How to use
How to store olive oil so it keeps
Do not keep it next to the stove. Here is why.
10 October 2026 · 1 min read
Three things spoil olive oil: light, heat and air. A Malaysian kitchen supplies all three readily, so where you keep it makes a real difference to how long it stays fresh.
What to do
- Keep it in a closed cupboard, not on the counter
- Keep it away from the stove, oven and windows
- Close it tightly after every use
- Leave it in its original dark bottle
- With a 3 litre tin, decant into a small bottle for daily use and keep the large one sealed
Should it go in the fridge?
No need. Cold will turn the oil cloudy or semi-solid, which does it no harm but makes it awkward to use. A cool, dark cupboard is enough.
How long it lasts
Olive oil does not improve with age. Once opened, use it within a few months for best flavour. If it starts to smell like crayons, cardboard or stale nuts, it has oxidised — still safe, but the flavour has gone.
