Does Peanut Oil Go Bad? How Long Does It Last?

by Editorial Staff | Updated on August 3rd, 2022

Is it possible for peanut oil to go bad? How long can peanut oil be stored, and how can you tell if it has gone bad? Here are the answers you’re looking for.

Using peanut oil, you may add a nutty taste to your cooking, baking, and frying dishes.

Oil from Peanuts

Peanut oil is a vegetable oil derived from peanut seeds. It is also known as groundnut oil or Arachis oil. Groundnuts get their name from the fact that peanut seeds grow underground.

Peanut oil is most commonly seen in American, Chinese, Southeast Asian, and South Asian cuisines. This oil has a high smoke point of 437 degrees Fahrenheit and is widely used for frying.

Furthermore, peanut oil comes in various tastes, from strong and nutty to light and sweet. This is determined by the method of processing, and hence there are wide varieties of peanut oil:

Refined Peanut Oil

This variety has been cleaned and deodorized, and it is free of allergic components. As a result, this version is suitable for allergy sufferers. Restaurants frequently utilize refined peanut oil for fried meals such as french fries and chicken.

Cold-pressed Peanut Oil

Cold-pressing refers to the crushing of peanuts to extract the oil. This variety is prepared at low temperatures, preserving many nutrients and tastes. If you are allergic to peanuts, you should avoid this variety.

Gourmet Peanut Oil

This variety is frequently roasted and unpolished. It also has a more strong and complex nutty taste than refined oil.

Peanut Oil Blends

This kind is frequently combined with comparable but less expensive oils, such as soybean oil, and it is typically offered in quantity for frying dishes.

Nutritional Facts

Let’s have a look at the nutritional composition of one tablespoon of peanut oil:

The main form of monounsaturated fat present in peanut oil is oleic acid, often known as omega-9. It also includes linoleic acid, a form of omega-6 fatty acid, and possibly palmitic acid, a type of saturated fat.

The Advantages of Peanut Oil

Unlike many other cooking oils, peanut oil does not absorb flavor from the meals cooked, allowing it to be saved and reused without tainting the flavor of following items cooked in the same batch of oil.

Furthermore, peanut oil has several health advantages. Peanut oil is high in unsaturated fats and low in saturated fats. This cooking oil includes vitamin E and phytosterols, both of which are beneficial to the heart yet free of trans fats and cholesterol.

Does Peanut Oil Go Bad?

The quick answer is that, with a shelf life compared to other oils, peanut oil may last for a long time.

How Long Can Peanut Oil Be Stored?

Like other vegetable oils, Peanut oil is labeled with a “best by” or “use by” date. This date specifies how long the oil should be kept at its optimal quality.

Of course, it doesn’t go rotten or rancid beyond that date. You can easily preserve it for months, or perhaps several years, after that date. The actual shelf life of your peanut oil is determined by its quality and whether or not it has been refined. Better oils last longer, and refined oils keep better.

Cold-pressed peanut oil is superior to hot-pressed peanut oil in terms of health benefits. Cold-pressed peanut oil is created simply by extracting the oil from peanut kernels at room temperature. Because cold-pressed oil has low acidity values, producers do not need to refine it. Cold-pressed peanut oil is healthier than hot-pressed peanut oil since the kernels are not chemically treated.

Cold-pressed peanut oil has a shorter shelf life than hot-pressed peanut oil. Before extracting the oil, the kernels are roasted. Manufacturers add chemicals to the kernels during the roasting process.

Manufacturers purify peanut oil before it may be consumed. Refining the oil is required since the chemicals cause the oil to be acidic. Although hot-pressed oil has a longer shelf life because it is processed, it lacks the nutritious value of cold-pressed peanut oil. On the other hand, customers prefer hot-pressed peanut oil due to its richer scent.

How Long Does Peanut Oil Last in the Open Air?

If you want to use peanut oil regularly, you can store it outside.

If stored outside in an unopened container, peanut oil will survive for 1-2 years after expiration.

Store the peanut oil in a store-bought bottle until ready to use.

When you open the peanut oil bottle, it will stay outdoors for 6-12 months. To extend the bottle’s shelf life, close it securely between usage.

Finally, if you use peanut oil, it will keep for approximately 2 weeks. Pour the used oil, not the new oil, back into the bottle.

How Long Can Peanut Oil Be Stored in the Fridge?

If you don’t use peanut oil often, keep it in the fridge. Peanut oil’s shelf life can be extended by storing it in the refrigerator.

Unopened peanut oil will keep in the fridge for 3-4 years. If you have a considerable quantity of peanut oil that you do not intend to use for a long, storing it in the fridge can help to extend its shelf life. The oil may thicken and become hazy in the refrigerator, but this does not affect the quality.

The fridge will increase the shelf life of opened peanut oil by a few months. An unopened container of peanut oil will last 6-12 months, and keeping it in the fridge may extend that time by a few months. However, it would help if you inspected it before using it to confirm that it is still in good condition.

