by Why does olive oil hurt?
At its core, olive oil is comparable to fruit juice. Ultimately, it is squeezed from the fruit of an olive – in the same way that you would expect the orange juice to taste after a while, the olive oil will also squeeze. It also does not ferment in the same way that wine and other alcoholic beverages are fermented, which means that with age, olive oil does not improve.
There is a warning in our answer to the question of whether olive oil is bad or not. The “evil” is a piece of a relaxed period – while expired orange juice can definitely make you sick, you will not have the same problem with old olive oil. However, it will have a taste and cooking with it can make your food taste similar or even slightly tangy.
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“Olive oil does not literally go bad, but after 18 to 36 months or sooner – depending on the type of olive oil – it will lose its flavor,” says Biagio Cepollaro, owner of Via Roma Pizzeria in Camp Springs, Maryland. “Filtered olive oil can last up to 36 months. unfiltered up to 18 months “he notes. Extra virgin olive oil is best used within a few months of opening, a maximum of 12 months.
“Unlike wine, which gets better over time, olive oil degrades over time,” adds Aishwarya Iyer, founder and CEO of Brightland, a high-quality olive oil company. In particular, Iyer notes that olive oil that has remained inactive for a long time loses many of its green, filling, fresh flavors. It also says that aging destroys the health benefits of olive oil, especially its antioxidant action.
How to store olive oil for optimal freshness
According to Iyer, exposure to light, heat and air will accelerate the aging of olive oil. But since these are culprits that can be avoided, there are some easy steps you can take to keep your olive oil fresher for longer.
1. Buy olive oil that comes in opaque bottles or pour your own into one.
“Do not store your olive oil in a clear container or bottle,” says Iyer. “One of its biggest enemies is light, so you should always store it in an opaque container, like the UV-coated bottles we use.” If you are buying olive oil in bulk, you may want to consider pouring the oil into a darker container (assuming your original container is made of clear plastic).
2. Avoid storing EVOO next to the stove.
In addition, Iyer recommends storing your oil away from heat sources. Read: As tempting and convenient as it is, you should not hold the bottle of olive oil next to your stove or oven, nor any other surface that often emits heat. Instead, it is safer to store your olive oil in a cupboard or other kitchen area where the temperature remains constant.
3. Remember that 60 ° F to 72 ° F is the sweet spot.
Although you do not want to store your olive oil near heat, you also do not need to put the product in the refrigerator. While it may indefinitely extend the life of the oil, you also run the risk of accidentally solidifying it, which would make it painful to use. In contrast, the ideal temperature for olive oil is somewhere between 60 ° F and 72 ° F – much warmer than a refrigerator.
4. Always have the lid on.
Finally, Iyer emphasizes the importance of keeping the air outside. “Remember to close the lid of your bottle again. “Air is the enemy of the integrity and quality of oil,” he says. Therefore, if you use one of these fancy nozzles to help you drain your oil, make sure that the nozzle can be completely sealed so that you do not accidentally introduce oxygen into the bottle.
What to do with the spoiled olive oil
If your oil has spilled, the best solution is probably to throw it away or use it for something else, such as cleaning. Do not empty into drains — you will clog your pipes and contaminate water sources. Instead, throw your oil in a non-recyclable container and throw it in the trash (unfortunately, it cannot be composted).
Finally, keep in mind that once you open a new bottle of EVOO, you need to use it relatively quickly. This means that buying smaller quantities is probably a good solution, unless you cook pasta or pizza for the crowd on a regular basis.
So, the next time you give a bottle of fancy olive oil, be sure to give your lucky recipient the gift of knowledge: encourage him to make (relatively) quick use of this very important elixir.
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