Does Vegetable Oil Go Bad?

Every homeowner has probably had a long-lost bottle of vegetable oil sitting in the back of their cooking cabinet and asked themselves, “Does Vegetable Oil Ever Go Bad?” The answer is yes. But, the expiration date isn’t always a solid marker for spoilage. You can do many things to increase the oil’s shelf time, but there are also many things that can make it degrade faster. We’ll cover all of these things and more. 

What Makes Vegetable Oil Go Bad Faster

Vegetable oil is one of the most common cooking oils and a big staple for your kitchen. Like most oils, vegetable oil undergoes a deterioration process throughout time. Three things can speed up that deterioration process. Those things are: 

• Leaving Your Container Open: Leaving your vegetable oil container open can cause oxidative rancidity. This is when oxygen mixes with vegetable oil and breaks down the unsaturated fats causing a rancid taste and odor. 

• Leaving Oil In The Sunlight: If your vegetable oil is in the sunlight for too long the light can spoil it through oxidation. 
• Too High Of Temperature: High temperatures can cause hydrolytic rancidity leading to a nasty-looking color and taste

With that being said, there are also ways to slow down the deterioration process.  

How To Extend The Shelf Life 

There are many different things you can do to keep your vegetable oil good for longer amounts of time. Knowing these things can be helpful, especially if you find you are not using your vegetable oil fast enough. Also, oil is not cheap, it doesn’t pay to keep wasting it. So here are five things you can do: 

1. Store in a dark place, away from sunlight
2. Keep away from heat store in a cool place 
3. Make sure the container is closed tightly before putting it away
4. Avoid storing your oil next to strong-smelling things as it can absorb odor
5. Try transferring oil from their original clear plastic containers  into dark glass containers, this helps with sunlight, and absorbing odors 

These top five tips should be enough to help you extend your vegetable oil shelf life to at least 3 more months. If you try these ideas and they don’t work, remember there is always more you can do. 

How To Tell If Vegetable Oil Has Gone Bad

No amount of precautions can put off the inevitable death of vegetable oil. So, it’s very important to know when your oil has expired. Some signs of bad oil are unpleasant odors, an off-putting taste, a darker more unnatural color, or a slimy and thick texture. If you notice any of these signs, you should throw out your oil. Remember to always dispose of your vegetable oil properly. 

Can You Use Vegetable Oil Past Its Expiration Date? 

While vegetable oil does spoil, it often remains usable beyond the expiration date. Typically, the expiration date indicates that the oil won’t be at its peak quality but can still be used. You can generally use vegetable oil up to three months past its expiration, provided you’re comfortable with a slight decline in quality. However, after this period, the oil may start to degrade and form harmful compounds that could pose health risks.

Types Of Cooking Oils 

Now that you have read all about when vegetable oil goes bad you can compare it to the other oils and their shelf life. Keep in mind that they last this long only when stored properly. 

• Vegetable oil: When opened stays safe 6 months to a year. Unopened can last up to 2 years 
• Canola Oil: Can last up to a year and maybe a month 
• Extra Virgin Olive oil: This will last up to 18 months, regular olive oil lasts for a slightly less amount of time 
• Coconut oil: Will last up to three years 
• Sunflower Oil: Can last up to almost a year 
• Soybean Oil: Lasts about 6 months to 7 months 
• Corn Oil: Is the same as soybean although it tends to last a little less. 

Altogether the time the oil lasts varies wildly depending on the oil you choose. But in the end, every single one of them goes bad. 

When you’re done with the oil and have properly disposed of it, you can recycle the vegetable oil bottle and be on your way!!

Conclusion

So does Vegetable Oil Go Bad? Vegetable oil, like all cooking oils, does expire over time. But, with proper storage, you will be able to make it last, at most, 3 months past the expiration date. As long as you are mindful of any signs of spoilage and dispose of it properly should it go bad. Understanding these things helps ensure your oil remains usable and safe. By following these tips, you can maximize the shelf life of your vegetable oil and avoid unnecessary waste.