How long does olive and vegetable oil last?

FoodKeeper gives olive and vegetable oil 6 to 12 months unopened, as a guide to quality. Once opened, that's 4 months in the refrigerator.

How to store it

Light and heat are what spoil oil. Keep it in a dark pantry, not on a shelf beside the stove, and close the cap after use.

USDA says temperatures below 85°F are best, and to avoid anywhere above or beside the stove, under the sink, or in a damp garage or basement. Once it's open, follow any storage instruction on the label.

What to look for

Smell it. Rancid oil smells stale, like old crayons or putty. It's a quality problem rather than a food poisoning one, but it'll spoil what you cook.

Don't use food from a cracked jar, or a jar with a loose or bulging lid. Don't taste it to check.

Worth knowing

Oil in the refrigerator may turn cloudy or thicken. That's the cold, and it clears at room temperature. FoodKeeper gives 4 months there, against 3 to 5 months in the pantry.

Similar foods

From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.

How it works

FoodKeeper is USDA's food storage database. Its figures are guides to quality for food stored at cool room temperature, not safety cut-offs, and we show them as USDA gives them. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase. Opened times start when you open the pack.

Where FoodKeeper gives no figure, we say so instead of guessing. The date printed on a package is the manufacturer's, and it's about quality except on infant formula.

Common questions

How long does olive and vegetable oil last unopened?

6 to 12 months, according to USDA FoodKeeper, as a guide to best quality. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase.

How long does olive and vegetable oil keep once opened?

3 to 5 months in the pantry. 4 months in the refrigerator.

Does olive and vegetable oil go bad after the date on the package?

USDA says dates are about quality, except on infant formula. A product should still be safe if handled properly until spoilage shows, so check for an off smell, taste or texture.

What should I look for before using olive and vegetable oil?