According to experts, that pretty glass container could be making your olive oil spoil faster.
Abigail is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Oil Sprayer
Extra-virgin olive oil is an essential in our kitchens. We use it for everything from sautéing to frying eggs, and we save the best quality extra-virgin olive oil for making salad dressing or drizzling over finished dishes before serving. If you've got your eye on an olive oil cruet—or maybe you already own one that you use to store and serve olive oil from—there are a few things you should know.
The three things that degrade olive oil and make it lose its freshness and antioxidants are light, heat, and air. "Those three things are the absolute kryptonite of olive oil," says Salvatore Russo-Tiesi, president and CEO of Bono, a Silician olive oil brand. Unlike wine, olive oil does not get better with age. "As soon as the product hits light, heat, and air, it degrades quickly and significantly. Therefore, the key to protecting and extending the life of your olive oil is to store it away from heat and light (perhaps in your cabinet or cupboard)."
The short answer is no. Since transferring olive oil from its original container to a cruet involves exposing it to some light and air, in most cases it's best to leave the oil in the bottle it comes in. This is especially true if the oil is sold in an opaque container, says Russo-Tiesi. If you happen to purchase a bottle of olive oil that comes in a light or transparent bottle, he recommends wrapping the bottle in aluminum foil. Olivia Roszkowski, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education, adds that the olive oil you buy at the supermarket is most likely packaged by the manufacturer in a container that helps to maintain freshness, so it is not necessary to transfer it to a new vessel.
If you've got your heart set on a cruet, don’t feel bad as there are some advantages to using one.
Salt And Pepper Shaker Set When shopping for an olive oil cruet, look for one that will protect your olive oil from those three things that degrade it and make it go rancid: light, heat, and air.