How Long Does Olive Oil Last?

Olive oil is used in many recipes or as a drizzle. It is also said to be very healthy with monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants. You most likely have a bottle of olive oil in your pantry right now. But how long does olive oil last?

Olive oil lasts about 2 to 5 years, depending on the quality of the olives and the brand variety. Storage protocols of olive oil also dictate the shelf life to some extent. There is also some dependency based on whether you open or close the bottle.

Olive oil has anti-inflammatory properties and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases to a large extent. It is derived from olives and is quite viscous than all the other types of oils. So it tends to turn bad instantly because of its intrinsic moisture.

It is quite certain that olive oil does not improve with age or even get better as days pass by. It is perishable like any other food item and needs scrupulous maintenance.

If you have a half-open bottle of olive oil at home, you would wonder whether to retain it or not. Let us zone into the facts of olive oil and gain some awareness about the durability of olive oil and how to store it intact.

How Long Does Olive Oil Last?

Olive oil has a shelf life of 2 to 4 years, depending on the brand and variety. It can also last for more than a few months. 

Once the bottle is opened, olive oil can retain its shelf life for 6 to 8 months. It can stay up to 6 or 8 months and sometimes more. It depends on the quality and the printed date. 

Harvest Date

The different brands of olive oil have different shelf life according to when they have been harvested, and they were fermented. Fresh olives can last longer, and their oil can also retain life a little longer than intended.

The quality of the olive oil would be better with fresh olives. However, that does not mean that the oil will last longer. It will probably extend its shelf life for about 16 months or more. 

The printed date is usually a rough indicator to identify its quality, not its shelf life. It is definitely not the best indicator but a safe value you can abide by if you want to extend the shelf life.

Some bottles of olive oil will not have a printed date, so we have to rely on the expiry date. If the expiry date mentioned in the bottle is past the date, it can be tossed off immediately.

Expired Date And Expiration Date

The printed date mentioned in the bottle is usually the best-by date and not the expiry date. Reputable brands do not promise any expiry date; they give a best-by date.

The brands also give storage suggestions in different ways. The harvest date indicates the true durability of the olive oil to perfection. However, if that is not mentioned, it is better to look for the expiration date.

In any case, it can go on for a 16 to 24 months period with validity when stored intact and perfectly.

How To Properly Store Olive Oil?

Storing olive oil attributes better than packaging the bottle properly. It has to be poured into a neatly sealed ceramic container. It must be kept in cool or dark cupboards without external air or light intrusion.

Storage Condition

Packaging must be done in a cool dark place where there are no temperature fluctuations even to the least. The location should be cool enough to avoid any photooxidation process that can contaminate the oil.

It should also be kept away from any heat-radiating resources like electrical appliances, gas stoves, or microwave ovens. 

The temperature in the room should be constant and maintained at a stringent 19 degrees F throughout its storage time. An average room temperature is also fine enough to keep the olive oil of good quality.

What Is The Reason For The Olive Oil To Turn Bad?

Oxidation is the primary reason for the olive oil to turn bad. This will happen when the bottle comes in contact with direct oxygen, eventually contaminating the oil.

Oxidation also gives the ambient temperature increase to spoil the quality completely.

Heat is another major factor that can directly impact the bottle’s temperature. Light also instigates the oxidation process to salvage the oil completely.

How To Tell If Olive Oil Is Bad?

Smell And Taste

The obvious sign of olive oil turning bad is the rancid smell that comes out of the olive oil. If the oil radiates a pungent and repulsive odor, it is good to be thrown off immediately.

Taste

If the taste is bitter or sour when you pop the oil in your mouth, it has no purpose in being consumed. 

Appearance

Appearance is the last indication to identify the quality of the oil. If the oil is dark and cloudy or has lost viscosity, it starts to turn bad. The quality is probably eligible for consumption right now but would not last on a longer-term basis. 

Effects Of Consuming Bad Olive Oil

There are no direct adverse reactions to consuming bad olive oil. However, the purpose would be defeated on the whole. It would not taste good and would spoil the dish when added as an ingredient.

The health benefits of olive oil would have been degraded a lot. Hence consuming it will not be helpful, and it can be used for other miscellaneous purposes like polishing or house furnishing.

Conclusion

Olive oil has many culinary applications, but it must be good enough to be consumed. So, you must be adept at that information to store it and retain its shelf life properly.

This article will be a good guideline to enlighten you on the facts about its proper storage and maintenance protocol. This will also throw some light on how you identify a bad olive oil and what are the adverse effects of having it. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)