Before all things, you should know that olive oil does not expire, and yet it has an expiry date. What does it correspond to ?
This is a date when the oil will begin to lose its flavor slightly.. In effect, extra olive oils- virgins are made with green olives and pressed in a short time. The manufacture is precise to obtain the most flavors. It is therefore a fragile product that must be taken care of.. Here are the questions you need to ask yourself and some conservation advice :
- How long to keep your extra virgin olive oil ?
- Which receptacle or container for better preservation ?
- Where and at what temperature to store oil ?
The 3 enemies of olive oil
unlike wine, the oil of’olive extra-vierge first cold pressing does not improve over time. The product will lose its aromatic intensity over time due to oxidation.
Olive oil has 3 enemies : the light, temperature and oxygen. If we are not careful, the freshness of the olives and the aromas will be reduced, the oil will become “spicy”, unpleasant with sour notes. It will therefore be necessary to take care of this precious liquid to preserve its benefits and its delicate taste..
Olive oil contains antioxidants that delay the oxidation of our cells. If it is poorly preserved, olive oil will degrade and bring you nothing.
How long to keep your extra virgin olive oil ?
It is preferable to consume its oil in the 18 months after bottling. After this date, your oil will of course still be edible and you will not risk poisoning. But it will gradually start to lose its flavor. Some castles or estates replace the air present in the neck of the bottle with nitrogen. Thus the oxidation of the oil is greatly delayed.
After opening your bottle of oil, it is advisable to consume it within 6 month. This is why the choice of the bottle at the time of purchase is very important..
Depending on your consumption, it is better to buy a 500ml bottle every 6 month than one of 1l and leave it started. There are even 250ml bottles for those who use it occasionally.
Which receptacle or container for better preservation ?
You will notice that in large areas, often, the oil is in transparent containers, large glass or clear plastic bottles. The goal is to draw your attention to this beautiful golden green liquid and encourage you to buy. On the contrary, the oils sold in the mills of Provence are in iron cans or almost black bottles, see even sandstone. Which of the two methods is the most suitable for the conservation of the oil ?
As we have seen previously, taste and quality have the enemy of light. So you will understand, storing large transparent bottles in well-lit shelves is anything but a good idea (and we will not talk here about the origin and the long journey of the olives, nor the storage of pallets in direct sunlight of these mass-market oils).
The right container will therefore be an opaque black glass bottle or an iron can, and in a volume that can be consumed in the 6 month after opening. For those who have a large consumption, the best olive oils exist in 1l bag in box, 3l and even 5l. The advantage of the bag in box is that the oil remains protected from air and light and that you can draw small 250ml bottles from it according to your needs..
Some examples of the ideal container
Where to store quality oil ?
Here again, we must take into account the enemies of olive oil, here the heat and the light. The best preservation will be in an iron can or an opaque container.. You can leave the bottle on your counter, but avoid positioning it next to the hot plate or the oven. Otherwise, prefer a cool closet or pantry. Don't put it in the fridge, below 13°c the oil solidifies.
Conclusion
You have all the keys in hand to keep your oil in the best conditions and enjoy every drop of it in your recipes., whether for cold use, in seasoning or cooking. Last tip, prefer oils of controlled origin where the provenance is clearly indicated. Keep them as indicated in this folder, and you will always have perfect products.