These days we have a wide variety of cooking oils to choose from. Many of these oils have their own distinctive aromas, flavor, and health benefits. One of the most unique and exciting oils available today is peanut oil.
With more people using this incredible oil each year, it is only natural to wonder whether peanut oil goes bad.
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Does Peanut Oil Go Bad?
Like most cooking oil, peanut oil has a very impressive shelf life. However, peanut oil doesn’t offer an eternal shelf life. The oil will naturally lose its quality as time passes, and eventually, it will go bad.
The good news is that you can prolong the life of your peanut oil by storing it correctly. By doing this, you will be able to use your peanut oil for years. In addition, you will find that it is a great versatile oil that is a beautiful addition to any kitchen.
How Long Does Peanut Oil Last?
Like most products meant for consumption, peanut oil comes with an expiration date typically printed on the label or the top of the bottle. Although this date can indicate how old the oil is, it isn’t a true reflection of when the oil will go bad.
The expiration date of your peanut oil is an indication of when the oil will start to decline in quality. Therefore, it should still be suitable for consumption after the date has passed, especially if you have been storing it correctly.
Similar to most oils, the quality of peanut oil depends on whether the oil has been opened or not. In addition, peanut oil used in the past and reused will have a lower quality of fresh and unused peanut oil.
Peanut oil that hasn’t been opened can last for up to two years after the expiration date has passed. On the other hand, opened peanut oil offers up to a year of usability. Lastly, peanut oil that has been used for frying purposes can be kept for up to two weeks. However, it is crucial to remember that you shouldn’t use peanut oil for frying more than three times.
How Long Does Peanut Oil Last? |
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| Unopened | 2 years past the expiration date |
| Opened | 1 year |
| Used and stored for future use | 2 weeks |
4 Tips to Tell if Peanut Oil has Gone Bad
Since peanut oil can have a relatively strong flavor, it is beneficial to tell if it has gone bad. Using rancid peanut oil in cooking or baking can lead to a spoiled meal or baked goods. To avoid this, it is always best to check whether your peanut oil is still fresh before using it.
Here are the four ways you can tell if your peanut oil has gone bad:
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Your peanut oil looks different
As with most food products, a change in appearance usually is not a good sign. For example, if you notice that your peanut oil has changed color and has become a few shades darker, your peanut oil isn’t suitable for use anymore.
If you notice that your peanut oil contains any signs of contamination, it is best to throw it out. In addition, if you see any impurities in your oil, especially after using it once or twice, you should avoid using the oil.
You should never see any crystallization in your peanut oil. Lastly, any cloudy appearance in your peanut oil signifies that it has gone past its best.
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Your peanut oil smells strange or unpleasant
Usually, peanut oil doesn’t have a strong smell unless you buy peanut oil that has been made from roasted peanuts. In that case, you will notice a lovely peanutty smell. However, if you see that your peanut oil smells rancid, sour, or vile, it is best to discard the oil.
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Your peanut oil has lost its cooking quality
Peanut oil offers wonderful cooking quality, which is why it is such a popular cooking oil. However, the cooking quality of peanut oil naturally declines as time passes. Therefore, if you are unsure whether your peanut oil is still fresh, it is good to give it a cooking trial to see whether it is still a good option for cooking purposes.
If you want to try a cooking trial with your peanut oil, all you have to do is add about a tablespoon of it to a pan and heat it up. Fresh peanut oil will heat up at a natural rate and keep its heat without burning or smelling unpleasant. Peanut oil that has gone bad will heat up too quickly and smell horrible.
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Your peanut oil tastes bad
Peanut oil that is made from unroasted peanuts doesn’t have a strong flavor, whereas peanut oil made from roasted peanuts has a very strong peanut flavor. So regardless of whether your peanut oil is made with unroasted or roasted peanuts, if you notice that your peanut oil tastes sour, overly bitter, or rotten, you shouldn’t use it anymore.
4 Tips to Store Peanut Oil
The way you store your peanut oil can make a massive difference in the shelf life of your peanut oil. Therefore, it is essential that you keep these tips in mind:
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Keep the container closed at all times
When you are storing your peanut oil, it is very important that you keep the container completely closed. If you fail to do so, your peanut oil will not only decline in quality, but it will spoil. If your peanut oil container has become damaged in any way, transfer it to another container that can seal completely.
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Store your peanut oil in a cool, dark place
Peanut oil doesn’t need to be stored in the refrigerator. Instead, you can keep it fresh by storing it in a cool, dry place in your pantry. The most important thing to keep in mind is that peanut oil shouldn’t come into contact with heat elements or direct sunlight.
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Keep your used peanut oil fresh by straining it after use
Peanut oil lovers enjoy reusing their peanut oil after frying because it is cost-effective, convenient, and more environmentally friendly. However, if you want to reuse your peanut oil, it is essential that you make an effort to clean your peanut oil first.
After frying, give the peanut oil enough time to cool down entirely. Once the peanut oil has cooled down, run it through a strainer to remove any impurities or remains from your frying. Use a clean container that can seal properly.
Used peanut oil should be kept in the refrigerator after use. Always be sure to check the quality of your peanut oil before reusing it.
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Store your used and fresh peanut oil separately
If you enjoy reusing your peanut oil for frying purposes and using fresh peanut oil for cooking purposes, it is advised to store the oil separately. By adding used peanut oil to fresh peanut oil, you will lower the quality of your fresh oil immediately.
Keep your fresh peanut oil in a cool, dark place in your pantry and your used peanut oil in your refrigerator.
The Risk of Consuming Expired Peanut Oil
Fortunately, consuming expired peanut oil doesn’t offer extreme risks. Instead, you might only notice that the food tastes a bit strange or unpleasant. However, people with peanut allergies might feel discomfort after consuming peanut oil that has been made from roasted peanuts.
It is best not to use peanut oil after it has gone past its best because it can cause people with sensitive stomachs to feel bloated, nauseous, and experience abdominal cramping. The good news is that the discomfort should pass within 12 hours.
Can You Freeze Peanut Oil?
It is possible to freeze peanut oil. In fact, freezing peanut oil extends the oil’s shelf life by at least a year if it hasn’t been used before. Used peanut oil can be frozen for up to six weeks before being discarded.
Even though it is possible to freeze peanut oil, it is beneficial to keep in mind that freezing your oil might alter its aroma and flavor. Therefore, if you enjoy using peanut oil made from roasted peanuts because of its fantastically nutty flavor, you might be disappointed to find that the oil no longer has the flavor after thawing.
Freezing peanut oil is an option for extending the shelf life of your oil even further, but it isn’t necessary since proper storage in your pantry can lead to years of use.
Summary
Peanuts are excellent sources of minerals, vitamins, and omega fats. In addition, they give us an extraordinary oil that is versatile, light, and pleasant. The oil is such a great addition to meals because of its great cooking qualities.
With people from all over the world adding peanut oil to their pantries, we are happy to know that proper storage can give our peanut oil longer shelf lives. This means that we don’t have to worry about whether our peanut oil has gone bad.
I hadn’t thought about reusing my peanut oil before – but that sounds like a great way to reduce waste! Definitely going to give it a try this week.