How to store sunflower oil?

Any housewife uses in the preparation of various dishes of sunflower oil, because it is used not only when frying products, but also added to many vegetable salads. It is also used for industrial purposes in the manufacture of cosmetics. But few people thought about how to properly store this product so that it does not lose its useful qualities.

The composition of vegetable oil is large amount of nutrients:

• omega-3;
• omega-6;
• fatty acid;
• vitamins A, E.

Due to this composition, the product is very useful for the human body, but this is if the ingredient is of high quality and the shelf life has not expired. Now there are many cheap products that practically do not have the above useful qualities, but the preservation was also carried out incorrectly.

We will understand why you need to know the shelf life of vegetable oil. Some believe that oil can be stored for an unlimited time, but it is not. Like any other products, vegetable oil deteriorates over time. Further use of such an ingredient is prohibited, because there are no useful properties in it, but you can cause harm to the body. Do not forget that the conditions and rules of storage of products depend on the type of vegetable oil. Consider the two main types of vegetable oil.

This type of oil differs from other types of similar products in the way of oil extraction. It is mined using various chemical components that contribute to the release of oil. After this procedure, organic matter is removed from the product, as a result there remains the purest product without any impurities. This ingredient has a light yellowish shade, and when used does not emit any flavors, and also has no taste. It can be used when frying, because it does not emit carcinogenic substances under the influence of high temperatures.

If, when frying vegetables on such oil, light smoke appeared, it means that oxidative processes have already begun in it, this product should be excluded from the diet.

The shelf life of unopened containers of refined oil is about two years, but This condition is satisfied if:

• access to light is completely excluded;
• temperature range varies from +5 to +20 degrees;
• the ingredient is not in contact with liquid and metals.

Since the opening of the oil container, the shelf life is about 14 days. But if you put the container in the fridge, the savings will increase to 30 days. And also the option of storing oil in the freezer is possible, the storage period in such a place is 365 days.

This oil is a pure product that has a rich tint and a pleasant aroma. Make this ingredient in several ways, but the most common is cold pressed. In this case, the seeds under the pressure of the press emit oil, which is subsequently filtered. The finished product has a dark brown shade, it should be consumed within three months.

But also a similar ingredient can be obtained in another way. Sunflower seeds are pre-fried, and then subjected to pressing and filtering. Experts do not recommend keeping unrefined oil for more than 90 days from the date of production, and when using the hot-pressing method, it is able to retain its useful qualities for 10 months.

Basically, this oil is used as a dressing for vegetable salads. Many housewives use it when frying food, but it is strictly prohibited to do this, because during heat treatment the ingredient is capable of releasing large amounts of carcinogenic substances. In this case, no benefit to the body will be, only harm.

• Keep this product in a dark place.
• The optimum temperature for the preservation of products ranges from +5 to +20 degrees.
• Open oil containers can be stored for 30 days. If the content in the container has changed its color, and the taste and flavor have changed dramatically, then it is strictly prohibited to use such an ingredient in food.

Many housewives purchase products in plastic bottles with a capacity of 5 liters. The question arises - how to store such a quantity of products at home after opening the package.

The ideal temperature for saving vegetable oil is from +5 to +20 degrees. After opening the package, with each use, tightly twist the lid and remove to a cooler place, that is, away from the gas stove. Under the influence of high degrees in the oil, harmful oxides are formed, which can harm the body.

It is undesirable to keep the ingredient in the refrigerator for a long time, because it can overcool there, which will lead to the loss of nutritional values. In this case, the temperature in the refrigerator should vary from 0 to +11 degrees. If this temperature is not possible to maintain, then place the product on the door of the refrigerator, where it will be less exposed to low degrees.

The best medium for storing vegetable oil is a cool and dark place. For these purposes, you can use the basement or refrigerator. In the apartment you can store products in the closet with closed doors, on the balcony, the latter option is best used in the autumn or spring. It is strictly forbidden to keep oil near heating appliances (fireplace, stove, batteries, heater).

The material of which the container is made has a significant effect on the shelf life of products. To extend the shelf life of sunflower oil, experts recommend keeping products in glass containers. If the ingredient was sold in a plastic bottle, then it must be poured into a container made of glass with a small neck diameter. Do not forget that you need to store oil even in such dishes in a dark place and at the correct temperature, then you will increase the shelf life of products to three to four months. To oil less in contact with the sun, you need to use containers made of dark glass material.

If you purchased products in a store or on the market in bottling, then it is impossible to use metal containers for storing products. The more oxygen gets into the dishes, the faster the product will deteriorate. If it is not possible to pour the ingredient into glassware, then the container in which the product was sold can be wrapped in foiled material.

When buying vegetable oil, pay attention to the packaging, where the information should be indicated:

• gross and net mass;
• food and energy value of these products;
• expiration period;
• storage requirements;
• address and name of the manufacturer;
• composition of products.

To increase the shelf life of vegetable oil, experienced hostesses resort to folk methods.

• Several beans are placed in a recently opened container with the contents, after which the lid is twisted as tightly as possible. In this case, you can store the oil for 3-4 months.
• Add a certain amount of salt to the oil. For 1 liter of products will take 2 teaspoons of loose mixture, thus increasing the shelf life of 3-4 weeks.
• You can replace the salt with bay leaves (1-2 pieces per 1 liter), sprigs of thyme, rosemary. In this case, not only increase the shelf life of products, but also give the ingredient a pleasant aroma. When adding the above ingredients, the contents do not need to be mixed, rather tightly plug the container and put in a dark and cool place.

• Effective means considered freezing the product. It is recommended to expose refined oil to such actions; unrefined products lose a large amount of vitamins under the influence of low temperatures. The first thing to do is to pour the liquid into portion containers (small plastic bottles, bags with a tight lock construction), then place it in the freezer. Vegetable oil in such a place does not completely freeze, but only slightly thickens. Shelf life is 1 year. It is strictly forbidden to re-freeze the ingredient, otherwise the oil will not remain any beneficial substances for the body.

Learn how to choose sunflower oil from the following video.