Does olive oil go bad?

Olive oil is one of the most controversial fats. While a lot of people are glorifying it and stressing its unquestionable health effects, others are being cautious and sometimes skeptical about the extent of its utility and uses.

It might not suit everyone’s expectations and goes against others’ beliefs, but at the end of the day, the number of people appreciating it is growing. Lets’ find out more about the main point of contention regarding this oil and most importantly let’s make sure does olive oil go bad or not.

Is extra virgin olive oil good for cooking?

The debate around this matter has been going on for too long. People had never reached a conclusive answer. But let us finish the disagreement once and for all. Take it from someone who has been cooking with olive oil for all of his life: it is definitely the best option to go for.

Like most families in the Tunisian south, my family prefers to cook with olive oil. The scent that lurks in our kitchen is irresistible. Whether extra virgin olive oil or just olive oil, we never run out of stock. The yield of our farms would all go to personal use. A few drops of the golden liquid on salads, a few tablespoons in couscous soup, and drops on any dish we make do make all the difference. So the answer to the question is extra virgin olive oil good for cooking is a definite yes. Try it yourself and you won’t regret it. Don’t worry; there won’t be any strong tastes or undesirable aromas.

The only oil you probably should be cooking with is a variety we call filtered oil. The exact name in Arabic cannot be translated but it is similar to what I have just labeled it. This oil is extracted from the very first harvested crop and it is squeezed manually or in traditional mills. This oil is used for medicinal practices. It is very heavy and has a strong aroma and taste. Besides, it is not commercially sold.

Can you use olive oil for deep frying?

Following the common belief that olive oil is not good for frying, my family has always prohibited it, except for cooking. However, thanks to research done in recent years and to an extent thanks to my own secret attempts, we have started frying with olive oil.

Olive oil has a medium smoke point, 400 degrees F, and hence it is suitable for frying. If you are going for a sauté or frying something then you won’t need more than 300 to 350 degrees F. This breaks all previous judgments about this healthy fluid. You can use both extra virgin and refined olive oil for frying.

The question is can you use olive oil for deep frying? Of course, you can. Deep frying is about submerging food in very hot oil that it instantly fries. This requires about 350–375°F. Olive oil’s smoke point is higher than this, so t is perfectly suitable.

Olive oil has high amounts of saturated and monounsaturated fats, this makes it highly stable and hence withstands heat. One study used olive oil in a deep fryer for twenty-four hours before it oxidized. It is definitely a great choice.

How and in what to use olive oil?

Olive oil is not just a kitchen staple. Our elders used to stock a few bottles of this treasure for medicinal uses. Coughs, injuries, and pain are but a few conditions that our elders were certain that they can be treated with a few drops of olive oil. Drinking a few drops on an empty stomach and massaging their whole bodies with oil were common practices.

Today, science has proved that to use olive oil for medicinal purposes is quite rewarding. This oil is rich in unsaturated fats and antioxidants, both of which are essential for wellbeing.

This oil has great anti-inflammatory properties. A daily dose of two to three tablespoons might rid you of any inflammation you are suffering and thus preventing worse conditions.

It is heart-friendly oil thanks to its unsaturated fat contents. It helps to lower blood pressure and even bad cholesterol, hence prohibiting heart diseases. This oil is essential in the Mediterranean diet, one that has been frequently linked to better health conditions.

Oleuropein, a compound found in olive oil, has proven antibacterial and antifungal. It is a cheap way to treat and keep away infections.

The best part of it, the oil helps to ease constipation. If you are having issues in your digestive system, then make sure you drink a tablespoon of olive oil on an empty stomach.

Does olive oil go bad?

Most people are used to stocking olive oil for year-round use, especially those owing huge olives farms. But it is important to know does olive oil go bad or not.

The good news is that olive oil lasts for two years in perfect shape. You can stockpile oil for two years' use without worries.

After this period, the oil will usually go rancid. The taste will become sour and a bit bitter. Some people would still use it, but it is not recommended. It is not oxidizing, but the strong taste will affect your food badly.

If you have an out-of-date stock of oil maybe you can use it for different purposes; for lightening traditional lamps, for example, just like old churches and mosques used to do.

Make sure you preserve your oil in favorable conditions. Heat, air, and light can damage the oil. So keep it in airtight dark glass bottles and away from heat.