How to store different types of sunflower oil at home
According to the composition of the raw materials, vegetable oil can be sunflower, olive, linseed, sesame, coconut, rapeseed, mustard, palm, cedar, almond, etc.
Sunflower oil is one of the most common oils used in the kitchen for preparing various dishes. It contains linoleic acid, vitamins and a complex of fats.
According to the method of purification and processing, sunflower oil is divided into the following types::
- Raw - virgin oil . Sunflower seeds are heated to a temperature of +50°C, pressed, filtered, and poured into containers. It contains useful substances. It has a pleasant smell and taste.
- Unrefined - after filtration, it undergoes rough mechanical purification, after which some of the nutrients are lost. It has a pungent odor and is suitable for use in its pure form - for example, for dressing salads.
- Hydrated - after filtration and mechanical cleaning, it goes through the stage of purification with hot water. After it, the product becomes transparent, without sediment, with a neutral taste and smell.
- Deodorized - light oil, odorless. Cleaned with vacuum devices.
- Refined - purified after mechanical processing, it has a neutral color and odor. Does not contain vitamins. It is used for preparing hot dishes.
Sunflower oil is stored at a temperature of +5...+24°C . The optimal temperature range is from +8 to +17°C. To store the product, choose a cool, dark place, protected from direct sunlight. When exposed to light, vitamins and minerals are destroyed.
Advice. If you keep sunflower oil on the table, pour it into a dark bottle to preserve the beneficial properties of the product.
The shelf life of a sealed bottle is 1.5-2 years . When the original plastic packaging is opened, the product should be used within 1 month. After a month, it is suitable for consumption, but useful substances disappear from it and toxic substances are formed. The taste may become bitter.
Unrefined cold-pressed oil can be stored for 4 months . Hot pressed product - 10 months.
Attention! If the oil becomes cloudy or the taste and smell have changed, it should not be eaten.
The shelf life at home also depends on what product was purchased. When buying it in a store, pay attention to the following nuances :
- Choose packaging without damage. If the seal is broken, the product will not last long.
- Pay attention to the expiration date indicated on the packaging. You should not purchase a product that is almost past its expiration date.
- Do not buy a product standing in the sun. It should be stored in a dark place.
- If the product is cloudy and sediment is visible, then it is not worth purchasing.
When using vegetable oil rarely, purchase small containers so as not to throw away the product. Do not use it for re-frying: after the first use, carcinogens are formed, which give rise to cell mutation and the occurrence of cancerous tumors.
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How to store refined oil
Refined oil is made by completely removing impurities, including beneficial ones . It has a neutral smell and taste and is suitable for frying. Stored in sealed packaging at a temperature of +18...+25°C for up to two years. In an open bottle at a temperature of +18...+25°C - 40 days, at a temperature of 0...+11°C - 110 days.
For storing sunflower oil at home, dark, cool places , protected from direct sunlight: pantries, cabinets with doors, are suitable. Store the product in purchased packaging or pour it into a glass bottle. If the bottle is often standing or stored on the table, then choose a container made of dark glass that does not allow sunlight to pass through.
Once the bottle is opened, the product is used within 4 weeks . Then it begins to oxidize and loses its beneficial qualities. For long-term storage, the product can be frozen, but only once. Frozen oil is stored for no more than one year, then it loses its properties.
Reference. Sunflower oil absorbs odors. To give it the aroma of your favorite seasoning, add it to the bottle.
Storing unrefined oil
After filtration, unrefined oil undergoes rough mechanical cleaning and loses some of its beneficial properties.
It contains healthy fats and vitamins. There are two grades: highest and first. The first grade product may have a slight sediment and a bitter aftertaste. The oil is used in its pure form as a dressing for snacks and salads. In a closed package, the product can be stored at a temperature of +18...+25°C for 1 year . In an open container at a temperature of +18...+25°C - 26 days, at a temperature of 0...+11°C - 44 days. For storage, choose a cool, dark place, protected from direct sunlight. You can store it in the refrigerator. Freezing is not recommended. If the product is still frozen, then after defrosting it is used only for frying.
After opening, it is advisable to pour the product from a plastic container into a darkened glass bottle with a narrow neck so that less air gets in. Use it for one month. If sediment appears in the bottle and the product becomes bitter, then you should not consume it raw.
Advice. If the product’s shelf life expires and it cannot be used for its intended purpose, the oil can be used for cosmetic purposes by adding it to a cream or mask.
Is it possible to freeze Vegetable Oil?
freezing technology (winterization), when vegetable wax is removed from the oil. -That's for sure.
Maybe someone from the knowledgeable forum members can tell me how freezing affects the unsaponifiable fraction of the oil? I wonder if freezing and defrosting affects the cosmetic properties of oils rich in neon. faction? Or is it better to just store them in the refrigerator?
I would be very grateful and judging by the questions above, I’m not the only one
