You have several kinds of olive oil. Everything from extra virgin olive oil, to refined olive oil and regular olive oil. However, you also have another type of olive oil. This is known as infused olive oil. We have several other posts discussing some of the basics on the other forms of olive oil, but I wanted to touch on something slightly different today. A question I see frequently relates directly to infused olive oil and its shelf life. How long does infused oil last? Well, after some research on the topic, here’s the information you need to know.
So, how long does infused olive oil last? Infused olive oil differs significantly from other olive oils. It becomes rancid more quickly and infused olive oil needs to be kept refrigerated to extend the quality and life of the oil. Infused olive oil will remain at peak quality for up to 4 days.
Outside of shelf life and storage needs for infused olive oil, you may have several other questions going through your mind right now, so I wanted to make sure I hit on everything.
In this post today we will cover the following topics.
- More Information on Infused Olive Oil Shelf Life and Storage Needs
- What Is Infused Olive Oil Anyways?
- What Happens and When Will Infused Olive Oil Go Bad?
This should give you a more precise understanding of infused olive oil and take you from rookie to expert when it comes to creating infused olive oils and adding flavor to your favorite marinades and dressings.
Let’s jump into it.
More on Infused Olive Oil Shelf Life and Storage Needs
Like we stated before, there is a big difference in the storage and shelf life with infused olive oil as opposed to regular olive oil. If you haven’t seen our post discussing how to store regular olive oil properly, you can view that post here.
Infused olive oil in most circumstances is going to contain fresh herbs and include fresh fruit and vegetables. This is to help bring out more natural flavors for your olive oil and really kick that salad dressing and marinades up to the next level.
However, with fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables, you the run risk over time at having contamination take place as the infused olive oil ages. This can commonly be referred to as Clostridium botulinum or “C Bot.”
Storage Differences Between Regular Olive Oil and Infused Olive Oil
If you happened to stop by our post I recommended above or you’re already a halfway olive oil pro, you know that regular olive oil is typically not stored in a refrigerator or shouldn’t be if you want to maximize the shelf life and overall use of the olive oil.
Doing so causes regular oil to harden and potentially weaken the shelf life over time. Regular olive oil can simply be stored in a cool setting and kept out of direct heat and sunlight. We discussed the importance of completely dark containers such as this stainless steel olive oil container near the end of our olive preservation article.
With infused olive oil, it’s the complete opposite. For the infused olive oil not to be overrun with the “c bot” we referred to previously, it must be stored in the refrigerator. Not doing so will likely eventually cause you some issues.
Even doing so, it’s highly recommended to use the infused olive oil within a few days to avoid it going rancid or having any further complications or bacteria that can potentially grow.
Do You Have Any Alternatives When Creating Infused Olive Oil?
Absolutely! And I’m glad you asked because you do have a few other options to extend the life of infused olive oils. First and foremost, consider using dried ingredients as opposed to fresh ingredients.
The reason for this simple. Dried ingredients do not contain water, are overall safer, and doing so will improve the quality and shelf life for the infused olive oil.
Additionally, you can consider boiling all the containers you use to store your infused olive oil before and after the use. This will kill all bacteria and eliminate the chances of “c bot” being present. Basic glass bottles with pouring spouts like this basic one make it easy to do, and allow you to see the beautiful colors & herbs of the infused oil inside.
Will Infused Olive Oil Get Clumpy in The Fridge Like Regular Olive Oil?
Yes, it certainly will. We are still working with a form of olive oil here. Not much has changed except added fresh ingredients for extra flavor. When you place infused olive oil into the fridge, and it sits for a day or two, it’s going to begin to harden or “solidify.”
Use the same steps you would go with regular olive oil before use. Bring the infused olive oil back to room temperature and allow it to return to its liquid state before dumping it all over that salad you just prepared for lunch. Or, eat it clumpy.
I suppose the choice is ultimately yours.
What Are Some Common Blends of Infused Olive Oil?
First, I want to point out that this is not a recipe encyclopedia, nor a cookbook type blog, but I do know a thing or two about olive oil. I won’t go into the specifics for each of these options, but some very popular blends of infused olive oil do exist. Here’s a few common recipes that are often used.
• Herbed Olive Oil
• Garlic Flavored Olive Oil
• Garlic and Lemon Infused Olive Oil
• Hot Pepper Oil
• Rosemary Infused Olive Oil
Again, it’s not that I don’t want to deliver you full recipes, but that’s not really my strength and I’m sure just simply copy and pasting those options into google’s search bar will return you hundreds of results in less than 1 second and get you off to races creating your own infused oil blends.
You could also order them pre-made if you are short on time as well. There are some delicious looking options out there like this Mantova Italian four oil set. Baker & Olive also provides a few quality options at really good prices.
What’s the Biggest Take Away or Key Reminder When Creating Infused Olive Oil?
First, I would say the biggest takeaway is that it’s a great way to spice up and make food that much more tasteful and enjoyable.
Second, when it comes to the actual use and creation of infused olive oil, it all comes down to water. That’s right. Good old H2O. Water and moisture are the leading cause that will make infused oil go bad or rancid and present the chance for bacteria and botulism to grow.
Always use the methods and dry ingredients we discussed previously and always refrigerate the infused olive oil and use within 1 week. Preferably a few days if possible.
If you do this, you shouldn’t run into this issue, and your infused olive oil should always taste great, present no harm and not go rancid on your quickly. Plain and simple.
The Final Word. Infused Olive Oil Can Really Add Some Kick, but Exercise Caution and Common Sense
I think it’s clear that infused olive oil is a fan favorite. It’s used all over the world by many and really adds some additional life and flavor too many of our favorite dishes, salad dressings, and marinades.
Who wouldn’t want this extra flavor?
On the other hand, it’s always important to exercise good judgment and use best practices when infusing olive oil. Keep it cold, keep water and moisture related ingredients out of the mix, and you should be on your way to creating the best blend possible.
What’s your take on creating the best and longest lasting infused olive oil? Do you have any other best practices to add to our list? Be sure to drop a comment below.
Related Questions
Is Garlic Infused Olive Oil Safe?
Garlic Infused Oil is safe when prepared correctly. Garlic Infused Olive Oil needs to be heated first to kill any potential botulinum spores that are potentially present in the garlic. Do not just drop a few raw garlic cloves into the oil and expect your job to be done and the olive oil to be safe. If you don’t want to risk it, you can always purchase already bottled options.
How Long Will Basil Infused Olive Oil Keep?
Basil infused olive will last 4 days on average if you keep it refrigerated after the preparation. Basil is 100% safe to store, and following best practices, you can use basil as you please for your infused olive oil needs.
How Do You Store Garlic Cloves in Olive Oil?
To store garlic cloves in olive oil correctly, you need to peel each individual garlic clove first. Following this step, you will place them in the olive oil submerging them into a jar and or plastic container. Lastly, tightly seal the jar and ensure the lid is secure. Now, freeze your garlic cloves and oil.
Does Infused Oil Go Rancid Faster Than Regular Olive Oil?
Yes, infused olive oil due to the fresh ingredients that are added the need to be used faster. Infused olive oil is recommended to be used within a few days after preparation as to where regular olive oil if stored correctly, can last up 20-24 months just sitting on your shelf in your home.
Will Sealed Infused Olive Oil Still Go Bad?
Yes, sealing your olive oil before placing in the refrigerator is a best practice, common sense and a method to add additional shelf life. Infused olive oil remains a perishable item regardless of sealing the container. Infused oil will still go bad irrespective of the container or sealing methods you use.
(Last Updated: July 24, 2020)
