel container.
- Dark glass keeps the light out, allowing the oil to last longer.
- Do not store your olive oil in plastic, because the PVC (polyvinyl chloride) from the plastic can be absorbed by the oil.
- Avoid reactive metals such as copper or iron, because of potential chemical reactions that can make the oil unsafe.
- Stainless steel is a safe, nonreactive metal that can be used for olive oil storage.
- Keep olive oil in a container that has a tight lid.
- Bottles with cork stoppers work well as long as the stopper fits tightly to keep air out.
- Be cautious using metal lids that can rust.
- Store some types of olive oil in the refrigerator.
- Virgin olive oils and lower quality olive oils can be stored in the refrigerator.
- The oil may turn cloudy and thicken, but will clear up and thin out when brought to room temperature.
- Keep small amounts at room temperature for regular use.
- This is also the best way to store olive oils infused with fresh herbs to prevent bacteria from forming.
- It is not recommended to store extra-virgin olive oils in the refrigerator, because it can affect the taste, It does not, however, affect the flavor of other types of olive oils.
- Store olive oils in a basement or wine cellar.
- This is the ideal place for storing olive oil.
- Bring small amounts of oil out for daily use.
- Use extra-virgin olive oils within a year, and use lower-quality oils within a few months.
- Olive oil does not get better with age, but rather it starts to break down over time.
- Extra-virgin olive oils have lower acidity and do not break down as quickly.
Tips
- Purchase olive oils that are in darker glass containers. Check the label for press or packaging dates.
Warnings
- Rancidity in olive oil is not considered a food-safety health issue, but it is better not to consume it.
- Many olive oils are sold in clear glass bottles and have been exposed to the bright lights of the grocery store, causing them to already begin breaking down.
- Oils can be rancid before you can taste or smell it.
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