How to Store Olive Oil the Right Way, According to Experts

We all know olive oil is a healthy kitchen staple. Over time, however, it will deteriorate and turn rancid. Learning how to store olive oil properly will save you money and eliminate food waste. We went to the experts to find out how to store olive oil to keep it flavorful and fresh for as long as possible. Here are some more healthy oils you should keep in your pantry.

Why It Matters

Katerina Mountanos is an olive oil sommelier (yes, that’s a thing!) and the founder of the Greek extra virgin olive oil company Kosterina. She says, “Olive oil is literally juice from the olive fruit so, like other fruit juices, it can turn rancid if not stored properly.”

No one wants that! Not surprisingly, rancid olive oil will ruin the aroma and flavor of anything you make. You can do the “sniff test” to see if olive oil has gone bad. If the olive oil is off, you’ll notice an unpleasant smell—like crayons or old peanuts.

If you don’t know how to store olive oil correctly, there will be other problems, too. “With olive oil specifically, so much of the health benefit comes from the polyphenols and monounsaturated fats,” Katerina says. “These begin to break down and release free radicals when they interact with oxygen or sunlight.”

This is the best olive oil to buy, according to the Taste of Home Test Kitchen.

What’s the Right Way to Store Olive Oil?

Katerina tells us that heat, light and oxygen “are the enemies” of olive oil. You never want to store your olive oil bottle above the stove. And an opaque bottle is critical, she adds. You can use an olive oil spray bottle like this for a small amount of oil at a time, though.

This means if you’ve been storing your olive oil in a clear glass container next to the stove, you’ve been doing it wrong. (Guilty! It’s not the only food we’ve been storing wrong, either.) The best way to store olive oil is in a cool, dry location, away from sunlight. Keep in mind that if you store olive oil in a location that’s too cold, you’ll see floating white stuff in the olive oil, but it’s not a bad thing.

If you want to put that properly stored olive oil to delicious use, learn how to make olive oil cake.

How Long Does Olive Oil Last?

It depends. Kosterina (and other premium olive oils) will usually have a harvest date on their bottle. According to Katerina, these olive oils will last two years from the harvest date if unopened. However, other olive oils may simply list an expiration date.

That time frame changes once olive oil is opened. Catherine Ward, manager of the Taste of Home prep kitchen, says, “Using your oil within three to six months of opening will give you the freshest oil.” Katerina even suggests sticking to the shorter end of that time frame to get the most enjoyment out of premium olive oil.

Find surprising household uses for olive oil, like polishing shoes and cleaning stainless steel.