Olive oil is a staple ingredient in many classic recipes, known for its variable taste and superb nutritional content. However, improper storage can quickly deteriorate its quality. To maintain the freshness of your favorite ingredient, it is important to store it properly. Here are some tips on how to store olive oil.
Choose the Right Container
When shopping for olive oil, choose bottles that are stored behind the shelves, away from fluorescent lights. Brands that bottle in dark glass are ideal as they help prevent UV rays from penetrating the bottle. If you purchase oil in clear glass, wrap the bottle in aluminum foil and cover it well when you get home. Long-term exposure to light can also affect flavor, so store olive oil in a dark cabinet or pantry to prevent oxidation.
Bottles with spouts are the best choice, making it easy to pour olive oil into the pan. The small amount of air entering through the spout is no worse than the amount of air that enters every time you open a glass bottle of olive oil. You can also get a spouted bottle with a cover for added air protection.
Keep the Bottle Closed
Leaving an unopened bottle of olive oil for a while until it cooks is tempting, but leaving the bottle open or unfastened allows air to easily get into the oil, speeding up the oxidation process and causing the oil to turn sour. Keep your bottle closed at all times for optimal freshness.
Keep it Cool, But Not in the Fridge
Olive oil exposed to warm temperatures will begin to oxidize and eventually become rancid. Keep the cooking oil bottle away from heat but do not store it in a cold place, as this will cause oils to solidify.
Avoid Buying in Bulk
Unless the olive oil will be consumed quickly, it is not an item to buy in bulk. There are many factors that affect oxidation, and a bottle of oil can go bad before it is used up. Purchase one bottle at a time as needed to ensure the freshest oil.
By following these tips, you can keep your olive oil fresh and flavorful for all your culinary needs.
Post time: Jun-01-2023