Have you heard about the health benefits of avocado oil? How about how tasty and light it is when you use it in a dish? If you have, you’re probably thinking about using it for your cooking.
If you are, you’ll be wondering how to store it. Storing your avocado oil correctly is essential. It prevents waste and it prevents you from eating rotten oil.
So, what is the shelf life of avocado oil? Well, that all depends on how you store it.
In this article, I’ll discuss all about how long avocado oil lasts. I’ll also cover how you should (and shouldn’t) store your avocado oil, as well as how to tell if your avocado oil is still suitable for consumption.
What Is Avocado Oil?
Avocado oil is a plant-based oil that comes from the pulp of the avocado fruit. It is like olive oil in regards to its health benefits as well as its taste.
The flavor is very mild, which makes it great for cooking if you prefer not to tatse your oil. Yet, it adds a light, nutty flavor that can make your dishes savory.
Besides its lovely light taste, avocado oil is great for cooking. This is because of its high smoking point. It’s easier to use avocado oil at high temperatures than many other oils. It takes exceptionally high temperatures for avocado oil to start smoking or bubbling. This means you won’t have to worry about hurting yourself on hot oil.
But, should you even use avocado oil? Or is avocado oil bad for you?
No, avocado oil is not bad for you. Quite the opposite, in fact! Avocado oil is almost as popular as olive oil because it’s so healthy and flavorful. It strengthens your heart health by lowering blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure. It helps keep your eyes healthy and young as well.
Does Avocado Oil Go Bad?
Anything that is edible can go bad and will go bad at some point. That includes avocado oil. Fortunately, avocado oil is a very stable product that lasts for a long time.
Still, you can’t keep avocado oil around forever, even if you never open it.
Although the oil might not go “bad” after several months, it will begin to lose its effectiveness. The nutrients in avocado oil will begin to die out if the oil sits for too long. Without the nutritive benefits of avocado oil, there’s no reason to use it.
So, you should try to use avocado oil as soon as possible. The earlier you use it, the more beneficial it will be. It will also taste better when you eat it early on. The taste will begin to go away along with the nutrients if you let it sit too long.
But, when does avocado oil actually go “bad”? When stored properly, avocado oil is safe to store in your pantry for up to two years. Any longer than that, and the oil will begin to go rancid. Not only will the oil have lost all its nutrients, but it could make you sick if you eat it.
How To Tell If Avocado Oil Is Rancid
To know if your avocado oil has gone bad, you should first know the shelf life. Avocado oil generally lasts for two years when stored properly. Yet, you should try to use it within six months of buying it.
It’s not fun to open a jar of rancid avocado oil. It doesn’t smell or look good, but that makes it easy to tell when it’s gone bad.
Rancid Avocado Oil Smells Bad
The easiest way to tell when avocado oil has gone bad is to smell it. As we said, fresh avocado oil will have a light, nutty scent to it. If it has gone bad, it will smell rotten. Some say the smell is like that of spoiled grains.
Inspect The Color Of The Avocado Oil
Most often, manufacturers sell avocado oil in clear glass bottles. This makes it very easy for you to observe your oil and see if it’s gone bad.
Fresh avocado oil should be light yellow or green in color. Once it’s gone bad, it will turn darker in color. You may even see little particles floating around in the oil.
Avocado Oil Shelf Life: How Long Does Avocado Oil Last?
You’re likely wondering, what is the avocado oil shelf life? The shelf life of avocado oil all depends on how you store it.
Generally speaking, an opened bottle of avocado oil will be good for about 6 months. An unopened bottle should be good for about a year. Keep in mind that this is only true if you store it right. If you don’t store your avocado oil correctly, it will go bad more quickly.
| The Avocado Oil Is… | It Is Stored In The… | It Will Last For… |
| Open | Pantry | No More Than 6 Months |
| Unopened | Pantry | About 1 Year |
| Open | Fridge | No More Than 9 Months |
| Unopened | Fridge | About 1 Year |
| Open | Freezer | About 1 Year |
| Unopened | Freezer | About 1 Year |
How To Store Avocado Oil
Avocado oil contains lots of health benefits. So, you should definitely consider using avocado oil. Bad avocado oil can be avoided simply by storing it properly.
We’re going to discuss all the ways that you can store avocado oil. We’ll tell you how long your oil will last in each storage area, and which storage method is the best.
Store Avocado Oil In Airtight Glass Containers
You should always store avocado oil in glass containers. Avoid plastic because it can absorb the oil, making it lose some of its flavor and nutrients.
It’s good to choose glass that is opaque or black in color. This will prevent sunlight from spoiling your oil. Even if you store your oil in a dark place, it can become exposed to sunlight when you open the door. A darker container will limit that exposure.
Sunlight is bad for avocado oil. It contains a large amount of monounsaturated fatty acids. These fatty acids react with the air, causing your oil to spoil.
It’s also essential that you store your oil in an airtight container. Air is the number one culprit for making your avocado oil spoil faster. If air can get into the container, your oil will go bad much sooner. An airtight container will also prevent dirt and bugs from getting into your oil.
In The Pantry
We’ll cover this method first because it’s the most common. Most people keep their vegetable oils in their pantries or under their cupboards. Yet, this method is less than ideal.
Avocado oil goes bad more quickly in warmer temperatures. Warmer temperatures cause it to lose nutrients. This is true for sunlight as well.
If you’re going to keep your avocado oil stored at room temperature, at least keep it somewhere dark. Place it in a pantry or cupboard where it’s shielded from light. Never place your oil on the counter or on a shelf in direct light.
In The Fridge
The fridge is the absolute best place to store your avocado oil. Firstly, the cool nature of the fridge will preserve the oil for longer and prevent it from spoiling. Also, the inside of the fridge is dark except for when it’s opened. This will further preserve the freshness of your oil.
Bear in mind that the fridge may cause your oil to look cloudy, or even creamy. This is the cold interacting with the oil and is no cause for concern. This is not a sign that the oil has gone bad, and it’s still safe to use.
In The Freezer
Storing your avocado oil in the freezer will keep it freshest for the longest. Still, it’s going to be the most inconvenient method.
The freezer will keep your avocado oil fresh for about one year regardless of if it’s open or unopen. Still, if you choose to freeze it, you’ll have to thaw it before each use which can be a hassle.
One way to get around this is by storing your avocado oil in an ice cube tray. Each time you need it, you pop out a cube of frozen oil and cook with it. This method gives you the right amount of oil every time. It also prevents you from having to thaw out an entire container of oil every time you cook.
Conclusion
Avocado oil is a stable product that can last for a long time when stored right. The best way to store your avocado oil is in the fridge where it’ll be cool and dark. The second best option is the freezer. The pantry isn’t a bad option, although your oil will go bad several months sooner.
Either way, remember to store your oil in an opaque, airtight glass container.
Know exactly how to store avocado oil here, if it’s a good carrier oil here and if it will clog your pores or not here. Also find out how avocado oil is compared to canola oil here. For other types of oil, learn how long castor oil lasts here and exactly how to store jojoba oil here. Find all our guides to using avocados for your DIY beauty recipes here.
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