After finding the perfect brand of olive oil that checks all the boxes (if you haven’t already checked out our 'An Olive Oil Buyer’s Guide' post, make sure that you do) you want to store your olive oil at the correct temperature to ensure its flavor and balance remains. To avoid an oil to age prematurely or be ruined by its storage conditions it is very important to know what the optimal storage temperatures and conditions are for your bottles or tins.
Consider the following three vital factors before deciding where and how you will store your olive oil to enjoy optimum freshness and flavor!
TEMPERATURE
Luckily the average pantry or kitchen cupboards are most likely a good fit as long as they are not close to a source of heat like your stovetop, radiators or oven. The ideal temperature for storing olive oil is 14 C (57 F) but any temperature up to 21 C (70 F) is considered safe enough. The storage temperature should always be kept as constant as possible.
LIGHT
Olive oil is best kept in the dark so it should be stored away from the light as either direct sunlight or fluorescent light can ruin the product. Never purchase a clear glass or plastic bottle of olive oil as you are risking to directly expose it to light damage. Dark glass bottles are the ideal packaging solution but tin is also perfectly acceptable and best for large amounts of oil. A Bag-in-Box is also considered a very safe, reliable and secure way to store olive oil.
AIR
If kept in inadequate conditions olive oil can rapidly deteriorate and exposure to air plays a crucial role as a factor that makes your oil vulnerable to oxidization. Sealing your bottles tightly helps to keep the olive oil fresh for a longer period of time.
If you need to depot your EVOO, a sturdy, ceramic cruet with a pour spout will do the trick and will look good on your kitchen counter. Just make sure they are cleaned thoroughly before refilling each time.
With proper preservation and dispensing systems, you will be able to get the most out of your favorite olive oil without having to worry about oxidation and premature spoilage. Now all you have to think about is what’s for dinner!