Does Sesame Oil Go Bad?

Are you looking for a healthy substitute for your regular vegetable oil? Well, sesame oil is the answer to your problem. It is perfect for health-conscious people as it contains antioxidants, vitamins A and E, and phytosterols. They give healthy fatty acids to your body.

You can use it however you like. You can use it to grill and sizzle, bake, use it for deep-frying your food. It can also be used for your salad dressing. The sesame oil offers you a pretty long shelf life, but it can still go bad. You can preserve it if you take some simple tips into account.

How to store your sesame oil?

Everything has a limited shelf life, and after that, it goes bad. Sesame oil will also go bad like any other oil. The sesame oil offers you a good shelf life and can still be used for up to a year past its expiry date. It does not go bad too quickly.

Despite its long-lasting shelf life, it still may go bad too soon if it is not stored properly. You need to follow appropriate measures that will help you extend its shelf life. The following points need to be kept in mind during its storage.

Keep your sesame oil away from sunlight

Sunlight is the worst enemy for any food product if kept under it for a long time. The sesame oil also does not stay good for long under sunlight. The sunlight provides external heat to the oil, which can change the consistency of the oil.

The oil’s oxidation state can also be altered depending on the intensity of sunlight falling onto the sesame oil.

Place the lid on your oil after using it

You should never leave your sesame oil opened in the air. After you have drizzled your sesame oil in your food, you need to put back its lid. The air has oxidative contaminants that could spoil your sesame oil.

The sesame oil will also absorb odor from the nearby food items, leaving behind a rotten smell. It will also withdraw the oil’s nuttiness, and you will not be able to use it in your food.

Place it in the fridge

If you want to store your sesame oil for a prolonged time, you will have to place it in the refrigerator. The refrigerator preserves the life of the oil. You can use refrigerated sesame oil for up to two years. The nuttiness, texture, and color of the sesame oil are retained in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze your sesame oil?

Technically, it is not advisable to freeze your sesame oil. The sesame oil requires a low temperature to freeze. It also takes plenty of time to solidify. Once it is hardened, it will give you a tough time when you require a small portion of it.

If you still want to put it in the freezer, you can use ice cube trays to freeze it. Once they are solidified, you can transfer the sesame oil cubes to an airtight container or a zip lock bag. You will have to melt down the oil cubes as per requirement when you want to use your sesame oil.

How long does the sesame oil last?

Sesame oil does not go bad early. It does not contain moisture content, so there are nearly no chances of mold growth in the oil. The unopened sesame oil can be used for a year past its expiry date unless you feel a difference in its taste and smell.

The shelf life of sesame oil is up to a year once it is opened. The life span extends up to two years when you have refrigerated the oil and is properly covered. The frozen products usually last the longest. In this case, too, the sesame oil can be used for a long time of about three to four years. You will only have to ensure that the sesame oil is not thawed repeatedly.

How to tell if the sesame oil is bad?

There are fewer chances of sesame oil going bad since it comes in very small bottles. You will rarely get a whole can of sesame oil or when you have to deep-fry your food. In either way, it will last before going bad as it has a long shelf life.

to tell if your food is good or not. The following signs are displayed by sesame oil when it goes bad.

• A bad and rancid smell takes over the nutty aroma of the sesame oil. It urges you to dispose of your oil.
• The color of the oil is darkened. The golden color of the oil turns brown.
• If you do not notice any smell or color change in the oil, you can taste it. Throw the sesame oil away if you taste any unpleasant or bitter flavor in it.

Sources

• Can it go bad
• Does it go bad
• Fitibility