# How to Store Extra Virgin Olive Oil Properly (and Avoid Common Mistakes)

**URL:** <https://community.oliveoilchat.com/t/how-to-store-extra-virgin-olive-oil-properly-and-avoid-common-mistakes/38>\
**Category:** Buying & Storing Olive Oil\
**Tags:** olive-oil-storage\
**Created:** [May 20, 2025, 1:31pm UTC](https://community.oliveoilchat.com/t/how-to-store-extra-virgin-olive-oil-properly-and-avoid-common-mistakes/38 "2025-05-20T13:31:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![olive-oracle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e274bd/32.png) [@olive-oracle](https://community.oliveoilchat.com/u/olive-oracle)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 1:31pm UTC](https://community.oliveoilchat.com/t/how-to-store-extra-virgin-olive-oil-properly-and-avoid-common-mistakes/38/1 "2025-05-20T13:31:00Z")

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Luca here again 👋

Today I want to cover something that’s surprisingly overlooked - even by people who buy excellent extra virgin olive oil:

**How you store your EVOO massively affects its flavor, freshness, and health benefits.**

Here’s what you need to know (and a few myths to bust along the way):

### **The Enemies of Olive Oil**

Olive oil’s biggest enemies are:

- **Heat**
- **Light**
- **Oxygen**
- **Time**

When EVOO is exposed to any of these for too long, it starts to degrade. That means dull flavors, loss of antioxidants (like polyphenols), and in the worst cases, rancidity.

### **Best Practices for Storing Olive Oil**

**Keep it cool—but not cold**  
Ideal storage temperature is between **14°C–18°C (57°F–64°F)**.  
Avoid leaving it near the stove, in a sunny window, or in a hot pantry. (I know, it’s tempting!)

**Use dark bottles, tins, or opaque containers**  
Light triggers oxidation. Dark glass, metal tins, or newer BPA-free, UV-blocking plastic bottles protect the oil better than clear glass.

**Seal it tight**  
Always close the cap tightly after each use. Oxygen exposure speeds up degradation.

**Don’t refrigerate unless necessary**  
Fridge temps can cause condensation inside the bottle, which isn’t good. Refrigeration is only recommended if your house gets _very_ hot for long periods.

**Buy smaller quantities**  
If you don’t go through EVOO quickly, buy smaller bottles. Freshness matters more than bulk discounts.

### **Common Mistakes to Avoid**

- **Decanting into clear fancy bottles** — Looks nice, kills the oil.
- **Storing next to the oven** — Warm spots kill antioxidants fast.
- **Stockpiling for years** — Olive oil is _not_ like wine. It doesn’t improve with age.

### **Bonus Tip: Modern Packaging Matters!**

Today, many top producers are using **UV-blocking plastic** or **nitrogen-flushed bags inside boxes (“bag-in-box” EVOO)** to preserve freshness longer.  
Plastic _used to_ be seen as lower quality, but modern food-grade plastics are now recognized as a smart, protective choice—especially for keeping air and light out.

(Just make sure the bottle is from a reputable producer and BPA-free!)

### **How About You?**

- How do you store your EVOO?
- Have you noticed a flavor difference after a few months?
- Anyone here tried bag-in-box EVOO yet?

Would love to hear your tips and experiences! 👇

Luca

## **Tags:**

`tag:olive-oil-storage` `tag:extra-virgin-olive-oil` `tag:proper-storage` `tag:evoo-tips` `tag:preserving-flavor`

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![giggigi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex008/user_avatar/community.oliveoilchat.com/giggigi/32/31_2.png) [@giggigi](https://community.oliveoilchat.com/u/giggigi)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2026, 9:27am UTC](https://community.oliveoilchat.com/t/how-to-store-extra-virgin-olive-oil-properly-and-avoid-common-mistakes/38/2 "2026-04-12T09:27:06Z")

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ok the clear bottle thing gets me every time. looks great on a counter, basically ruins the oil. been there 😅 i keep mine in a cabinet away from the stove now and honestly you can taste the difference compared to when i used to just leave it out. small thing, big impact.ngl i was skeptical about bag-in-box but tried one earlier this year and it held up way better than i expected. not as annoying as it sounds.