Preserving Quality aka Expiration

Olive Oil

How long does olive oil last anyhow? Google this questions and you'll find different answer to this question. It isn't cut-and-dried as for vinegar, which does get better with age. It is agreed that olive oil should be store in a cool dry place (not above your stove) keeping it away from the heat.  Infused oils, such as lemon olive oil are recommended for refrigeration unless you fall in love and use it on everything.  Can you tell I've done this?

 Ideally, dark bottles are safe from UV or light sensitive flavor values in olive oil. To safeguard the nutrient value and longevity of olive oils, keep them in a cool (40-72 degrees), dark space until opening.  Then store them in your refrigerator.  Storage under these conditions provide shelf like of 14-20 months. The oil will partially gel in the refrigerator, so it takes some planning to use if you go this route.

Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamics’ enemies are light and heat, so cool, dark storage spaces are best. If you’re using balsamic vinegars primarily for salads and like them chilled, they can be refrigerated. If you’re using them for dipping, sauces, marinades, and reductions, store them in a cupboard. The shelf life of balsamic vinegar should be between 3-5 years. But who keeps it that long anyway?