Used peanut oil can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three months. Remove the used oil from the fryer or pan and place it in an airtight container.

How Long Can Peanut Oil Be Stored in the Freezer?

The freezer, like the fridge, will store peanut oil, but not permanently.

In the freezer, peanut oil can keep for about a year. A year in the freezer is a typical storage duration for unused or used peanut oil. Peanut oil’s flavor and scent may be altered by freezing.

The freezing point of peanut oil is 37 degrees Fahrenheit. The majority of us maintain our refrigerators at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Your peanut oil may freeze in the fridge depending on the temperature of your fridge.

When putting the oil in the freezer, note the date so you can use it before it goes rancid. Buying peanut oil only once a year will help you save money.

Peanut oil has an extremely long shelf life. Knowing how long peanut oil will last outside the refrigerator and the freezer can help you avoid purchasing it more frequently than required.

Is it possible to reuse peanut oil after it has been fried?

On the Internet, there are a thousand inquiries about recycling peanut oil. People are wondering if they may reuse it after cooking turkey, chicken, or fish.

In general, reusing peanut oil is OK. Regarding recycling peanut oil, there are a few things to bear in mind.

First, after frying, remove any food particles from the oil. Second, frying degrades oil quality, so the oil won’t be as excellent as it was, to begin with, after a few uses. Third, the oil absorbs some of the tastes of the food that is fried in it. This implies that frying chicken after frying fish may not yield the finest results.

Consider what you used the oil for and how that flavor could affect what you’re cooking now.

How to Tell if your peanut oil is bad

Peanut oil, unlike other foods, does not deteriorate as quickly. The following signs can be used to assess the state of the oil:

• Unusual Odor: Peanut oil is prone to rancidity, which occurs when the lipids in the oil react with the oxygen in the air. You should inspect the odor to ensure that it is not rotten. If you detect a bad odor, it’s advisable to discard the oil.
• Discoloration: If you notice a minor change in the color of the oil after usage, you can continue to use it. However, if the color becomes substantially darker, discard your oil.

You should be cautious about storing the oil after usage. The more you use your peanut oil, the worse the quality.

A word of caution: you should discard the oil after a few uses.

How to Store Peanut Oil for a Longer Shelf Life

So, here’s the major question: how do you preserve peanut oil?

Peanut oil, on the other hand, may be stored similarly to vegetable oil. It is advisable to store the oil container well closed and in the pantry.

It will get better. You may store it in the refrigerator, which will last all year.

After the oil has cooled, pour it into a glass or plastic bottle. If you plan on using it again, keep it in your pantry and utilize it within a few days.

Otherwise, let the oil cool and harden before discarding it.

Do not, under any circumstances, dump your peanut oil down the drain. It will induce clogs!

Is it possible to freeze peanut oil? How?

Yes, peanut oil may be frozen. Freezing peanut oil is only good if you buy a lot of it.

Although peanut oil may be frozen, it is not the greatest storage choice. People enjoy the taste of peanut oil. The taste of peanut oil may change if it is frozen.

Before freezing, divide the peanut oil into smaller parts. The thawing process will be sped up by freezing smaller quantities in an airtight container.

To avoid freezer burn, use an airtight container. In the freezer, light-resistant plastic performs well. Don’t fill the container to the top since the peanut oil will require space if it grows.

When freezing peanut oil, as with refrigerating it, it is essential to make a note of the date. This is significant since it is more difficult to identify if the peanut oil is rancid after being frozen.

How to Defrost Peanut Oil

When ready to use the peanut oil, take it out of the freezer. If you do not use the peanut oil immediately, you may let it thaw at room temperature. The hazy peanut oil will clear and revert to its original liquid condition.

If you need to use the peanut oil immediately, you may heat it in the microwave or a skillet on the stove.

Is it possible to reuse the peanut oil?

You can use the peanut oil numerous times within the six-month storage term. However, it is recommended that you sanitize the oil before each different use. Before adding any food, let the oil reach 350 degrees F.

When using peanut oil for cooking in fryolators, it is advisable to use it just three or four times since peanut oil can absorb the taste of other foods and lose quality.

Substitutes for Peanut Oil

Choose a cooking oil with a higher smoke point as a peanut oil alternative for deep frying. The smoke point of an oil is the temperature at which it begins to smoke and decompose.

Peanut oil has a lower smoke point than corn oil, canola oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, and safflower oil. If you’re using oil for skillet frying or low-heat cooking, you may use any vegetable oil instead of peanut oil in most savory meals.

Olive oil, on the other hand, is an extremely beneficial replacement since it, too, includes monounsaturated fatty acids, which reduce your risk of heart disease.

Conclusion

You should be able to use your peanut oil much before the best-by date if you keep it properly and don’t open it until you need it.

To extend the life of your oil, use refined oil. Remember that even if you only use the oil a few times, the quality will deteriorate with time, regardless of the type of oil you use.

Remain but not least, remember to store unsealed peanut oil in the refrigerator, where it should last for up to 9 months!

Editorial Staff

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