How long does opened sunflower oil last? Shelf life and proper storage of vegetable oil

Sunflower oil is used for dressing various salads and preparing many dishes from potatoes, meat, and mushrooms. In fact, it is an indispensable product in every kitchen. This raises the question: how to store sunflower oil at home so that it does not disappear and lose its taste?

It all depends on what container you bought the oil in. So, for example, if you purchased it in a plastic bottle, then you need to store it at a temperature of +18-20 degrees in a dark, cool place. This is due to the harmful effects of sunlight on the beneficial properties of the product. It's also worth noting that glass bottles typically sell higher quality oils with fewer additives.

Buying sunflower oil

Of course, it is better to purchase sunflower oil in small containers in order to use it as quickly as possible before it begins to spoil. However, today all food products, including sunflower oil, are by no means cheap. In addition, it is more financially profitable to purchase it in large containers, which is why quite often it is purchased in containers from 3 to 5 liters. To ensure that your finances are not wasted, you need to know how to properly store sunflower oil so that it does not go to waste. In order to preserve all the beneficial microelements and taste of the product, immediately after opening the bottle it must be poured into clean, dry glass containers (jars, bottles). If desired, you can add rosemary, basil, thyme, a small clove of garlic or other spices to the oil to preserve a pleasant aroma.

Storing sunflower oil in the refrigerator

Where to store sunflower oil? This question interests many young housewives. Ideal conditions for storing such a product would be the absence of direct sunlight and temperatures up to +18. Accordingly, the best place for this is a cellar or pantry. But not all houses have a cellar, not to mention apartments. That’s why many people are wondering: is it possible to store sunflower oil in the refrigerator?

It is possible, but certain conditions must be met. Firstly, it is not recommended to leave the product there for a very long period. In this case, the temperature should not be lower than +5 degrees. Secondly, there should not be any specific odors present in the refrigerator, since the oil will absorb them and become unpalatable.

How to store homemade flavored salad oil?

Homemade oil has a more pronounced pleasant taste and aroma. How to store sunflower oil so as not to go rancid and lose its aroma? After purchase, it is recommended to immediately pour this oil into a glass bottle or jar and store it in a dark, cool place. The main advantage of homemade sunflower oil is the absence of various additives and preservatives. However, it deteriorates much faster than usual. In order to preserve its beneficial qualities longer, you can add one bay leaf to a bottle of sunflower oil. The optimal shelf life of such a product is no more than two weeks.

Now, you know how and under what conditions to store sunflower oil and you will be able to please your loved ones not only with tasty, but also very healthy dishes.

Sunflower oil is practically the most popular product in our country, which is used not only for frying and salad dressing, but also for making homemade mayonnaise, margarine, and canning. Due to the daily use of this product, there is a need to buy it often. And those people who decide to stock up should know where and how to properly store sunflower oil at home.

How to choose

Before you go to the store to make a purchase, you need to decide what the oil will be used for.

If vegetable fat is intended for preparing salads or cold appetizers, it is better to choose an unrefined product. It contains large quantities of vitamins and fats that will make any salad healthy.
Refined oil is better suited for frying; it is not advisable to use anything else.

The difference between refined and unrefined products lies in their purification and processing.

Unrefined After cleaning, they are not processed in any way. It is divided into grades: highest and first. Both have a pleasant characteristic taste and aroma. They do not have a bitter taste and do not form sediment. Although in the second grade these signs are sometimes present.
Refined undergoes complete purification from various impurities that can form sediment and affect the taste. This list also includes useful components. Such a product can be immediately recognized by its light color and lack of pronounced taste. The smell of such a product is also much weaker than that of an unrefined product, especially if the product is deodorized or frozen.

Even proper storage of vegetable oil cannot be called successful if the product does not meet certain requirements from the very beginning.

When sediment is clearly visible in a bottle of a product, or even just foreign particles that create the impression of cloudiness, it is better not to buy it.

