How long does peanut oil last?
In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “how long does peanut oil last” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of peanut oil. Moreover, we are going to discuss ways to spot bad peanut oil, the proper way to store peanut oil, and whether or not you can reuse the peanut oil.
So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.
How long does peanut oil last?
Unopened peanut oil lasts for about 2-3 years when stored in a cool, dry, and dark corner of the pantry away from direct sunlight and heat while an opened peanut oil lasts for about 1-2 years when properly stored in the pantry.
But it is worth mentioning to enjoy the best quality of the peanut oil you should use the opened peanut oil 6-12 months after it is opened.
You can even refrigerate the peanut oil and it does prolong the shelf life of the oil, but the increase is not much significant, and truly speaking there is no need to store peanut oil in the fridge, as it already has quite a long shelf life even when stored properly in the pantry.
Last but not least when it comes to used peanut oil, that you had used previously for frying something lasts for about 2 weeks or you can use it 3-5 times but afterward you should discard it, as it would have lost most of its antioxidants.
It is worth mentioning that these figures are just the estimated shelf life of peanut oil and peanut oil can even last for more than this, provided that it was stored properly.
You can read about different properties, uses, and varieties of peanut oil here.
Other FAQs about Oils which you may be interested in.
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Is peanut oil safe to use after the best-before date?
The “best by” or “best before” date that is written on the bottle of peanut oil refers to the quality rather than safety so peanut oil doesn’t necessarily go bad immediately after the best before date. It is the time during which you can enjoy the peak quality and flavor of peanut oil but you can still use peanut oil that is past this date as long as it was stored properly and there is no leakage or mold in the bottle of peanut oil.
How to tell if peanut oil has gone bad?
Peanut oil like all other oils can go rancid and it can develop that unpleasant rancid aroma that is noticeable if you take a sniff test of the peanut oil. Moreover, if you feel some unpleasant taste or rancid taste while taking a bite of food fried in peanut oil then it means that your oil has gone rancid and it is better to discard it.
Moreover, the nutrient profile of the peanut oil that has gone rancid is also degraded and it has lost most of its antioxidants.
Can I reuse peanut oil after frying?
When it comes to reusing peanut oil after you have fried something like fish, chicken, or any other thing in it, you have to keep some things in mind. Firstly, you should strain the oil before reusing it to get rid of the leftover particles of the previous food that you fried in it.
Moreover, you should try to reuse peanut oil less than 5 times (3 times is fine), as the quality and taste of oil deteriorate with each time you fry something in it. Therefore you will notice that you won’t get the same flavor of the fried food after you have fried for the fourth time in the same peanut oil as you got when you fried something in it for the first time.
How to properly store peanut oil?
- You should store your peanut oil away from direct sunlight and heat. As sunlight and heat can increase the rate at which peanut oil can go rancid or stale.
- You can store the unopened peanut oil easily in a cool, dry, and dark corner away from direct sunlight and heat. Thus you can store peanut oil in your pantry or kitchen cabinet. You can store the peanut oil in the pantry even after it has been opened and it can last for a long time there.
- You should close the lid of the bottle containing peanut oil as soon as you have poured the oil that you need.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question “how long does peanut oil last” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of peanut oil. Moreover, we discussed ways to spot bad peanut oil, the proper way to store peanut oil, and whether or not you can reuse the peanut oil.
Citations
Does Peanut Oil Go Bad?
https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/17803
