When olive oil expires and how to understand if it is still good

It doesn’t just happen to you: there are many people who often they take the expiration date for granted of certain foods, believing them to be almost “immortal”. Let’s think about it‘olive oil: have you ever read the date of expiration? This usually doesn’t happen. For two reasons: because it it wears out quickly (in the Mediterranean and Italian diet it is one of the main ingredients), and above all because it is believed to have a very long shelf life.

Generally, olive oil is thought to last more or less a year when bottled.

This is partly true, but it’s good to know that olive oil too it can go rancid and go bad. For recognize if the oil you are bringing to the table is still good or is gone bad There are small clues you need to pay attention to: color, odor And taste.

Does extra virgin olive oil expire?

A first piece of data to understand if the oil is still good or if it isThe oil has expired is knowing its life cycle. That is: how long does the oil last? What is the Expiration date, indicated on the package, in relation to its bottling? Typically, olive oil maintains its properties between 12 and 18 months from the extraction date. It is therefore better not to use it after this time.

This period can naturally vary, both based on the type of oil and in relation to the its conservation. For example, if it has been stored in non-amber bottles (glass or plastic) it may deteriorate.

How long does olive oil last?

Once opened, if stored appropriately, olive oil remains good and retains its organoleptic characteristics even for more than 15 months. The more time passes, however, the more it tends to lose color, taste and flavour.

How to tell if olive oil is still good

The color of the oil is the first piece of data that can tell you whether it is good or rancid. The oil is still good indeed yellow or greengolden and alive, and not amber or reddish, for example. All colors that are not between the classic yellow and green should set off alarm bells.

The color variation, in fact, indicates that the oil has probably not been stored correctly and, bottled in a non-amber or dark container, has been exposed to sunlight or in the light.

The second indicator is our senses most linked to food, namely the taste And the sense of smell. If, once opened, the oil seems to you rancid, acidic or unpleasant (smelled or tasted), means it has gone bad.

How to use expired olive oil

Oil that has gone bad (because you did the tests written above or because the expiry date indicated on the package has even passed) it should absolutely not be eaten, and therefore not even used for frying. At most you can exploit it for home projectsfor example to create soaps or to oil squeaky mechanisms or wooden furniture that needs nourishment.

For the next time, preserves the oil better: if you bought it in a transparent bottle, decant it into an amber or dark glass one. Always keep it in a closed pantry away from both light and heat sources, and finally always check that it does not suffer sudden changes in temperature.

(Article written by Sara Polotti on 25 July 2021
Edited by Kevin Ben Alì Zinati on 18 April 2024)