How to Store Olive Oil the Right Way, According to Experts

Tamara Gane — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 16:00:33 +0000

We all know olive oil is a healthy kitchen staple. Over time, however, it will deteriorate and turn rancid. Learning how to store olive oil properly will save you money and eliminate food waste. We went to the experts to find out how to store olive oil to keep it flavorful and fresh for as long as possible. Here are some more healthy oils you should keep in your pantry.

Why It Matters

Katerina Mountanos is an olive oil sommelier (yes, that’s a thing!) and the founder of the Greek extra virgin olive oil company Kosterina. She says, “Olive oil is literally juice from the olive fruit so, like other fruit juices, it can turn rancid if not stored properly.”

No one wants that! Not surprisingly, rancid olive oil will ruin the aroma and flavor of anything you make. You can do the “sniff test” to see if olive oil has gone bad. If the olive oil is off, you’ll notice an unpleasant smell—like crayons or old peanuts.

If you don’t know how to store olive oil correctly, there will be other problems, too. “With olive oil specifically, so much of the health benefit comes from the polyphenols and monounsaturated fats,” Katerina says. “These begin to break down and release free radicals when they interact with oxygen or sunlight.”

This is the best olive oil to buy, according to the Taste Recipes Test Kitchen.

What’s the Right Way to Store Olive Oil?

Katerina tells us that heat, light and oxygen “are the enemies” of olive oil. You never want to store your olive oil bottle above the stove. And an opaque bottle is critical, she adds. You can use an olive oil spray bottle like this for a small amount of oil at a time, though.

This means if you’ve been storing your olive oil in a clear glass container next to the stove, you’ve been doing it wrong. (Guilty! It’s not the only food we’ve been storing wrong, either.) The best way to store olive oil is in a cool, dry location, away from sunlight. Keep in mind that if you store olive oil in a location that’s too cold, you’ll see floating white stuff in the olive oil, but it’s not a bad thing.

If you want to put that properly stored olive oil to delicious use, learn how to make olive oil cake.

How Long Does Olive Oil Last?

It depends. Kosterina (and other premium olive oils) will usually have a harvest date on their bottle. According to Katerina, these olive oils will last two years from the harvest date if unopened. However, other olive oils may simply list an expiration date.

That time frame changes once olive oil is opened. Catherine Ward, manager of the Taste Recipes prep kitchen, says, “Using your oil within three to six months of opening will give you the freshest oil.” Katerina even suggests sticking to the shorter end of that time frame to get the most enjoyment out of premium olive oil.

Find surprising household uses for olive oil, like polishing shoes and cleaning stainless steel.

The post How to Store Olive Oil the Right Way, According to Experts appeared first on Taste Recipes.

How to Cook with Wine, According to the Experts

Tamara Gane — Thu, 06 May 2021 15:21:05 +0000

Whether you’re looking for a satisfying way to finish off a bottle or want to elevate an otherwise humble meal, learning how to cook with wine is an easy way to take your culinary skills to the next level.

According to Carl Shelton, an executive chef at J Vineyards and Winery in Sonoma County, California, wine adds acid to your dish and enhances the flavors on your palate. He adds, “when wine is reduced, the sweetness will create richness in a sauce or a braise, adding more complexity and depth to the dish.”

Before we get started, take a moment to learn the difference between cooking with wine and cooking wine.

You Can Cook with Budget Wine

If you’re wondering if you can cook with cheap wine, the answer is yes. Carl says, “There is no need to overspend on wine if you’re using it for cooking, so you can definitely choose a more price-conscious option.”

James Schend, Taste Recipes’s culinary deputy editor, advises home cooks to let their wallet be their guide, but goes on to say that he personally spends less on the wine he cooks with than the wine he sips. However, James will spend more if the wine is going to be the main flavor component like in a dish like beef bourguignon, as opposed to a supporting element.

Don’t Worry If Your Wine Is Past Its Prime

Carl says if he’s reducing wine for a recipe, he likes to use a wine that’s still at its best. “But,” he says, “for a braise or a dish where the wine will be cooking for several hours, you can use something that’s been open for a week or two.” He also says sparkling wine that lost has its sparkle and even wine accidentally exposed to too much heat are perfectly fine to cook with.

This is how long opened wine will lasts.

Cook with the Same Wine You’ll Be Drinking

Carl admits he’s spoiled since he gets to cook with so many great wines, but says it’s a good idea to cook with a wine similar to what you’re drinking because it connects the wine in your glass to the food on your plate. He stresses that it doesn’t have to be the exact same wine, particularly if you’re breaking out an expensive bottle to serve with dinner.

James agrees. “The idea behind this is when you’re eating the dish, you’ll notice the similar flavors in the wine you’re drinking with it.” Before you plan a dinner party, take note of the mistakes everyone makes when pairing wine with food.

Not All the Alcohol Content Burns Away

According to James, a good portion of the alcohol in wine is burned off in the cooking process. He says that alcohol starts to evaporate when it reaches 140°F, “so by the time a dish comes to a simmer, a lot of the alcohol has already been burned off.” But it’s a misnomer to say that all the alcohol evaporates away. There is still some leftover, though it’s nothing most people need to worry about.

Keep Boxed Wine on Hand

So what do you do if you don’t want to open an entire bottle of wine for one recipe? James says he tends to keep boxed wine on hand for this reason since it has a long shelf life. If you aren’t sure which boxed wine to use, we sampled the most popular brands to find the best boxed wine.

Recipes to Cook with a Splash of Wine

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Chicken Piccata with Lemon SauceOnce you've tried this tangy, yet delicate lemon chicken piccata, you won't hesitate to make it for company. Seasoned with parmesan and parsley, the chicken cooks up golden brown, then is drizzled with a light lemon sauce. —Susan Pursell, Fountain Valley, CaliforniaGo to Recipe

Shrimp PuttanescaI throw together these bold ingredients for a feisty seafood pasta. —Lynda Balslev, Sausalito, California(Here's what "cooking wine" really means.)

Tamara Gane, Author at Taste Recipes