How to Store an Open Bottle of Olive Oil

Keeping a cork or lid on your bottle of olive oil will extend its shelf life.

Olive oil has many uses including cooking and baking, frying foods and flavoring salads and pastas. It is commonly used aside other seasonings for many Italian dishes. To keep your olive oil fresh, keep it away from heat, light and moisture. You may keep the olive oil in its original bottle with a screw-on top or choose a more fancy bottle to display your various olive oils.

Things You'll Need

• Bottle cap or cork

Instructions

1. Place the lid on the opened bottle of olive oil, screwing it on tightly. If it does not fit tightly or it did not come with a proper lid, place a cork into the bottle to keep out excess air.

2. Transfer the olive oil into a green-colored glass bottle to keep light away from it.

3. Store an opened or unopened bottle of olive oil in a cool, dry place such as in a kitchen cupboard.

4. Store your olive oil in the refrigerator to give it a slightly longer shelf life. It may become cloudy and solidify in time. This can be remedied by allowing the olive oil to return to room temperature until it regains its original look.

Tips & Warnings

• The shelf life of olive oil that has been opened is about two months.

• Unopened bottles of olive oil should last about two years if stored in the proper environment.

References

• Stonehouse Olive Oil: Old FAQ
• Still Tasty: Does Olive Oil Last Longer if You Store it in the Fridge?