Cooking Oil Shelf Life: Cooking oil has a specific shelf life. If stored improperly, it can spoil quickly, affecting not only the taste of food but also your health.

Does cooking oil go bad?

Shelf Life Of Different Cooking Oils: Cooking oil stored in the kitchen lasts for months, so people often keep using it until it's gone once purchased. But have you ever considered that oil can go bad? If not, it's important to know that every type of cooking oil has a specific shelf life. If not stored properly, oil can spoil quickly, affecting not only the taste of food but also your health.

When does oil go bad?

According to home experts, oil doesn't spoil instantly like milk or bread, but over time, exposure to oxygen, light, and heat triggers the oxidation process. This is why the oil begins to turn rancid. According to experts, occasionally consuming a little rancid oil doesn't cause any immediate problems, but long-term consumption of such oil can cause the formation of free radicals in the body.

When does the oil start going bad?

The shelf life of an oil depends on its type. Refined vegetable or canola oil can last for about 1 to 2 years in a sealed bottle, and it's best to use it within 6 to 12 months after opening. Extra virgin olive oil lasts for about 24 months in a sealed package and 3 to 6 months after opening. Coconut oil can last for about 2 years. Sesame oil lasts for about 6 months after opening, and flaxseed oil lasts for 6 to 8 months after opening. Flaxseed oil should be refrigerated after opening. Avocado oil can also be used for about 6 months after opening.

How to know whether it is expired or not?

When purchasing oil, always check the Best Before or Use By date on the bottle. This date indicates the oil's best quality, not that it will become unsafe after that date. However, if the oil is not stored properly, it may spoil before the expiration date. Therefore, it is a good practice to write down the date you opened the bottle.

First, pay attention to its smell.

To determine if oil has gone bad, first pay attention to its odor. Spoiled oil may emit a sour, rancid, or strange odor. The taste may be bitter, sour, or soapy. Furthermore, changes in oil color, sediment settling at the bottom, or a thicker-than-normal consistency can also indicate spoilage. However, it's normal for olive oil to become slightly cloudy when refrigerated, and it will return to normal at room temperature.