In order for sunflower oil to have a long shelf life, great attention must be paid to the integrity of the packaging. If the container is damaged or has visible signs of a leak, the oil will not be stored for long.

If the product was on a lighted display case, it is better to refuse to buy it immediately: sunflower oil should be stored in a dark place. You should also pay close attention to its production date, so as not to buy a product that has practically expired.

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Under what conditions is sunflower oil stored?

The influence of bright light (especially sunlight) leads to the destruction of vitamins and nutrients included in the product. Therefore, it is stored in dark places.

Sunflower oil storage temperature: +8°С -+20°С,
and the humidity should not be high, the optimal range is 60-75%.

Some housewives keep the bottle on the refrigerator door, while others believe that the product will lose its beneficial properties there. So where to store sunflower oil? Let's try to figure it out.

In the kitchen, in the pencil case or in the cabinet where this product is usually stored, the temperature can often exceed +20°C. And on the refrigerator door it stays within +10°C. Therefore, the answer is obvious: it is better to store sunflower oil of any kind in the refrigerator. But short-term storage in a locker is also acceptable.

What and where to store

It is better to place large supplies on a shelf in a cool pantry or wall niche, protected from light.

The container with the product that is currently being used can be kept in the kitchen cabinet if it is located far from heating appliances. It should be remembered that the oil should not be exposed to sudden temperature changes.

Storing sunflower oil at home is permissible in factory-made plastic containers for no more than 1-3 months. If there is a need to extend its storage, it is better to pour the product into a dark glass container.

Shelf life of sunflower oil

The manufacturer indicates the shelf life on the label. But usually these are the following numbers:

	Storage temperature	Term
Refined (closed packaging)	18°С -+25°С
unrefined (closed packaging)	18°С -+25°С
refined (opened packaging)	18°С -+25°С
refined (opened package
	18°С -+25°С
unrefined (opened packaging)

You cannot fry using oil several times: this will negatively affect the taste of the food and your health.

According to GOST 1129 – 2013, shelf life unrefined sunflower oil – up to 4 months.
Refined and deodorized products are stored for up to 6 months.

Sunflower oil is the most desired product on our table. Lately, it has surpassed even creamy in popularity. It is difficult to imagine modern cuisine without this representative of vegetable fats. They fry, bake, dress salads with it...

Almost everyone knows about its high consumer qualities and usefulness. But not everyone knows how to store sunflower oil. Let's figure it out.

Storage rules

We are sure that this vegetable fat never spoils, and therefore we never think about how to preserve it. In fact, sunflower products are definitely capricious, and preserving them for a long time requires adherence to certain canons:

It is important to adhere to the proper temperature - this product preserves its first-class qualities at a temperature of +5-+20 °C. In sub-zero or extreme heat, this product loses many of its good qualities, becomes completely bad and can even cause damage to health;
This vegetable fat should not be exposed to light - it’s better to find a permanent place for it in the cabinet;
follow the expiration date indicated on the bottle - it is better to get rid of an unsuitable product than to use it for cooking and, thus, poison yourself and loved ones with harmful oxides;

Take care that the sunflower product is not stored for a long period in a bottle without a lid. After three to four weeks it will no longer be possible to consume it, as the product will become harmful;
It is recommended to store sunflower oil in its original packaging or dark glass bottle, this will save it from bacteria and make storage longer;

If you follow these tips, then you don’t have to wonder how to properly store sunflower oil, but use it without fear for the quality.

Where do we store it?

Some housewives, in order to save money, buy this vegetable fat in five-liter packaging. Naturally, the problem immediately arises of how to store sunflower oil at home.

The most acceptable environment for saving, of course, is considered to be cool and shaded; find an appropriate place, for example, a cellar; if you have an apartment, then a loggia (preferably in the fall) or a refrigerator.
In a word, the most convenient way to store sunflower oil at home is in a semi-dark storage facility. Just know that the products should not be placed near radiators, fireplaces, etc.

