You bought a good bottle of olive oil. Three months later, it smells flat and tastes like nothing. What went wrong?
Most often, the oil didn't go "bad" in a dramatic way. It was stored badly. Olive oil is a fresh product, and it fades faster than most kitchen oils when it gets too warm, too bright or too much air. Here's how to keep it fresh, including through a Lahore summer.
The four things that spoil olive oil
Light. Sunlight and bright shop or kitchen lights speed up the oil's breakdown.
Heat. Warmth makes the oil age faster. A bottle beside the stove or on a sunny shelf loses quality quickly.
Air. Oxygen reacts with the oil. Every time the bottle is open, or half empty, more air gets in.
Time. Even in perfect conditions, olive oil is best within a limited period. The date on the label matters.
Good storage means keeping these four away from the bottle.
Where to store olive oil
Choose a cool, dark cupboard. A closed kitchen cupboard away from the stove, the oven, the fridge's hot back panel, and any window is a good choice. Many producers suggest a temperature of roughly 14 to 20°C.
Keep it away from the cooker. This is the most common mistake. A bottle on the counter next to the stove gets warmed every day, and it ages much faster.
Avoid windows and open shelves. Even a clear bottle in indirect light ages faster than one kept in the dark.
Storing olive oil in a Pakistani summer
Lahore summers are hard on olive oil. A kitchen can reach well above the ideal temperature, especially in the afternoon.
Choose the coolest part of the house, such as a cupboard in a room away from the kitchen, a lower shelf in a dry pantry, or a spot in an air-conditioned room. Avoid the top of the fridge, because it gets warm from the compressor. Don't leave a bottle in a car, where the temperature climbs very quickly.
If you buy a large bottle or tin, pour a small amount into a little bottle for daily use and keep the main one somewhere cool.
Can you store olive oil in the fridge?
You can, and in very hot weather it may help. But there are trade-offs.
The oil goes cloudy or thickens. Cold makes some of the natural fats solidify. This is normal and harmless, and it clears when the oil warms to room temperature.
It can be a nuisance. You have to take the bottle out and wait before pouring, and moving between cold and warm can cause condensation inside.
One option is to keep a small bottle in the kitchen for daily use and a larger reserve in the fridge. Note that cloudiness in the fridge is not a reliable test of quality, so don't use it to judge whether an oil is genuine.
Choose the right container
Dark glass or a tin is best. They block light. A dark green or brown glass bottle, a tin, or a stainless-steel container is a good choice.
Avoid clear glass and clear plastic in light. If your oil comes in clear glass, keep it in a cupboard.
Keep the lid tight. Close the bottle after every use.
Don't top up old oil with new. Mixing fresh oil into an old bottle puts the fresh oil in contact with oil that has already aged.
Use a small cruet for daily use. Fill it with only what you will use in a week or two.
How long does olive oil last?
Unopened, olive oil is often best within about 18 to 24 months of bottling, but the date printed on your bottle is the one to follow.
Once opened, olive oil is usually at its best within a few months, as air gets in. Check the label for the recommended period. Buy a size you will finish within that time. A smaller bottle you finish is better than a large one that goes flat.
How to tell if olive oil has gone off
Olive oil that has gone rancid doesn't usually look different, so use your nose and tongue.
Smell it. Fresh oil smells green and fruity. Rancid oil smells like old nuts, crayons, putty or stale cooking oil.
Taste a little. Fresh oil tastes fruity and may be slightly bitter or peppery. Old oil tastes flat, greasy, musty or sour.
If it smells or tastes off, don't use it for a finished dish. It won't improve, so replace it.
Quick storage checklist
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Keep the bottle tightly closed.
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Store it in a cool, dark cupboard, away from the stove and windows.
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Use dark glass or a tin.
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Buy a size you will finish.
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Check the date on the label.
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Pour small amounts into a cruet for daily use.
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Don't top up old oil with new.
Storing the olive oil you cook with
Cooking uses a lot of oil, and a bottle beside the cooker is convenient. Pour a little into a small bottle for the stove, and keep the main bottle in a cool cupboard. For more on cooking, see is olive oil good for cooking.
Where Zaitoon olive oil fits
We import our olive oil and pack it in Lahore, and we print the grade, origin and date on the label so you can plan how long to keep it. Our Zaitoon extra virgin olive oil is packed to protect it from light. Check the label for full details, and lab reports are available on request.
You can order online from musffafood.com with delivery across Pakistan. See the product page for delivery times and returns. You can also browse the full pure olive oil in Pakistan collection. For help choosing a bottle, read how to choose the best olive oil.
Questions? Message us on WhatsApp at 0303-4642211. We're available 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
FAQs
How should I store olive oil?
In a tightly closed, dark bottle or tin, in a cool, dark cupboard away from the stove, windows and direct sunlight.
Can I keep olive oil in the fridge?
Yes. It may turn cloudy or thick, which is harmless and clears at room temperature. It isn't required, but it can help in very hot weather.
Does olive oil go bad?
Yes. It can go rancid over time, especially if stored in heat, light or air. Rancid oil smells like old nuts or crayons and tastes flat or greasy.
How long does olive oil last after opening?
Usually a few months at its best. Check the period printed on your label.
Can I store olive oil next to the stove?
It's best not to. Heat from the cooker makes the oil age faster.
What is the best container for olive oil?
Dark glass or a tin, with a tight lid.
How do I store olive oil in hot weather?
Keep it in the coolest part of the house, away from the kitchen's heat, and pour a small amount into a bottle for daily use.
