How to Properly Store Olive Oil: A Complete Guide to Maintaining its Quality

Why Properly Storing Olive Oil is Important

Olive oil is known as "liquid gold" due to its quality and health benefits. This juice is one of the most valuable foods in the world, making it crucial to store it correctly to preserve its quality and flavor.

Many people are unaware of the importance of properly storing olive oil. If you ask family and friends, they might not be familiar with the best practices for storing olive oil. This article will provide you with all the necessary information to prevent this essential product from deteriorating.

The Risks of Poor Olive Oil Storage

Olive oil can lose its properties if not stored properly. Over time, the oil oxidizes, developing a rancid taste that makes it less pleasant and less healthy. Incorrect storage can negatively affect its color, flavor, and texture.

The good news is that you can avoid these problems with some simple tips for storing olive oil. Below, we explain how to keep it fresh for longer.

Tips for Efficiently Storing Olive Oil

1-Avoid Exposure to Heat

Why It's Important: Heat causes the evaporation of volatile components in olive oil, altering its texture and flavor. Prolonged exposure to heat can also accelerate oxidation, reducing the quality of the oil.
How to Do It:

Storage: Keep olive oil in a cool, dry place. Avoid locations near the kitchen where there may be heat sources such as stoves, ovens, or heaters.
Ideal Temperature: Maintain the oil between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius to preserve its freshness and flavor.

2-Protect from Light

Why It's Important: Exposure to direct light speeds up the oxidation process, deteriorating the quality of the oil and leading to a rancid taste.
How to Do It:

Dark Containers: Use dark glass bottles or metal cans that block light.
Storage: Place the oil in a cupboard or pantry where light does not reach directly. If possible, use small bottles for daily use and store the rest in a dark place.

3-Keep the Container Well-Sealed

Why It's Important: Contact with air can oxidize the oil, affecting its taste and aroma over time.
How to Do It:

Seal Tightly: Ensure the container's lid is tightly closed after each use to minimize exposure to oxygen.
Quick Transfer: If transferring oil to a smaller container, do so quickly and immediately close the original container.

4-Cold Is Not the Solution

Why It's Important: Refrigerating olive oil can cause it to solidify, which is not harmful but can be inconvenient and temporarily alter its texture.
How to Do It:

Room Temperature: Store the oil at room temperature, avoiding the refrigerator unless you live in an extremely hot climate without air conditioning.

5-Keep It Away from Smoke and Odors

Why It's Important: Olive oil is susceptible to absorbing odors and flavors from the environment, which can compromise its quality.
How to Do It:

Proper Location: Avoid storing the oil near the kitchen or areas with strong odors such as trash or spices.
Closed Containers: Keep the container tightly closed when not in use to prevent odor absorption.

6-Use High-Quality Containers

Why It's Important: The quality of the container can influence the preservation of olive oil.
How to Do It:

Container Material: Choose dark glass bottles, ceramic, stainless steel, or aluminum cans, which offer better protection against light and air.

7-Consume Quickly

Why It's Important: Olive oil has a limited shelf life, and its freshness is best at the start.
How to Do It:

Buy in Appropriate Quantities: Purchase the amount of oil you can consume within 1 year.
Labeling: Mark the purchase and opening dates on the container for clear tracking of storage time.

8-Regular Checks

Why It's Important: Periodically checking the oil helps detect changes in its quality.
How to Do It:

Visual and Olfactory Inspection: Check the color and smell of the oil. A rancid smell or a darker color may indicate deterioration.

9-Choose High-Quality Oil

Why It's Important: Higher-quality olive oils tend to have a longer shelf life due to better extraction and storage processes. At Fernández Olive, we use only the best olives from our centennial trees and the best containers to ensure the highest quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil and its best preservation.
How to Do It:

Quality Labels: Look for oils labeled as "Extra Virgin" and verify their origin and production date.

In Summary

To fully enjoy olive oil, it is essential to follow these storage tips. Always check the best-before date and clean any residue before refilling oil containers. By doing so, you can extend the life and quality of the oil, ensuring it remains fresh and flavorful.