By following this storage rule, you will help the product preserve its excellent taste and prolong the preservation of its beneficial qualities longer.

Sometimes, for one reason or another, the oil does not have time to be used up, and it costs longer than a month, or even more.

To prevent the oil from going rancid and losing its fresh taste, you can use this advice. Place a couple of beans in a container with it. You can also add 1 tsp there. salt per liter. This method will increase its storage for another period.
Do you want to add some flavor to it as well? Then add a bay leaf here.

In general, due to poor preservation, it is advisable to calculate and know how much to buy for your family’s needs.

It is wrong to store oil near the stove or near a heat source.

Let's talk about timing

The shelf life of sunflower oil is considered to be unlimited. Although in reality this is not the case.

Refined, sealed in a plastic bottle, it can be stored for up to 2 years if the appropriate storage temperature is maintained. Once the bottle is opened, the shelf life is reduced to 2 weeks.
Thus, a product prepared using cold pressing is stored unopened at 16-18 degrees. Home storage can last up to six months. Once opened, it must be used within a month.

If the products are refined and deodorized, then you can store sunflower oil in its own packaging for up to 2 years. But after uncorking, the product must be used within 28 days.

Unrefined sunflower oil with cold pressing will last for 4 months, with hot pressing – 10 months. But it is not always possible to find out which method was used; it is better to stop at 120 days. After uncorking the bottle - no more than a month. The shelf life of unrefined sunflower oil depends entirely on the production method.

The shelf life of sunflower oil decreases immediately after opening the bottle.

Unrefined product

When buying it in a large container, be aware that when you get home, it must be poured into dark glass bottles so that the product does not come into contact with bright light and heat, because they have a detrimental effect on its quality.
It is advisable to place the container with the product in the cold.

And if you have already opened the bottle, it is better to keep it in the refrigerator.

Vegetable oil and refrigerator

Along the way, the question arises: is it possible to store sunflower oil in the refrigerator?

The answer is yes. At temperatures from 0 to 11 ºС it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one month. Moreover, different methods are used for this.

Plant products are also frozen. At the same time, the products are preserved for a long time.

Before placing this product in the freezer, the cap on the bottle should be screwed on tightly.
If refined products are poured into small containers and placed in the freezer, they can be stored there for about a year.
After which all the beneficial properties will remain.

But such storage conditions are not suitable for unrefined.

As you can see, preserving sunflower oil at home is not such a difficult issue. Use the basement, kitchen cabinet or refrigerator for this. If you follow certain conditions and rules, then you will never be tormented by the question: where to store plant products?

All types of oils, from olive to coconut and butter, have only 4 enemies:

Light;
Warm;
Oxygen;
Sudden changes in temperature.

Under their influence, the oil oxidizes, becomes rancid, and loses its taste, aroma and beneficial properties. The best way to prevent this (and even extend the shelf life of the product) is proper storage. Today we will talk about home storage of the 5 most favorite types of oils:

olive;
sunflower;
flax;
coconut;
creamy

How to store vegetable oils (olive, flaxseed, sunflower)

There are three things to consider when it comes to storing oils: Where store it How store it and what.

Temperature

Before opening: let's start with the good news - most vegetable oils can be stored at room temperature, that is, at +20-24°C, but no more. The minimum permissible temperature is 5°C. Well, the optimal temperature is about 14°C. Only a wine refrigerator can provide such an ideal climate at home.

After opening: here’s the not-so-good news - unfortunately, most vegetable oils (olive, sunflower, flaxseed) must be consumed within 1 month after opening the bottle. After a month, the oil remains suitable for consumption, but it is still undesirable to use it in food, since toxic and even carcinogenic substances are formed in the product. A month after opening the package, the taste of the oil becomes bitter (especially for olive and linseed oil), and the aroma becomes neutral.

A month after opening, olive oil can be used like sunflower oil for frying.
After opening, it is advisable to store flaxseed oil in the refrigerator on the middle/top shelf or in the fruit and vegetable compartment.

