Does Canola Oil go Bad?

Canola oil is one of the most essential ingredients you would need in your pantry. Starting from frying, sautéing to taste-enhancing, it provides you with a variety of usage options as per your choice. It is often compared with vegetable oils and olive oil to find out which one is healthier. Although, being vegan, you must first wonder on the fact that whether Canola oil is vegan or not with this article and then move ahead.

Now, if you are a health-conscious person, a jar of canola oil usually gets stored for long in your pantry. You occasionally need it and then find out looking at the label that the oil has expired. So, will you prefer to use it or waste it? More importantly, does canola oil go bad?

Here we have resolved your query whether it is safe to use expired canola oil. Starting from the shelf life of canola oil to a proper storage process, here is everything you need to know. These suggestions will surely help you to use and store canola oil for long.

Can Canola Oil go Bad?

Yes, just like any other oils, canola oil can go bad. It has a limited shelf life, which is mentioned in the label. Yet, it doesn’t really rot like the other food products and you cannot understand it too easily. There are other signs that will indicate to you if it is going bad.

The best way to check is through the smell and taste of most oils including canola oil which changes when it is close to going bad. It occurs as the oil goes rancid, which makes the smell and taste unpleasant. Secondly, the canola oil expiration makes the color go dark.

When the molecules of canola oil are exposed to heat, air, light, or other external detriments, oxidation takes place. Oxidation makes the oil go rancid. Though there are various methods of consuming oxidized fats, health experts will suggest you not to consume it for the following reasons.

When someone consumes a dish that has rancid oil in it, her/his health is at risk. Cell damage, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes are highly risky consequences while there are also chances of digestive distress and the depletion of the main vitamins, like E and B.

How Long Does Canola Oil Last?

The average lifespan of canola oil (when stored in room temperature) is up to a year in your kitchen or your pantry. Most of the manufacturing brands agree with it and label the oil with a similar lifespan. Yet, it mostly depends upon the storage. When you store it in a proper way, it is supposed to last longer.

Putting the oil in a freezer doesn’t enhance the lifespan. On the contrary, it initiates emulsification, which makes the oil unusable. At a dark place in the kitchen counter, your canola oil should be fine unless it is exposed to extreme heat or light.

How to Store Canola Oil?

It is essential to store canola oil properly to keep its quality intact. We have already discussed that it is essential to store canola oil in a cool, dark place. Using an airtight container is also important. The interaction of the fat (in oil) with air will cause oxidation that might make it rancid and to prevent the same, you need to keep the oil away from heat and light.

Secondly, storing canola oil near your gas, stove, or induction is not encouraged. The heat generated from the ovens can make the oil go rancid faster. Then, if you choose a glass container, go for the one with dark color as it will reflect light and heat. If you store the canola oil following the said instructions, it should last for a year or two.

Thirdly, it is also essential to check the oil from time to time. There are numerous reasons for which the oil can go rancid faster than expected. Here, you must consider that the jar or bottle of oil was stored for a certain period before you purchased it.

Canola Oil Shelf Life

Everyone has this question lined up as to – How long is Canola Oil Good for? – Nearly one year is the shelf life of an opened bottle of canola oil when stored under said circumstances. An unopened bottle of canola oil is supposed to last longer than the opened one. Depending upon the storage and the quality of your canola oil, its shelf life may vary.

The temperature in the storage room, the light, and the level of moisture are the external derivatives of the canola oil shelf life. Quality, bottle design, and lid are the internal factors that determine the canola oil shelf life. You need to keep the bottle tightly sealed to protect its shelf life.

How Do You Know If Canola Oil Is Close to Going Bad?

There are indicators like the smell, color, and textures to tell you if canola oil is close to going bad. You need to check whether there is an unpleasant smell or whether the color has gone darker or the oil has become thicker. When you notice such changes, you need to consider replacing it.

So, Does Canola Oil Expire? – Yes, canola oil does expire and it goes rancid once it has crossed the expiration which can be easily understood by the look of the oil.

What Happens if Canola Oil Freezes? – When canola oil is freezed, it gets emulsified due to the temperature in the refrigerator and becomes unusable.

Does Canola Oil go Bad on the Shelf? – Yes, it might go bad in the shelf due to two reasons which are if it is exposed to light, heat, or moisture or it might have been stored for a longer time by the store from which you bought it.

Conclusion

Canola oil is unique for its fatty acidic profile. It has low levels of saturated fatty acids, high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, and considerable levels of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids. Many people prefer this oil right after olive oil (Read Olive Oil’s vegan status with us) as it has multiple health benefits.

However, there is a growing concern since this oil contains unsaturated fats. The health experts suggest these fats are healthy and safe. Just like any other ingredient in your pantry, canola oil goes bad. If you want to preserve canola oil in a proper way to extend its shelf life, you need to follow the above methods. Also, click here to learn how to store Almond milk and for the tortillas storage methods, read this blog post.