How to store frying oil
Best place: the fridge. USDA gives frying oil a fridge time (1 month, from purchase) and no pantry time, so it belongs in the fridge as soon as you get home. The freezer gives 6 to 9 months.
No guideline
1 month
from purchase
6 to 9 months
best quality within
How to tell frying oil has gone bad
General signs for condiments, sauces & canned goods, the group USDA lists frying oil under.
- Dented, bulging or rusted cans, especially at the seams
- Hissing sound or spray when a can or jar is opened
- Mould on the surface of a sauce or condiment
- Separation, discoloration or a sharp off smell from the jar
- Metallic taste or cloudy liquid in canned food
More on condiments, sauces & canned goods. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
Storage habits that make the difference
Refrigerate opened condiments and sauces with their lids on tightly, and use a clean spoon each time to avoid contamination. Store unopened cans in a cool, dry cupboard, and once opened, transfer leftover canned food to a covered container in the fridge rather than storing it in the can.
How to store other condiments, sauces & canned goods
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.