Cooking with peanut oil is the perfect way to get a crispy finish on a fried shrimp or add a deeper flavor profile to a salad dressing, but how long will this bottle last in the fridge? Or will it last longer in the pantry?
While peanut oil can last for a long time, it will only last if it is stored properly.
When properly sealed, unopened peanut oil has a shelf life of up to 12 months. Once the bottle is opened, peanut oil is best consumed within 6 months. If you make your own peanut oil, it will stay fresh for only 6 months in the fridge. You can ensure your peanut oil has the longest possible shelf life by storing it properly.
Worried that some peanut oil in the fridge has already gone bad?
Keep reading to learn more about storing peanut oil properly and how to tell when it might go bad.
quick navigation
- Does peanut oil expire?
- What happens if you open peanut oil?
- How long does peanut oil last after using it?
- How many times can you reuse peanut oil in a deep fryer?
- The best ways to store peanut oil
- in the pantry
- In the fridge
- in a glass jar
- How to tell if peanut oil is bad?
- in a fryer
- in your fridge
- We thought you would like
- Can Old Peanut Oil Make You Sick?
- final verdict
Does peanut oil expire?
Peanut oil, like many other important oils, hasa long service life, meaningwill last much longer than most other foods in the pantry. This does not mean that peanut oil never expires.
Peanut oil is still food-made (it's the fat that's released from peanut kernels when they're crushed) and is perishable. Most peanut oil bottles will have an expiration date indicating the date the product is no longer safe for consumption.
If the expiration date is missing on the peanut oil bottle, be aware thatpeanut oil only stays fresh when unopened and for about 2 years.
Those two years are counted from the day the product was bottled and that date is also on the bottle, labeled as the manufacturer's date.
If the manufacturing date is also missing from the bottle, the peanut oil should be visually checked for signs of deterioration before consumption.
Making homemade peanut oil is a great way to get the freshest peanut oil possible, but without all the preservatives that come with the commercial version.
There is currently no FDA recommendation on how long homemade peanut oil will stay fresh outside the refrigerator.Therefore, it is recommended to keep homemade peanut oil in the refrigerator and use it within 6 months.
What happens if you open peanut oil?
Unfortunately,peanut oil will stay fresh for only 2 years when unopened.Once opened, air enters the container, causing the oil to perish more quickly.
After opening, it is recommendedstore peanut oil continuously in the refrigerator at temperatures of 37 degrees or less(but don't let the peanut oil freeze).
As long as peanut oil is continuously refrigerated, an open bottle of peanut oil will last at least 6 months if properly sealed with a screw cap.
How long does peanut oil last after using it?
Do you use peanut oil for frying? When poured into a large deep fryer, it can be difficult to get the peanut oil back into the container, but, as long as the fryer has a lid that seals, it is safe to leave the oil in the fryer, but for a maximum of 5 days.
After that time, the fryer must be emptied, cleaned and the oil discarded.If it is possible to remove the peanut oil from the fryer, place it in an airtight glass container, as the heat and light can quickly degrade peanut oil.
But before doing this, the oil must be filtered through cheesecloth or a sieve to remove food residues.
Food scraps spoil faster than oil and, if left in peanut oil that you plan to reuse, can cause illness in anyone who eats food cooked in the oil.
Furthermore, once peanut oil has been used, even if it is placed in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it only has a shelf life of 2 weeks.
How many times can you reuse peanut oil in a deep fryer?
Peanut oil can be reused, and many swear that repurposing peanut oil can improve the flavor of the food they're frying. A new batch of peanut oil placed in a fryer can be used 3-5 times before needing to be thrown away.
From that point onwards, reusing oil will sacrifice food flavor and may cause problems getting food hot enough to deep-fry food, particularly in the 5hetime the oil is used.
This is why many frequent fryer users recommend reusing the oil only 3 times at the most before changing it to new oil.
