Can Cooking Oil Go Bad?: Cooking oil is one of the most essential items in the kitchen, but it can’t stay fresh for a longer period. So, check how to store cooking oil properly and whether your cooking oil has gone wrong with the tips in the following sections.
Cooking oil shelf life depends on various factors such as the oil composition, how refined the oil is, and so on. Read on to find the cooking oil shelf life and can cooking oil goes bad details.
- Can Cooking Oil Go Bad?
- How to Store Cooking Oil?
- How to Tell if Cooking Oil is Rancid?
- How Long Does Cooking Oil Last?
- Interesting Facts About Cooking Oil
- Does cooking oil really go bad?
- Can expired cooking oil make you sick?
- Which cooking oils last the longest?
Can Cooking Oil Go Bad?
Yes, cooking oil goes bad. At rook temperature, the cooking oil lasts for 1 to 2 years. Cooking oil is the general term for different types of vegetable and seed oils that are used in the cooking process. Every oil has different shelf life based on its composition, how purified the oil is, and the storage process. Few cooking oils such as sunflower oil, olive oil, canola oil, safflower oil, and blended vegetable oils last for 2 years if they are unopened. And they will go bad within 1 year if the bottle is opened.
Other nuts oils like sesame oil, corn oil and others last only 1 year if unopened. These opened oil bottles can last from 4 to 9 months if stored properly. It is better to check whether your oil has gone rancid or not before cooking to avoid bad recipes.
The main reasons for cooking oil rancidity are air, heat, and light. In a few cases, oil goes bad if it is mixed with water.
How to Store Cooking Oil?
The simple technique to store any cooking oil safely is keeping it away from heat, light, and air. The best storage precautions will keep your oil fresh for a longer period.
An unopened cooking oil bottle stays fresh for a longer time when compared with an opened oil bottle. In an opened bottle, air will react with the oil molecules which causes the oil to go bad. The shelf life of opened cooking oil is 6 months. Always remember to keep sealed for the opened bottle when it is not in use.
Avoid Storing in Plastic Bottles
The plastic bottle is not completely airtight. If you store oil in plastic bottles for a longer time the tiny holes in it can cause oxidation, and it also might leak. So it is better to choose cooking oil in glass bottles for long-term storage.
When oil is exposed to light, it goes wrong quickly. Light makes antioxidants and other healthy parts degrade faster. To store your cooking oil fresh for a longer period, store it in a dark place.
The excess amount of heat can affect the quality of olive oil. Oils at high temperatures lead to rancidity quickly. Placing oils in the fridge is the best option to store them properly. Sensitive oils like almond oil and truffle oil should always be refrigerated as they are so sensitive to heat.
In general, cooking oils go bad in 1 to 2 years. If your storage space is warm, then rotate the oil bottle within 6 months.
Look for Nitrogen-Flushed Bottles
Few oils like flaxseed and nut oils are susceptible to oxidation. The small quantity of oxygen in the bottle headspace can cause the oil to go bad quicker. Manufacturers use nitrogen-flushing to remove all oxygen from the bottle before sealing it to help the products last longer.
How to Tell if Cooking Oil is Rancid?
You need to taste or smell it to know it is bad. The smell of rancid cooking oil is sweet or fermented. If the oil colour changes gradually, it is also another sign to tell that cooking oil has gone bad. But it is very hard to detect the smell and taste of the bad oils.
Also, Refer
Ingredients:
Refined Sunflower Oil: 99.99%, TBHQ (E319): Antioxidant, Vitamin A: Micronutrient, Vitamin D: Micronutrient
Contains permitted antioxidants
Nutrition Facts – When Packed
Serve Size 10 g
About 91 servings per pack
| Nutrients | Per 100 g | Per Serve | % RDA per serve |
| Energy in kcal | 900 | 90 | 4.5 |
| Proteins in g | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carbohydrates in g | 0 | 0 | – |
| Total Sugar in g | 0 | 0 | – |
| Added Sugar in g | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sodium in mg | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Fat (Oil) in g | 99.99 | 9.999 | 14.92 |
| Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in g | 50 to 70 | 5 to 7 | – |
| Monounsaturated Fatty Acids in g | 20 to 40 | 2 to 4 | – |
| Saturated Fatty Acids in g | Not More than 15% | 1.5 Max | 0.81 Max |
| Trans Fatty Acids in g | Not More than 1% | 0.1 Max | 5 Max |
| Omega-3 (n = 3) in g | 0 | 0 | – |
| Omega-6 (n = 6) in g | Min 50 | Min 5 | – |
| Cholesterol in mg | 0 | 0 | – |
| Vitamin A in mcg | 750 | 75 | 7.5 |
| Vitamin D in mcg | 11.25 | 1.125 | 7.5 |
| Vitamin E in mcg/g | 335 | 3350 | 33.5 – 44.6 |
Store under cool, dry, hygienic conditions and away from direct sunlight
How Long Does Cooking Oil Last?
Most cooking oils last their quality for 1 to 2 years when stored properly. The opened bottle should be consumed within 6 months. Few types of cooking oils can last for up to 5 years when stored in an airtight bottle, in a dark place.
Cooking oils don’t go bad suddenly, it is a gradual process. After a certain time, the oil becomes too bad so you can’t eat it. Here we are giving the approximate Cooking Oils Shelf life chart:
| Cooking Oil Name | Oil Shelf life |
|---|---|
| Hydrogenated oils (such as Crisco) | 5 years |
| Peanut | 3 – 4 years |
| Olive | 3 years |
| Palm | 2-3 years |
| Safflower | 1-2 years |
| Sunflower | 1-2 years |
| Canola | 1-2 years |
| Coconut oil | 1-2 years |
| Soybean | 1 year |
| Corn | 1 year |
| Lard and tallow | 9 months |
Interesting Facts About Cooking Oil
The facts about the cooking oil are here:
- The major use of cooking oil is in frying.
- China nad Japan produced first cooking oil.
- The vegetable oils are extracted from seeds, plants.
- Cooking oil is edible.
- It is not recommended to reuse cooking oil after deep frying.
- Cooking oil is the mandatory ingredient in the kitchen.
FAQs on Can Cooking Oil Go Bad
1. Does cooking oil really go bad?
Yes, cooking oils go bad after 1 year of opening the bottle. The unopened cooking oil lasts for 1 to 2 years easily.
2. Can expired cooking oil make you sick?
Having the expired cooking oil may leave an unpleasant taste and odour, but it may not immediately fall you sick. But eating rancid cooking oil for a long term can cause cell damage thus leading to chronic diseases.
3. Which cooking oils last the longest?
Cooking oils with more polyphenols i.e antioxidants or polyunsaturated fats will last longer. The list is peanut oil, canola oil, olive oil, and so on.
Key Takeaways
The information included here regarding Can Cooking Go Bad is helpful for people who are using regularly using oil in their kitchen. You can check the signs to tell whether your oil has turned bad, tips to store cooking oil and various cooking oils shelf life details here. Stay in touch with our site to know other food products’ rancidity details.