How to Store Sesame Oil

Sesame oil is an essential ingredient in Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and other Asian cuisines. There are several reasons to use sesame oil instead of other types of cooking oils and some differences in how it should be stored. This article provides information on how to store sesame oil, including its shelf life.

To keep your sesame oil fresh, store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. If you have to refrigerate your oil, you should know that sesame oil is just fine at room temperature when stored in its original container.

Because of its high-fat content and low acidity, sesame oil is particularly susceptible to rancidity. It should be used within three months of purchase or six months if refrigerated. It will last longer if you store your opened bottle of sesame oil in a cool, dark place.

What Is the Shelf Life of Sesame Oil?

The shelf life of sesame oil depends on the quality of the oil and how it is stored. Some oils are better for long-term storage than others, and some have a shorter shelf life due to their composition.

Oils with high amounts of saturated fats have a shorter shelf life than those with unsaturated fats. Sesame oil has a high amount of unsaturated fat, which makes it very stable and useful for long-term storage.

It can last up to six months if stored properly.

To maximize the shelf life of sesame oil, keep it in a cool place. The best place to store it is in the refrigerator, giving it an extra layer of protection against spoilage.

If you’re a sesame oil fan, you know it’s best to store it in a cool, dark place. It will keep for up to six months after opening if stored properly.

There are two ways to store your sesame oil: upright and upside down:

If you store it upright, keep it away from light and heat. It should be kept in a cool, dry place at room temperature. The best place for this is on a shelf in your pantry or cabinet.

If you want to store it upside down, ensure the bottle is completely dry before storing it upside down (otherwise, the oil will leak out). Store it in the same place as outlined above—ensure there’s no oil on top of the bottle before storing it upside down.

Generally, to store sesame oil, keep it in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. The best place to store sesame oil is in the refrigerator, but if you don’t have room, you can also store it on your kitchen countertop away from heat sources such as stoves or ovens. Ensure you put the lid back on tightly after each use to prevent evaporation and oxidation.

How Long Does Sesame Oil Last Once Opened

Sesame oil can last up to one year when unopened, but once you open it, the shelf life is much shorter.

If you purchase a bottle of sesame oil and don’t use it immediately, store it in your pantry or cupboard in a cool, dry place. The ideal temperature for sesame oil storage is 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit (21-24 degrees Celsius). At these temperatures, your sesame oil will last up to one year after opening.

To extend the shelf life of your sesame oil even further, refrigerate what you don’t plan on using within 6 months of opening the bottle. Sesame oil should be stored at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) or less for up to two years after opening if kept in an airtight container.

Note: Keep your sesame oil in the refrigerator and store it away from light and heat.

What Color Is Sesame Oil

Sesame oil is a pale yellow or straw color with a nutty scent and taste. It’s derived from sesame seeds and has a high smoke point, so it’s popular as a cooking oil.

How to Know If Sesame Oil Is Bad

Sesame oil is delicious and versatile cooking oil, but it does have a shelf life. Here’s how to know if your sesame oil has gone bad:

1. Check the color: if it’s darker than golden brown, it’s probably been exposed to light and oxygen, which means it’s gone bad. Don’t worry—the taste won’t change much!

2. Check the smell: if it smells rancid or sour, it’s been exposed to too many air molecules and should be thrown away. Again, this doesn’t affect the taste too much—it just means that your sesame oil has lost some of its nutritional value, and it might not be as good for cooking anymore.

3. Check the texture: if your sesame oil has become thick or syrupy, it’s probably expired or past its prime.

4. If you notice solidified: if you see oil at the bottom of your bottle, that’s a sign that your sesame oil has gone bad and should be thrown out immediately.

5 Mold on top of the oil: If there are any signs of mold on top of the oil, it’s also time for your sesame oil to go into the trash bin (along with whatever food you were preparing with it).

6. The oil will have a film on top, indicating mold is growing inside the bottle.

What Does Sesame Oil Smell Like

Sesame oil is a light, nutty-smelling oil that can be used in cooking or as a supplement to your diet. It tastes great drizzled over vegetables or fish and is also popular as a skin moisturizer and massage oil.