Flaxseed oil is stored in the refrigerator after opening.

Due to rapid rancidity, it is not very wise to buy large jars of olive, flaxseed and unrefined sunflower oil. It is better to buy the product less, but more often.

Where to store

So, all oils like dark, dry and cool (but not cold!) places. Where can you find them in the kitchen of a city apartment?

The optimal solution for both long-term and daily storage of oils is a closed cabinet, preferably a lower one (after all, the lower it is, the cooler it is) and not too close to the stove. It is not recommended to store spices and herbs next to oil, as it tends to absorb odors.

Unfortunately, the most convenient place for storing oil - the countertop - is the most unfavorable due to its proximity to the stove, daylight and artificial light, and temperature changes. But it’s so convenient to always have a bottle on hand, so what should you do? A compromise is possible: simply pour the oil from a large bottle into a small one with a reserve of one or two weeks. The bottle should be made of dark glass and should be kept away from the stove.

The ideal place for long-term storage of oils is a wine cellar or its modern substitute - a wine refrigerator with a temperature of 14 degrees. Can butter be stored in a regular refrigerator? Yes, you can, but be careful.

Firstly, oil removed from the refrigerator cannot be left warm for a long time; it must be stored in a cupboard, then again in the refrigerator. Remember, sudden climate change is one of the enemies of any oil.
Secondly, it is advisable to store butter in the refrigerator in the fruit and vegetable compartment (the temperature is set there at about 8 degrees) or on the top shelf (7 degrees). Do not forget that too low temperatures (below 5 degrees), which are typical for the middle and lower shelves of the refrigerator, are harmful to oils. But the refrigerator door is not the best option, since the climate on the door shelves, although optimal for storing oils, is too unstable.

By the way, there is one more nuance that only applies to olive oil: when stored in the refrigerator, white flakes form in it. There is no need to be afraid of this; on the contrary, such sediment only proves that the purchased oil is indeed olive oil. At room temperature it will regain its normal consistency.

How to store oil

The ideal glassware is dark glass (such as amber or cobalt) with a tight lid and possibly a dispenser or sprayer.

A ceramic vessel that can close tightly is also a good idea.

But metal containers (for example, those in which oil is often sold) are less suitable. As a rule, oil of average quality is sold in such packages.

The worst choice of containers for storing oil is plastic bottles. If you bought fresh and valuable oil (olive, flaxseed, unrefined or raw sunflower) in such packaging, say, at the market, then it should be poured into a dark glass bottle. In general, it is better to avoid buying oil in plastic packaging, since during storage, chemical compounds from the plastic that are harmful to health can transfer into the product. The only oils that can be sold in plastic packaging are refined sunflower and coconut oils.

If you bought the oil in a transparent glass bottle, you can wrap it in foil.

How to store coconut oil

Coconut oil is one of the most flexible oils: it can be stored for a long time, it is not too afraid of heat (more than 24 degrees) and even light. But there is one important nuance - its consistency depends on the storage temperature of coconut oil.

Coconut oil has a liquid consistency - the most convenient to use for both culinary and cosmetic purposes.

At room temperature it becomes liquid - and this is the most convenient option for consuming oil for food and for cosmetic procedures. At temperatures below 20 degrees, coconut oil will acquire a jelly-like consistency, and in the refrigerator it will harden.

It turns out that a product that you use often or daily is best stored simply on a shelf in a closet or even on a countertop.

However, for long-term storage of coconut oil (especially unrefined), which you use only occasionally, the top shelf of the refrigerator or the fruit and vegetable compartment is more suitable.

Refined coconut oil can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 year, and unrefined coconut oil for up to six months.
For easier use when stored in the refrigerator, coconut oil can be poured into silicone ice cube trays as shown in the photo below.

But the bathroom is the least suitable place for storing coconut oil due to high humidity.

What to store in

When it comes to containers for storing coconut oil, a dark glass jar with a tight lid is best, but opaque plastic will also work.

