2207 Olive Oil storage problems-help

We managed to get about 10 litres of oil pressed from our modest number of trees in October and I took 3 litres back to UK in plastic water bottles. The oil in the UK is still fine and being used as required. The 7 litres left in glass demijohns in our villino have 'bits' floating in them now. The same happened to oil we left behind last year and somewhere I read that this can happen if the oil gets too cold - which is why we left it inside the house this year instead of in an outhouse. Last year, thinking it had grown fungus, I threw several litres away. This year I'm wondering if it can still be used - can anyone help?:(

Category
Gardening & Agriculture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/27/2005 - 09:37

from what you say your oil has been pressed in a small mill with no additives.... what seems to take place in cooler temps is a solidifying of some parts of the oil...as soon as the weather warms up it remixes itself.....

natural olive oil kept in a cantina should last minimum four years... even people that use it all the time and live here ...ie us and our neighbours ...have the same problem....winter time its best to decant a good few litres so it doesnt solidify.... or bring it up into the warmth to defrost....

we keep it in stainless steel vats ...without the taps in the bottom...they can get clogged or the oil might well perish the rubber seal.... and ladel it out of the top when required..... it helps i believe also that it is not exposed continuously to bright light... though a cloth or newspaper over a glass demijohn will suffice....

one sacred rule is never mix the new oil with the old.... use the new oil neat on salads or bread straight away... its at its peak for taste...and the old oil for cooking...

hope that helps...a bit of a shame about last years oil....

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/27/2005 - 09:58

Thanks for both of your prompt replies - a great relief to know we can use the oil as although we only have a few trees it was great fun (and exercise) collecting the olives and very encouraging to find out that our small local press didn't use additives - don't we just learn something new every day:)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/27/2005 - 10:45

[QUOTE=F Bower]We managed to get about 10 litres of oil pressed from our modest number of trees in October and I took 3 litres back to UK in plastic water bottles. The oil in the UK is still fine and being used as required. The 7 litres left in glass demijohns in our villino have 'bits' floating in them now. The same happened to oil we left behind last year and somewhere I read that this can happen if the oil gets too cold - which is why we left it inside the house this year instead of in an outhouse. Last year, thinking it had grown fungus, I threw several litres away. This year I'm wondering if it can still be used - can anyone help?:([/QUOTE]
Pity about that.The oil was PERFECTLY GOOD.below certain temperatures whether inside or not it will tend to coagulate there are no problems with this and as Aliena says once in a warm environment will become totally clear again.But do not store it in a warm place it's better that it does this than be in a warm place but always in the dark in either dark GLASS bottles or in stainless steel bins.IF you can avoid it (i understand for airplanes and brief journeys) otherwise never put oil or wine in plastic containers.With this cold weather all ours has coagulated in the last few days so don't worry.