Can you put coconut oil in the fridge?
In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “can you put coconut oil in the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of whether or not you can store coconut oil in the fridge. Moreover, we are going to discuss the shelf life of coconut oil and tips to properly store it.
So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.
Can you put coconut oil in the fridge?
You can store your coconut oil in the fridge as well as in a cool, dry, and dark corner of the pantry away from direct sunlight and heat. The only difference will be that the coconut oil stored in the fridge will be solidified and firm while the coconut oil stored in the pantry will be liquid.
It is worth mentioning that coconut oil should be stored at a constant temperature, whether in the fridge or at room temperature as fluctuations in the temperature can negatively affect the quality of the coconut oil.
Refined coconut oil lasts for about 3-6 months past the “best before” or best by” date written on the jar.
Unopened virgin coconut oil lasts for about 5 years or more if stored properly in a cool, dry, and dark corner of the pantry away from direct sunlight and heat.
It is worth mentioning that these figures are just the estimated shelf life of coconut oil and coconut oil can even last for more than this, provided that it was stored properly.
Is it unsafe to use coconut oil after the “best before” date?
You will find a “best by” or “ best before” date written on the bottle of your coconut oil instead of the expiration date. The “best by” or “best before” date that is written on the bottle of coconut oil refers to the quality rather than safety so the coconut oil doesn’t necessarily go bad immediately after the best before date.
This date refers to the time during which you can enjoy the peak quality and flavor of coconut oil but you can still use coconut oil that is past this date as long as it was stored properly and does not have any signs of spoilage.
Signs of bad coconut oil
You should consider the smell, color, consistency, and taste of the coconut oil to reach a final verdict on whether or not it has gone bad.
Appearance
If you notice some brown or green-colored particles at the bottom of your coconut oil jar then it is better to discard such coconut oil.
Color
If you notice that the otherwise translucent coconut oil has changed to more of a pale one then it is an indication that your coconut oil has gone rancid.
Smell
Coconut oil can go rancid and it can develop that unpleasant rancid aroma that is noticeable if you take a sniff test of the coconut oil.
Consistency
If you notice that the consistency of your coconut oil has changed and it has developed a non-uniform (curdled consistency) having lumps in it then it is better to discard such coconut oil.
Taste
If coconut oil has passed all the other tests then you can go ahead and taste it. If you feel some unpleasant taste or rancid taste while taking a bite of food cooked in coconut oil then it means that your oil has gone rancid and it is better to discard it.
Thus, you should consider the signs discussed above to reach a final verdict of whether or not your coconut oil is still safe to use.
Other FAQs about Oils that you may be interested in.
Are canola and vegetable oil interchangeable?
Tips to properly store coconut oil
- You should store your coconut oil away from direct sunlight and heat. As sunlight and heat can increase the rate at which coconut oil can go rancid or stale.
- You can store the unopened coconut oil easily in a cool, dry, and dark corner away from direct sunlight and heat. Thus you can store coconut oil in your pantry or kitchen cabinet.
- You can store the coconut oil in the pantry even after it has been opened and it can last for a long time there but if you want you can also store it in the refrigerator.
- You should close the lid of the container containing coconut oil as soon as you have poured the oil that you need so that it will minimize air or obnoxious agent exposure of your coconut oil.
- Never use a wet spoon to scoop out coconut oil from its jar. You should use a clean and dry spoon to scoop out coconut oil from its container.
You can read more about ways to properly store coconut oil here.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question “can you put coconut oil in the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of whether or not you can store coconut oil in the fridge. Moreover, we discussed the shelf life of coconut oil and tips to properly store it.
Citations
https://www.streetsmartkitchen.com/does-coconut-oil-expire/
Does Coconut Oil Go Bad?
https://www.mrappliance.com/blog/2019/february/does-coconut-oil-need-to-be-refrigerated-/
