---
title: "Does Olive oil expire? Degrades in quality"
description: "Yes, and faster than most people expect. Extra virgin is at its best within about 18 months of harvest, not of purchase. What actually changes over time, whether it "
url: https://atoneplace.net/does-it-expire/olive-oil/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Does Olive oil expire?

**Does Olive oil expire?: Yes, and faster than most people expect. Extra virgin is at its best within about 18 months of harvest, not of purchase.**

18-24 months from harvest; 3-6 months once opened

Extra virgin olive oil is unrefined, and the polyphenols that make it taste peppery and give it its health claims are exactly the compounds that oxidise away. Light is particularly destructive, which is why good oil comes in dark glass or tins and why a clear bottle on a windowsill is the worst possible arrangement. Look for a harvest date rather than a best-before, since the useful clock starts at pressing. Rancid olive oil smells waxy or of crayons, tastes flat and greasy, and has lost the throat-catching bitterness that fresh oil has.

## How to store it

- Dark glass or tin, in a cupboard, tightly closed.
- Buy a size you will finish in a few months rather than a catering tin.
- Do not refrigerate — it clouds and solidifies, which is harmless but pointless.

## How to tell it has gone

- No pepperiness at the back of the throat, and a waxy or crayon-like smell, means it has gone.

> "Use by" and "best before" are legally different. Use-by is a safety date and should be respected; best-before is about quality, and food is usually fine well past it. Where the two diverge matters, the page above says which applies.

## Common questions

### Does Olive oil expire?

Yes, and faster than most people expect. Extra virgin is at its best within about 18 months of harvest, not of purchase.

### How long does Olive oil last?

18-24 months from harvest; 3-6 months once opened

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## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)