Canola oil is one of the most popular cooking oils and for a good reason! It has a relatively high smoke point (doesn’t turn to smoke easily when heated), has a neutral, versatile taste, and is considered heart-healthy.
When unopened, canola oil will last up to two years when stored in a cool, dark place. Once opened, canola oil should last around 6-12 months under the same storage conditions before starting to go bad.
We’ll cover all the ins and outs of canola oil shelf life, signs it’s gone bad, and more in this article!

What is the shelf life of canola oil?
When sealed, canola oil has a shelf life of around two years. Once you pop the seal on your canola oil the shelf life shrinks to 6-12 months since oxygen and heat can enter.
If there’s a “best-by” or expiration date printed on your canola oil, then it’s likely safe to use it even several months past that date if it’s sealed.
How long does canola oil last after opening?
Canola oil lasts around 6-12 months after opening, which is pretty standard for most popular cooking oils like canola and olive oil.
Most people store canola oil and other vegetable oils at room temperature in the pantry, which is completely fine. If you want to store it in the refrigerator it might preserve its freshness a bit longer, so keep that in mind if it would otherwise be stored in excessively hot conditions or would be exposed to direct sunlight.
Can you use canola oil after its expiration date?
If the canola oil was sealed and it’s past its “use by”, “best by”, or expiration date, then you can likely use it for a few months past that date. If the canola oil was opened and it’s past that date, it’s likely fine to use as long as there aren’t any signs of the oil going rancid (we’ll cover that next!).
Keep in mind that a use-by or best-by date is simply a suggested date when the nutritional quality and flavor of the oil will remain ideal. Using canola oil past that date doesn’t mean anything bad will happen – just that it might not be as fresh or of ideal quality, especially if it was already opened.
How to tell if canola oil went bad
It takes a while for vegetable oils to go bad, but once it does, you’ll probably be well aware. Here are some overwhelming signs that canola oil has gone bad:
- It has an “off” smell, such as smelling like crayons, paint, detergent, metal, or something sour.
- It starts turning brown or black.
- The taste is anything other than “neutral”, such as tasting sour or having a strong taste.
What’s the danger in using canola oil after it’s gone bad?
Using canola oil after it’s gone bad isn’t likely to cause any harm health-wise. The more likely scenario is that the food you made with canola oil will taste “off” so you don’t want to eat it. If you do end up eating some old canola oil, you might have a sour stomach for a bit but aren’t likely to get seriously sick.
Best storage practices for canola oil
- Store canola oil in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight or heat sources (so not above or next to the stove/oven!).
- Keep canola oil tightly sealed at all times.
- You can refrigerate canola oil after opening if you want, but know that it doesn’t significantly increase the shelf life in any way.
- It’s not recommended to freeze canola oil because it won’t prolong its shelf life and will likely negatively impact the structure of the fat chains, meaning it won’t have the same texture once it’s thawed.
Room temp/pantry | Refrigerator | |
Opened canola oil | 6-12 months | 6-12 months |
Sealed canola oil | 2 years | 2 years |
FAQs:
As long as there aren’t any signs that the canola oil has gone rancid, it’s fine to use it past its expiration date, especially if it was sealed.
If the canola oil was sealed, then go ahead and use it even if it’s two years old! Otherwise, you’ll want to check for signs that it’s gone bad (smells “off”, tastes bad, or has darkened in color). When in doubt, throw it out if it’s already two years old.
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