Olive Oil

[ramblingvanman]

I want to replace butter wherever possible with olive oil. How well does it keep in a car? Do I need to refrigerate it if keeping it in the car?

 

[Phantom Blooper]

What is the shelf life of olive oil?
Category: 
Bottling and Storing
From: 
Dolores
Question: 
How long should be the life of a bottle of Extra virgin olive oil? How long should you keep it? I bought a large bottle at Sam's club a couple of years ago, and still have a little left, but afraid it might be too old....Does it turn rancid or lose it's flavor after a certain length of time? I just threw out a smaller bottle that had a date on it...best if used before Feb of 07....Should all bottles of oil have a expiration date on them....I am afraid to buy a large bottle again...please advise.
Source: 
Olive Oil News
Answer: 
Shelf life is very variable, depending on the olive variety, ripeness when pressed, care in processing, filtering, etc. It also depends on storage after it has left the producer, something they have no control of, so it is hard to "guarantee" a certain lifespan. Look on the label for a date. Remember that most olives are picked in the late fall or winter and are sold the next year, so 2006 oil will be the freshest available until early 2008 when 2007 oil will come on the market.

Lifespan can be as little as 3 months for an unfiltered late harvest olive bottled in clear glass and sold off a supermarket shelf above hot deli foods which is then stored by the consumer in bright light on a hot stovetop with the cap unscrewed. It can be as much as 3-4 years for an early harvest, high polyphenol containing olive variety which has been filtered then packaged in a well sealed tin or dark bottle then stored in a cool dark place by the grocer and consumer.

Best to buy small quantities, use up the oil within 6 months.

Any vegetable oil will go rancid with time. The oil is still edible but will taste bad.

See our olive oil storage for a more lengthy discussion.
Date: 
Monday, October 15, 2007

http://www.oliveoilsource.com/asktheexpert/what-shelf-life-olive-oil

 

[Reducto]

I never refrigerated mine and it kept just fine for a couple of months, which was the max one bottle would last. I never noticed any bad taste.

If you don't go through a lot of it, buy smaller bottles.

 

[ramblingvanman]

I like olive oil especially to cook with, but I will just start with a smaller bottle. If I place the clear container inside a dark container or a storage box(think foot locker), it sounds like that should help the shelf life. Does that sound right to you guys? When it says "filtered" vs "unfiltered", are they referring to regular vs virgin/extra virgin?

 

[Spirituallifetime]

Store it in a dark place will help,but don't refrigerate it because it will get thick and won't pour out of the bottle.

 

[LeeRevell]

I try to avoid frying, so my primary cooking oils tend to be in the spray cans, and there are a couple brands selling Olive Oil that way.  I am using a can nearly a year old with no problems, but this is in an S&B, not stored in a hot van.  Still my house stays in the mid to high 80's during the day - no AC except the bedroom.  My clear bottled veggie oil lasts a good while too, though I keep it in a closed cabinet.

 

[ramblingvanman]

I plan to use olive oil anywhere I would normally use butter. It may make some foods taste different, but I already use it in some dishes and I really like the difference. The spray is a good idea too, I may get some of that as well though I would likely only use it when making eggs.

 

[Almost There]

The dreaded margarine is another product that can be kept without refrigeration. Because I can't use butter I've switched to using Vegan margarine. It's the only one I can find regularly that doesn't contain milk products!!

 

[ramblingvanman]

Margarine is just plain terrible for you though. I try to stay away from transfats as much as humanly possible.

 

[Almost There]

The one I buy has no trans fat in it. I just went and double checked.

I don't use much of it, only if I need it in a sandwich or if a recipe calls for both olive oil and butter.

I like using ghee as a butter replacement but I don't seem to find the time to make my own and the store price is prohibitive.

 

[ramblingvanman]

I'm going to have to wait on rvpopeye's opinion on this one!

Guy

He is more interested in Olive Oyl. So, I doubt he weighs in. LOL

 

[Jana]

Even old olive oil can be used in lamps. I keep a few of those mason jars with handles in the house with olive oil wicks and holders from Lehman's in case of a power failure. It burns brightly and will extinguish if spilled. I use the mason jars because I can put a narrow-mouth lid and ring on them.

 

[highdesertranger]

if you can keep it in a cool dark place, it will last a year. as long as it was fresh when you bought it. now a vehicle is not anything like a cool place so I would be careful after a couple of months. while we are on the subject of cooking oil, has anybody tried avocado oil? I have and like it, it seems to me to be lighter than olive oil, good flavor. highdesertranger

 

[rvpopeye]

OK , I guess I have to post to this thread now........

I don't have any Olivesk Oyl now but am always looking.
If I did  , I'd want to keeps me Olivesk Oyl as closesk as poskible !!!

Skuh kuh kuh kuh kuh

Seriously , I do use olive oil and the extra virgin is the best , Oh my Goshk , somebody stop me.......

I store it in the fridge/ice chest depending on electric hookup , and use from a small bottle that I take out some time , an hour? , before I am going to use it.
(It says right on the bottle to store in a cool place away from heat and light. it also is marked with a "Best By" date but what does Best By really mean?) I buy the 18 ounce bottles so it gets used fairly quickly.
The one I'm using right now Best By date is /was...6/29/15 and it has very little smell so I'm thinking it's still fine.?.?.?.?

Great idea to use old oil in a lamp !
I found a nice red one left by a dumpster , no doubt by one frustrated first time camper (the globe was totally black )..I find all sorts of great camping gear that way......

 

[highdesertranger]

I am a huge user of EVOO and was shocked to see on a PBS show that the majority of the EVOO from overseas is just the crap they ship out to other countries while keeping the excellent stuff for themselves. It was said that CA olive oils are exceptional and blow away the imported stuff. So I bought some CA EVOO and oh my god it was delicious, full of earthy yet fruity flavors... Do yourself a favor and try it, not to mention cheaper...

thanks for the tip. seems to me I read something similar a while back. highdesertranger