Can You Freeze Olive Oil?
Olive oil should be an indispensable ingredient on your kitchen shelves if you love the Middle East, Greek, and Italian cuisine. Olive oil is a hygienic substitute for other vegetable oils and is popular in parts of North America. People generally buy olive oil in bulk quantities. As olive oil has a shelf life of a maximum of 24 months (virgin olive oil lasts for 12 to 18 months), you will feel the need to store olive oil. Therefore, it is natural to ask, ‘Can you freeze olive oil.’
Since you have reached this page, I know you seek an appropriate answer.
Can You Freeze Olive Oil?
If you want a technical answer to this question, it is YES. But practically, why should you freeze olive oil? See what the manufacturers recommend. They recommend storing olive oil in a cool, dark environment, which certainly does not include your freezer compartment. It ensures that your olive oil does not solidify. Consequently, you do not waste time heating it when you cook. Olive oil can last on your cupboard shelves comfortably for 18 months.
You can say, ‘I might not use the virgin olive oil within 12 to 18 months’. So, I am looking for the answer to the question, ‘Can you freeze olive oil.’ You have a valid point. So, let us see how to freeze olive oil and extend its lifespan to 24 months.
Freezing Olive Oil – The Technicalities
Let us get the technical points out of the way. First, olive oil solidifies somewhere between 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit (7 to 13 degrees Celsius). Then, it starts freezing at around 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 degrees Celsius).
Generally, the refrigerator temperatures are around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, with the freezers set to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, if you place your olive oil bottle inside the fridge, it solidifies. However, if you put it in your freezer, it freezes completely.
Olive oil contains triglycerides and natural waxes. These components solidify first to give your olive oil an opaque appearance. Then, if the temperature decreases considerably, the olive oil solidifies entirely to form a butter-like substance.
How Do You Freeze Olive Oil?
The answer should be pretty simple. Keep the olive oil bottle inside the freezer to freeze it. But does it serve the purpose? It does not because you might require using small quantities of olive oil for cooking. No one expects you to recommend taking out the bottle, heating it to liquefy the oil, and refreezing after your requirements are met.
I recommend using silicone ice cube trays with covers. You can pour the olive oil into each compartment and leave a gap to prevent the oil from overflowing. In addition, the cover ensures that your olive oil portions do not absorb other food orders kept in your fridge.
So, if you require to use olive oil for cooking, you can remove one cube and melt it. The other cubes remain frozen. You can replenish the empty compartments with more olive oil to maintain a constant supply of frozen olive oil cubes.
Further, you can transfer the frozen olive oil cubes into a freezer bag and seal it completely after removing the air. Then, place the bag inside the freezer and use the silicone cube tray to freeze more olive oil.
Let us now discuss the frequently asked questions on freezing olive oil.
How Long Can Frozen Olive Oil Last?
Virgin olive oil (oil that has not solidified or frozen) comfortably lasts for 18 months. However, if you freeze olive oil, you extend its lifespan to 24 months.
Will Freezing Olive Oil Affect Its Texture?
Freezing will not affect the olive oil’s texture and flavor. However, repeated thawing and refreezing can. Therefore, it is not recommended to freeze entire olive oil bottles.
Can You Improvise By Adding Spices To The Olive Oil?
Yes, that should not be a problem. You can add ground spices to the olive oil before freezing it to improve its taste and flavor.
What Is The Benefit Of Freezing Herbs and Olive Oil Together?
Freezing olive oil and herbs together enhances the shelf life of herbs and prevents freezer burn. Besides, the herb flavors mix well with your delicacies and improve their taste.
Which Spices And Herbs Can You Freeze With Olive Oil?
Herbs like rosemary, oregano, thyme, and sage are the best to freeze with olive oil.
Can You Freeze Olive Oil In Plastic Containers?
It is not advisable to use plastic containers to freeze olive oil. Olive oil can react with the harmful chemicals present in plastic as they deteriorate with time.
Should You Measure The Amount of Olive Oil in Each Cube?
It is advantageous to measure the volume of oil in each cube beforehand because it allows you to know the portion sizes for future use.
How Do I Melt The Frozen Olive Oil?
You can leave the frozen oil cubes in a bowl and keep them at room temperature. The oil will melt. Alternatively, you can transfer the cubes to the frying pan and heat them to melt the oil.
Can Olive Oil Go Bad Inside The Freezer?
Generally, olive oil can last for up to 24 months without going rancid. However, if you store them well over 24 months, they can get spoiled because of oxidation.
How Do I Know If My Olive Oil Has Become Rancid?
Smelling the oil enables us to know whether it has become rancid. Fresh olive oil has a fruity flavor. Rancid oil gives out a characteristic smell that resembles wax crayons or glue.
Final Thoughts
Olive oil has a typical taste and is a favorite cooking medium in the Middle East, Greece, and Italy. In addition, many people use olive oil for its health benefits. However, preserving olive oil is a challenge. Hence, people generally ask, ‘Can you freeze olive oil.’ So, what would be your reply now? Yes, you can freeze olive oil and extend its lifespan considerably.