How to store butter

Temperature conditions and storage locations

The optimal temperature for storing butter for daily use is from 0 to 6 degrees. This is exactly the climate that a refrigerator can provide; here the oil can be stored for 15 days after opening.

To prevent butter from being too hard and easy to spread on bread, it should be stored on the top shelf of the refrigerator, in the fruit and vegetable compartment, or on the door shelf.

But for long-term storage (up to 1 year) you need to use a freezer. But still, this option is not the best, since when stored in the cold for a long time, butter becomes less tasty and healthy.

Remember that you cannot leave butter at room temperature for a long time. Due to exposure to heat and light, it will turn yellow, oxidize, and lose its beneficial properties and taste.

However, if there is no refrigerator nearby, for example, on a camping trip or in a country house, then you can preserve the oil in one of the following ways:

Method 1: Wrap the oil in a cotton cloth soaked in a solution of water and vinegar. When the cloth is dry, soak it in the solution again.

Method 2. Place a piece of butter in a jar and fill it with vinegar so that it covers the block by a couple of centimeters.

Method 3. Wrap a block of butter up to 200 g (or several bars) in parchment, then place it in a deep container and fill it with a strong salt solution. Store the oil container in a dark place and change the brine solution daily.

What to store in

You can store butter either in a butter dish or in factory-made foil packaging. Parchment paper (pictured below) or foil will also work. The main thing is that the packaging or container protects the oil from light.

You should not store butter in plastic containers and plastic bags - in such containers the product will quickly turn rancid, turn yellow and spoil.

Many of us prefer to buy sunflower oil for frying dishes and dressing salads. It is cheaper than other types of oil, and is also considered a valuable source of vitamins and nutrients. Is any sunflower oil good for health? And how to store it correctly so that it retains its taste and valuable properties? Let's figure it out.

Refined and unrefined sunflower oil: what is the difference?

Many of us buy two types of sunflower oil - refined and unrefined. We use the first one for frying food. We use the second one for dressing salads, spices and other cold dishes. Each type of oil has its own specifics and storage rules.

Unrefined oil undergoes minimal purification and therefore retains many of the healing properties of sunflower seeds. It is distinguished by its dark color, strong odor and pronounced taste. Unrefined oil contains various vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A and E that are beneficial for the skin. It also contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that the body needs. However, unrefined oil can only be used cold. Under no circumstances should it be used for frying, as toxic and carcinogenic substances are released when heated. In addition, it smokes a lot, and its taste in hot dishes can spoil the entire pleasure of eating.

Refined sunflower oil is oil that has undergone multi-stage purification. It does not have a pronounced taste or smell, which allows it to be combined with many dishes. Also, purification from impurities extends the shelf life of sunflower oil. At the same time, it loses most of its beneficial properties. Often, a chemical cleaning method is used for refining, during which substances unsafe for health can enter the oil. Refined oil is used for frying and baking various foods. You can only fry it once, as when reheated it releases carcinogens and other harmful substances.

How to store unrefined oil

Unrefined oil is stored for much less time than refined oil. Once opened, it is advisable to use it within 2-3 weeks. The maximum that oil can remain open is 2 months. To ensure the best storage conditions at home, the oil can be poured into a dark glass bottle with a narrow neck. Opened refined oil should be kept in a cool, dark place, preferably in the refrigerator. You cannot store it in heat and light, otherwise it will quickly deteriorate and lose its pleasant taste and beneficial properties.

Where to store refined sunflower oil

Refined oil storage requirements are less stringent. Once the bottle is opened, it should be used within 4 months. This oil should be stored in a cool, dark place, the temperature should not exceed +20 degrees. However, many oils, especially cheap ones, are so refined that they can be stored in the light. However, we recommend keeping the oil bottle away from heat and bright light. Better yet, if possible, use olive oil instead of refined sunflower oil.

How do you store sunflower oil? Do you have your own secrets? Don't forget to share in the comments :)