For those who decide to reuse peanut oil, do so with caution, as there are many health risks associated with foods that have been cooked in oilwhich has been heated to high temperatures several times.
The best ways to store peanut oil
In order for peanut oil to last as long as possible, it must be stored properly. Use the following methods to store peanut oil for as long as possible.
in the pantry
Unopened peanut oil works best when left in the pantry, as long as it is completely sealed and placed in the back where it will be exposed to the least amount of light.
It is recommended to keep peanut oil somewhere between 50 and 64 degrees Fahrenheit.
Peanut oil can also be stored on a counter or in a basement as long as it is kept out of light and in a place that is between 50 and 64 degrees Fahrenheit.
In the fridge
Once opened, peanut oil should be stored in the refrigerator. Leave it in the original bottle, if possible, and place it upright so it doesn't spill.
Remember that the refrigerator that stores peanut oil must be kept at 37 degrees Fahrenheit.
Peanut oil stored in the refrigerator can thicken a little, so remove it a few minutes before cooking to allow it to return to its original viscosity at room temperature.
Never heat your bottle of peanut oil in the microwave in an attempt to make it liquefy more quickly.
in a glass jar
When the peanut oil has been used for frying and can be removed from the fryer, it should be placed in a glass jar, such as a glass jar. This vial should then be placed in the refrigerator to keep the oil as fresh as possible.
How to tell if peanut oil is bad?
Despite attempts to keep peanut oil fresh in the fridge or pantry, there's always a chance it could go bad. There are a few easy ways to tell if peanut oil has gone bad, mostly by looking and smelling it.
in a fryer
If the peanut oil is still in the fryer, look for foam on the surface of the oil. Or dip a glass measuring cup into the oil and hold it up to the light to check the color. if it's darker than usual, or fog, is probably bad.
It smells too, if it smells like fish or has a musty aroma, the peanut oil has probably gone bad.
This can be confirmed by turning the fryer on, as old oil will take longer to reach frying temperature, if it is capable of doing so at all. Never try to use oil that is below frying temperature.
If the food has already been fried in peanut oil, you'll know it's gone bad because the food won't cook completely and will be mushy and soggy instead of crunchy.
in your fridge
To check the freshness of peanut oil in the fridge, start by looking at its color. If it is darker than normal or appears cloudy or separated, it is no longer safe to consume.
For those who are still not sure, unscrew the cap and take a drag on the product. If it smells unpleasant in any way, it should go straight into the trash.
We thought you would like
- How long does truffle oil last?
- 5 best oils for grilling steak
- Is cooking oil flammable?
Can Old Peanut Oil Make You Sick?
Sometimes mistakes happen and someone in the house may have consumed rotten peanut oil. However, it is highly unlikely that anyone will be able to consume a large amount of bad peanut oil.
When spoiled peanut oil is consumed, it will have a bad taste that usually prevents a person from eating more than a bite or two.Therefore, it is difficult to consume peanut oil bad enough to cause health problems.
If someone consumes a large amount of bad peanut oil, it is unlikely to cause immediate effects, as the main problem with old oil starts to develop free radicalsover time, and these free radicals can cause cell damage.
Cell damage is not immediately noticeable by the human body, nor the individual who consumed the bad oil, butthis cell damage can eventually lead to cancer and chronic diseases that can cause major problems in the future.
final verdict
It's usually unfortunate that a great culinary product like peanut oil goes bad, but at least it can be used for a few months before it goes bad, provided it's properly refrigerated in the meantime.
And if bad peanut oil is accidentally consumed, there are likely to be no instant ill effects. Just be sure to throw away any peanut oil you suspect is bad, and notify a healthcare professional if you start to feel unwell.
karen taylor
My name is Keren Taylor. I'm a stay-at-home mom to three lovely girls, Sarah + Rachel + Hannah. Before becoming a mother, I had a successful career in accounting, just a few steps away from becoming a CPA. I decided to give up my career to raise my own kids (instead of letting a nanny do it, don't judge here :)) I've learned a lot and I love sharing it with other moms. Along the way, I also became one.Certified Food Handler.