Sesame oil has a strong, nutty aroma that can be detected up to 8 feet away.

Toasted sesame seeds smell the same way they taste—crunchy and savory. The sesame seed oil has the same flavor profile: not quite as sweet as sunflower seed oil, but more flavorful than olive oil or coconut oil.

You’ll also notice that sesame seed oil has an acidic smell because of its high concentration of unsaturated fats (the kind that keeps your heart healthy). If you’re worried about putting too much acid in your body, don’t worry: Your body needs some acidity for optimal digestion and absorption of nutrients from food.

Can Sesame Oil Make You Sick?

Sesame oil is made by crushing sesame seeds. It is usually done mechanically, but the crushed seed can also be mixed with water and ground to produce an oil-like substance. While sesame oil has many health benefits, it can cause harmful results if consumed by those with allergies who are sensitive to ingredients included in the production of the oil or cooking it at a high temperature.

So sesame oil can make you sick. It has one of the highest toxicities among vegetable oils, and prolonged intake can cause severe illness.

Although sesame oil is made from nuts, it doesn’t contain any fats or cholesterol. It has a high smoke point and can be used in cooking and frying. 

To ensure the safety of your sesame oil, purchase it from reputable sources and check the label on the bottle before purchase to ensure it does not contain 2-3 butynenitrile or methylamine.

Does Sesame Oil Freeze

Sesame oil does not freeze but solidifies when exposed to low temperatures. Due to its high concentration of unsaturated fats, which are prone to oxidation at cold temperatures, sesame oil should be stored in a cool, dry place.

Furthermore, it will not freeze solid at home freezer temperatures because it contains a large number of monounsaturated fats that are liquid at room temperature. However, you should keep sesame oil in the refrigerator because it can get rancid if left out on the countertop for too long.

However, sesame oil’s high smoke point means it can absorb more heat than most other oils (which means you should use a low temperature when cooking with sesame oil).

It’s best to store your sesame oil in an airtight container in the pantry or the refrigerator after opening (if you plan on using it again soon).

Does Sesame Oil Go Bad in the Fridge?

Sesame oil has a very long shelf life, at least two years, when stored at room temperature. But once it’s been refrigerated, it will keep longer than most other refrigerated oils—up to a year.

The problem is that sesame oil can be damaged by light and heat (which is why it’s best kept in a cool, dark place). So if you keep your sesame oil in a dark place and then store it in your fridge, there’s a chance that, over time, it could go rancid.

Meanwhile, it’s best to keep it in the dark place in your pantry or cabinet and away from heat sources. If you leave it exposed to sunlight or overheat it, it will go bad sooner.

Is It OK to Use Expired Sesame Oil?

It’s not OK to use expired sesame oil. The reason is that the oil will become rancid and taste bitter. You should only use sesame oil that is fresh and undamaged.

The expiration date on a bottle of sesame oil is more of a guideline than an absolute rule. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that you use the sesame oil within one year after opening the bottle, but they also say that it can be used after this time if it has been properly stored (in an airtight container). 

They also note that there are no significant changes in flavor or nutrition when using a product after its expiration date.

And to check if your sesame oil is still good for making recipes, heat it up and see if it changes color or becomes cloudy. If so, then it’s still good for making recipes.

Does Sesame Oil Freeze in Winter?

If your sesame oil is stored in a refrigerator, it will probably keep fine through winter. If you’re storing your sesame oil outside of a fridge, however, you might want to think about bringing it inside before the first snowfall hits (or even before it gets cold enough that your house starts to feel chilly). That way, you can protect your investment from the elements.

Also, sesame oil has a relatively low flash point (the temperature at which it ignites), but it does not boil until approximately 375°F (190°C). It will always remain liquid at room temperature, even if the outside temperature dips below freezing.

In general, sesame oil does freeze when stored properly, but it will thaw out easily if you don’t store it in the freezer or use it immediately after thawing.

Conclusion

We hope you have enjoyed learning how to store sesame oil. The secret to maintaining good quality is keeping your sesame oil in an airtight container, so it doesn’t oxidize or go rancid. Just make sure you’re storing it in a dark, cool area and not exposed to sunlight when storing this oil.