Does olive oil expire?

Olive oil does not expire in the sense that it is not harmful to consume even years after it has been packaged. However, it is convenient to include a best before date because unlike wine, it loses qualities as time goes by.

There are several factors that influence the deterioration of olive oil. The main ones are: light, high temperature and oxidation. Olive oil should be kept at a temperature between 18 and 24ºC, in containers that protect it from light and away from humidity. Another factor that impinges on the deterioration of olive oil is the variety. There are ones that lose their quality before and others that last longer, such as the picual variety, that thanks to its high content of natural antioxidants, especially polyphenols and vitamin E, it better conserves its properties.