Coconut oil is one of the most popular cooking oils, with its popularity increasing substantially in the year 2022. Some of the reasons coconut oil is popular are because it’s suitable for special diets, has unique nutritional properties, and tastes great!
If you’re a lover of coconut oil, you might be relieved to know that it won’t go bad for around two years when it’s opened, and can stay good for up to five years when it’s sealed!
We’ll outline the different types of coconut oil, storage options, and when you can expect coconut oil to go bad in these different scenarios next!
What is the shelf life of coconut oil?
There are different types of coconut oil: refined and unrefined. Refined coconut oil undergoes additional processing, including refining (removing impurities), bleaching, and deodorizing. The process of refining coconut oil makes it more resistant to high temperatures for cooking, but it also shortens its shelf life.
Unrefined coconut oil includes virgin and extra-virgin (spoiler alert – there’s no difference between these two terms!), which last longer than refined coconut oil.
Here is a summary of the shelf life of different types of coconut oil when they are new and unopened.
Sealed coconut oil shelf life estimates
Room temperature (pantry) | Refrigerator | |
Refined coconut oil | 18-24 months | ~24 months |
Unrefined coconut oil | 3-5 years | ~5 years |
How long does coconut oil last after opening?
Once you open coconut oil, it will slowly start to go rancid more quickly than when it’s sealed. Why?
Opening a container of coconut oil exposes it to oxygen, which degrades the fats in coconut oil. This process occurs with all types of cooking oil, so don’t worry about it too much – especially since coconut oil lasts up to two years even when it’s opened!
So to answer the question – expect coconut oil to last around 18-24 months after opening it (depending on the type), regardless of whether it’s in your pantry or refrigerator.
Summary of coconut oil shelf life
Pantry | Refrigerator | Freezer | |
Sealed refined coconut oil | 18-24 months | ~24 months | 24+ months |
Sealed unrefined coconut oil | 3-5 years | ~5 years | 5+ years |
Opened refined coconut oil | ~18 months | ~18 months | 18+ months |
Opened unrefined coconut oil | ~2 years | ~2 years | 2+ years |
Can you use coconut oil after its expiration date?
Coconut oil comes with a printed best-by or use-by date, which indicates when the coconut oil should be used for optimal flavor, quality, and freshness.
If your coconut oil is past this date and it’s been sealed, you can likely get much more time out of it and use it without any issues.
If the coconut oil has been opened for a while and it’s past the best-by date, be sure to check the coconut oil for signs it’s gone bad before you use it – though it’s likely fine as long as it hasn’t been a significant amount of time past the best-by date.
How to tell if coconut oil went bad
Coconut oil is slow to go bad, but it can go bad if enough time passes (or it’s stored improperly).
Be on the lookout for some of the signs that coconut oil has gone bad, such as:
- The formation of mold or mildew, which are absolute signs to toss it!
- The coconut oil is very hard and difficult to scoop out or has developed large chunks and is no longer smooth.
- An off-putting odor when you give it a sniff.
- A bitter or foul flavor.
- Yellowing or other discoloration of the coconut oil.
What’s the danger in using coconut oil after it’s gone bad?
If you eat a little bit of coconut oil that’s gone bad, nothing bad is likely going to happen. If you ingest large amounts of spoiled coconut oil, you might be in for a bit of stomach upset. (Always reach out to your healthcare provider for concerning symptoms of food poisoning, though!)
Unlike contaminated meat and other perishable foods, coconut oil comes with a lower risk of serious foodborne illnesses like E. coli and other bacterial infections thanks to its antimicrobial properties which inhibit the growth of certain bacteria. Cool, huh!?
Best storage practices for coconut oil
- You don’t have to keep coconut oil in the fridge, but doing so prolongs its shelf life when it’s unopened. If you store coconut oil in the fridge, be aware that it’ll be harder than it is at room temperature and might be tricky to scoop out.
- Avoid storing coconut oil near direct sources of light and heat, which causes the fats to degrade more quickly.
- Keep coconut oil tightly sealed at all times, which helps prevent excess oxygen from entering.
- Avoid storing coconut oil in hot temperatures, which shortens its shelf life and can make it go bad more quickly.
- If you want to freeze coconut oil, we suggest softening it and scooping it into silicone molds (like ice cube trays) in pre-measured portions, which makes it easier to use later! (Who wants to try to scoop out frozen coconut oil from a jar? Not us!)
FAQs:
We don’t recommend purposely eating rancid coconut oil. It won’t taste good, and it can give you an upset stomach if you eat enough of it. If you accidentally eat a small amount without knowing it’s rancid first, you’re unlikely to experience any adverse effects. Always check with your healthcare provider if you’re concerned about food poisoning symptoms, though!
You can use expired coconut oil if it doesn’t exhibit any signs of spoilage, such as a foul taste, bad smell, or discoloration. If it’s years past the best-by date, we suggest replacing your coconut oil with a fresh jar even if it doesn’t seem like it’s gone bad. It’s worth the investment since it will last years, and it is worth it for optimal flavor and nutrition!
Freezing coconut oil extends its shelf life even more than at room temperature or in the fridge, but makes it very hard to scoop out. For that reason, we suggest melting and pouring the oil into silicone ice cube molds and then freezing it so you can easily pop out as much oil as you need when it’s time to use it!
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