FAQs
How do you know if peanut oil has gone bad? ›
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.
Is it OK to cook with expired peanut oil? ›Peanut oil, like other vegetable oils, has a “best by” or “use by” date on the label. That date indicates how long should the oil remain at the best quality. Of course, it doesn't go bad or rancid overnight after that date. You can store it easily for months, or even a couple of years, past that date.
How many times can you use peanut oil before it goes bad? ›If properly strained and stored, you can reuse peanut oil two to three times before it shows signs of deterioration. You can often reuse peanut oil more times than other types of cooking oil.
How long does peanut oil last in storage? ›A.: If unopened, peanut oil is good for 12 months. If opened, its shelf life decreases to about six months. Opened or not, store peanut oil in a cool, dark place. If opened, storing in the refrigerator will help to extend its shelf life by a few months.
When should you throw out peanut oil? ›Reuse Cooking Oil
Then, pour it into an airtight container and store in a dark place until ready to use. It is important to note that you should reuse oil only once or twice. Give it a sniff before using it; if it smells rancid, toss it out.
Unless you put it in your body, expired cooking oil will not hurt you. There's no water in it, so it can't grow mold or go rotten. What it will do is start to smell stale—a little like wet socks—which is why we recommend storing it outdoors, in a shed or barn.
What are the side effects of expired oil? ›genuina as mentioned above, oxidation degrades essential oils' aromatic and therapeutic properties. Spoilage can also result in irritation or sensitization, which can cause skin rashes, burns, peeling skin, or other unpleasant side effects.
What happens if you fry with expired oil? ›Using expired oils can lead to off flavors and odors when cooking, as well as possible food safety concerns. Additionally, after an oil's expiration date, the fat can start to break down and oxidize, potentially creating carcinogenic compounds.
Can you freeze peanut oil after using it once? ›You can freeze peanut oil for up to a year. Whether the oil has been used or not used at all, it will freeze solid and well for around a year.
Can you get sick from old peanut oil? ›Instead, it takes months until you can notice any difference. That said, eating a bit of rancid peanut oil or using it in cooking won't make you sick, at least not immediately. But if you consume it regularly, it could have some negative consequences, which is why I strongly suggest discarding rancid peanut oil.
Can peanut oil be poured down the drain? ›
Do not pour cooking oil, pan drippings, grease, salad dressings, or sauces down the sink. Do not use cloth towels or rags to scrape plates or clean greasy or oily dishware. When you wash them, the grease will end up in the sewer. Do not run water over greasy dishes or pans.
Can I pour peanut oil on the ground? ›Can I dump used cooking oil in the yard? You should never dump used cooking oil outside. Even if you dump cooking oil in the grass, it will find its way to the sewer system and cause clogs and other issues. It is also bad for wildlife to dump and leave used cooking oil outside.
Can you get sick from expired peanut oil? ›Instead, it takes months until you can notice any difference. That said, eating a bit of rancid peanut oil or using it in cooking won't make you sick, at least not immediately.
What should peanut oil smell like? ›Peanut oil may be odorless or have a nutty odor; its flavor is nutty and mild. It is light yellow in color and is one of the most important vegetable oils.
What color should peanut oil be? ›Peanut oil is a liquid fat obtained from pressed peanuts seeds. It is composed of 80% unsaturated (oleic acid and linoleic acid) fatty acids and 20% in saturated (palmitic) fatty acids. It has a pale yellow color and a nut-like flavor that accentuates the flavor of savory foods.
How can you tell if cooking oil is bad? ›Rancid oil will have a pungent, sour taste and a musty smell. If you notice these signs of spoilage, it's time to throw your oil away. You should also discard your oil if there is mold around the seal. On the other hand, cloudiness or crystallization isn't a sign of spoilage.