Rancid oils, now that just sounds disgusting, right? Well, we know that nothing lasts forever and this includes our beloved oils. Oils begin to spoil through the oxidation process once they’re exposed to heat, light, and air. This means that your oils have already lost some of their freshness when you grab them off the shelf and put it into your basket. Through proper storage and usage, you can save yourself from quite a few health risks.
Health Risks
The usage and consumption of rancid oil expose the body to free radicals. The following are a few health risks that can develop:
- Cellular damage (which is believed to accelerate the progression of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and age-related diseases)
- Diabetes
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Digestive distress
- Depletion of vitamins B and E
Storage and Usage
Oils are best preserved in dark glass or tin containers and should be stored away from direct light. You want to store them in a cool dark place such as a pantry or cabinet. All oils turn rancid by 18 months so your best bet is to use them within 1 year of their production. If you notice that your oil has a stinky odor, tastes horrible, and is cloudy in color, or has floating particles, then you definitely need to dispose of it right away.
PHIRE TIP: Choose cold-pressed oils instead of expeller pressed. Cold-pressed oils are not exposed to heat during the production process, which helps to prevent rancidity. Cold-pressed oils also retain flavor, aroma, and nutritional value for a longer period.
As a person who uses oils on their hair, skin, and food on a daily basis, oil freshness is a huge deal. Taking these simple precautions will definitely do your health a lot of good. So, check those oils out and make sure that you’re giving your body nothing but the best that it deserves.
Independently Yours,
How often do you use oils? What’s your current storage practice for your oils? Are there any extra steps that you take to preserve them?
Cherese “Afrophire” Agee is a young navy wife with a passion for natural hair, fashion, lifestyle, and beauty. Afrophire.com is a natural hair blog that incorporates her unique and independent take on life.
Great post! I have one with a similar topic scheduled, its really important to remember this!
Thanks! Great minds think alike. LOL My grapeseed oil expired and I hadn’t noticed it.
Thanks for sharing it with us! Its really useful 🙂
Thank you! I’m glad it was useful to you.[button url=”URL”]
Wow – eye opener – I thought they lasted for ever!
xXx
I know! I was guilty of having expired oils and using them.
I use oil daily. This is very useful thank you for sharing. Olive Oil and Coconut Oil are staples for hair skin and food at my house.
Hello Kirsten! Yes, same here… My family uses a variety of oils and I have to admit that I’m guilty of leaving the bottles out on the counter sometimes. Even though we use up the oil within a couple of months, it’s still good to know how to keep it as fresh as possible. Thanks for reading sis!