Top Tips To Make Your Bottle of Olive Oil Last Longer
Updated March 22nd 2024
Summary
- Investing in the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can find is a gift to your health and your palette but treat it with the respect it deserves and it will last longer.
- Experts agree on key ways to preserve the taste and health benefits of extra virgin olive oil, including storing it in a cool, dark place but not the fridge.
- You should always check the label of your EVOO carefully and get to know the aroma of your oil to check for any musty or oily smells suggesting it is past its best.
Contents
- Recent Article Offers Top Tips On Looking After Your Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- How To Look After The Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Does It Matter How I Store My Extra Virgin Olive Oil?
- What Else Should You Not Do With Your Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Olive Oil Times Offers Top Tips On Looking After Your Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is treasured by foodies and home cooks for its rich flavour and health benefits. Culinary enthusiasts will agree that a bottle of high-quality EVOO is as precious as fine wine, and it deserves the same level of care to maintain its essence. But unlike wine, olive oil doesn’t age well, which is why proper storage and handling are key to preserving its taste, aroma, and nutritional properties. Learn how to look after your EVOO and make each drop last.
Ever wondered if your extra virgin olive oil has a ‘use by’ date or whether the health benefits of a good olive oil can reduce over time? Fear not; the good people at Morocco Gold – along with a recent round up in Olive Oil Times – can bring you the answers you need!
Although there are many factors which determine the shelf life of even the best extra virgin olive oil, the antioxidants which are present in the oil allow it to retain its high-quality even after many months of being bottled.
According to The Olive Oil Times, there are five keyways you can maximise the shelf life of your extra virgin olive oil. These are:
- Avoid exposure to light
- Choose the right packaging
- Read the labels
- Find the best-before date
- Buy it fresh
If attention is given to all of the above factors, the best Extra Virgin Olive Oil can remain ‘extra virgin’ for up to two years after being packaged.
How To Look After The Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Do you want to know how to preserve the quality and health benefits of your extra virgin olive oil so that you can enjoy the taste and health benefits for longer?
Before you can protect your olive oil, know what you’re up against. Light, heat, and air are the archenemies of EVOO. They speed up the oxidation process, deteriorate the quality, and can lead to rancidity. Guarding against these elements will extend the shelf life and ensure that you enjoy its full flavor profile for as long as possible.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is one of the best choices you can make as a substitute for saturated fats in your diet. This is especially true if you’re looking to reduce risk factors associated with heart disease and high LDL cholesterol. But it’s important to know how to look after your bottle of olive oil until the very last drop.According to a recent guide from iol.co.za, there are a few key tips you can follow to ensure your extra virgin olive oil of choice stays fresh for every last dip and drizzle. This will not only protect the flavour of your oil but will help to preserve the powerful olive oil health benefits that come as an added bonus.
According to a guide from iol.co.za this week, there are a few key tips you can follow to ensure your extra virgin olive oil of choice stays fresh for every last dip and drizzle.
Does It Matter How I Store My Extra Virgin Olive Oil?
At Morocco Gold, we want to share those tips with you and add some extra value as we believe that the best olive oil deserves the best treatment- even after it leaves our hands. Unlike fine wines, extra virgin olive oil does not mature with age but will usually remain fresh for up to 24 months is stored correctly.
So, what are the top five tips we want you to remember?
1) High Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil Should Be Stored Well.
As explained by iol.co.za, light, heat, and oxygen are the main culprits that lead to rancid extra virgin olive oil and even the best olive oil will degrade quickly if not stored properly. But what’s the best way to store your olive oil?
Some people keep theirs in a serving container beside their oven. Others prefer to display theirs in a beautiful bottle on their kitchen counter, while others keep it tucked away in a cool, dark cabinet or pantry. The general rule of thumb is to keep your olive oil container as air tight as possible and store it in a sealed, dark container (glass or other material) and kept out of direct sunlight.
2) Decant Large Amounts Of Extra Virgin Olive Oil Into Smaller Containers.
If you prefer to buy your extra virgin olive oil in large quantities (Morocco Gold is currently available on a buy five and get your sixth bottle free promotion), decant the oil into smaller containers to protect it from the air until being used.
3) Use Opened Extra Virgin Olive Oil Within Two Months.
Ideally, once a container has been opened, it should preferably be used within two months to ensure you savour the flavour at its finest.
4) Keep Your Extra Virgin Olive Oil Away From The Fridge!
The reason for this one is down to simple science. If you store your olive oil in the fridge, it will eventually solidify, and condensation will promote oxidation. And oxidation is not good for extra virgin olive oil! So keep it away from the fridge to improve the olive oil use by date.
What Else Should You Not Do With Your Extra Virgin Olive Oil?
At Morocco Gold, we really love telling you about all the things you can do with extra virgin olive oil. But, we’d also like you to know some other things to avoid to get the most from your precious bottle of liquid gold.
Research on the Mediterranean diet, which is rich with extra virgin olive oil, has shown that it can help prevent against heart disease, strokes, even Alzheimer’s disease.
However, extra virgin olive oil is a lot more delicate than you think and does need special care and consideration before you start cooking with it. Here are the essential things you need to know to properly handle, care, and use olive oil to avoid any slip-ups in the kitchen.
Lastly, get to know your olive oil. Regularly taste and smell it to ensure it’s fresh and vibrant. EVOO should smell fruity, grassy, or peppery, and not have any musty or greasy smell, which indicates spoilage.
Taking these steps will honour the effort that went into making your exceptional bottle of extra virgin olive oil, and it will reward you with delightful flavors in your cooking and dressings. From drizzling over salads to finishing off dishes, good olive oil brings a touch of culinary magic. By caring for it properly, you prolong this enjoyment and make the most out of every drop.
1) Always Check The Label On Your Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Always read the label on your bottles of expensive olive oil to check for the harvest and expiration date. It’s also worth checking to see if the oil is pure, or if it has been mixed with other ingredients.
Consider purchasing extra virgin olive oil, which is the least processed or refined and is considered the highest quality. Lastly, you should check where the oil was harvested, which can define the flavour profile.
2) Avoid Overcooking!
There are a few different schools of thought when it comes to the stability of olive oil when heated, but it is generally safe for most at-home cooking methods. Depending on the type used, olive oil has a smoke point between 160 to 240ºC.
However, domestic cooking temperatures vary; around 120ºC for pan-frying, 160-180ºC for deep frying, and 200ºC for oven baking. To avoid burning your oil, be mindful of the specific smoke point for the type of olive oil and cooking method you are using to avoid any mishaps.
3) Try To Use Your Extra Virgin Olive Oil Quick Enough
Olive oil does not improve with age. Rather, you should keep a watchful eye on the expiration date on the bottle and consume it within two to three months after opening. If properly handled, most olive oils will last about two years from the time it was bottled.
4) Avoid Choosing Colour Over Taste
There is a common misconception that the greener the colour, the better the quality of the oil, but the colour is not a true indicator of the aroma or flavour. Depending on the olive variety, where it was grown, and the harvesting method, olive oil can range from light yellow to dark green, and vastly differ in taste.
5) Never Forget How Versatile Extra Virgin Olive Oil Is
Extra virgin olive oil is great for more than just cooking. Pamper your hair, skin, and nails with the naturally moisturising capabilities of olive oil and dab a bit on your hands to replenish dry skin or use on your hair as a hydrating moisture mask.