One of the most common questions when we have an oil in the pantry for a long time is whether the olive oil expires or not. And if it has been opened, you can drink an olive oil that has been open for many months.

Well, the reality is that olive oil never expires. And yes, you can consume olive oil that has been open for several months, as long as it has been stored correctly.

Proper storage means storing it in a cool, dark place, away from heat and light, and packaging it in an opaque bottle. In this way, the quality of the olive oil will be preserved. It also implies having protected it from exposure to air, since if the bottle has not been closed correctly, the olive oil may have oxidized, losing flavor and properties.

However, olive oil is a natural product, which means that, despite not having opened the bottle, it is possible that it has lost flavor and properties over the months.

This means that, although it is safe to drink an olive oil that has been bottled for a long time, it is possible that it will have a different flavor and aroma than a recently bottled olive oil. This is where the "best before date" of olive oil comes into play.

Expiration Date vs. Best Before Date

With olive oil, doubts always arise between the expiration date and the best before date. In the case of olive oil, it does not have an expiration date, but it does have a best-before date.

The best before date indicates the period during which the oil is expected to maintain its freshness and optimal properties. And if olive oil is stored correctly, away from light and heat, its shelf life may be extended beyond this date.

Olive Oil Quality

The quality of olive oil is evaluated by factors such as acidity, aroma, flavor and color. A high-quality oil, such as extra virgin, will retain its characteristics even after the best-before date.

To know if an olive oil continues to preserve its quality, it is important to inspect the oil. To do this, observe its color (if it has a rancid or strange color) and its flavor (if it has a vinegary flavor). Depending on these factors, it can be determined whether or not an oil has lost its freshness.

Common Mistakes When Storing Olive Oil

If we want to avoid unnecessary losses of olive oil, the following table shows the most common mistakes made and how to avoid them:

Benefits of Consuming Olive Oil

Beyond its duration, what olive oil really stands out for, especially extra virgin, is because it is rich in healthy fatty acids and antioxidants, which can contribute to optimal cardiovascular health and prevent chronic diseases.

Incorporating extra virgin olive oil into your daily diet can be a tasty choice, adding flavor to your dishes, and healthy for your body. Therefore, if you want to benefit from all this, it is important to choose an extra virgin olive oil that ensures complete quality, from the cultivation of the oil until it reaches your table.

At 9 Oliveres we care about the well-being of our olive trees and organic farming, as well as a careful oil production process that, together with our opaque and airtight packaging, ensures the total quality of our product.

If you are also interested in trying a quality oil, here is the link to our best oil from ancient olive trees, our most precious 9 Oliveres oil:

>> The most exquisite Extra Virgin Olive Oil from 9 ancient olive trees <<