Pantry storage

Does olive oil need to be refrigerated?

No. A sealed bottle keeps 6 to 12 months in the pantry, and an open one stays there too. FoodKeeper says opened olive oil can stay in the pantry, and its time in the fridge is shorter, not longer.

These times are a guide, not a safety guarantee, and a label that says to refrigerate comes first.

How we checked this: the storage times here come from the sources named on the page, and each one is checked against its source before the page goes live. Editorial policy

Olive oil can turn cloudy and grow fat crystals in the fridge. USU Extension says this is natural, and the oil turns clear again once it warms up. Source: Utah State University Extension: food storage booklet (opens in a new tab)

Kitchen list sorted by use soon, grouped into fridge and pantry, each item with its amount and buttons to change it
Keep track of what’s in the pantry, and type a date if you want a reminder. Free

Unopened and opened

Unopened and opened packages keep for different times. These are the times the source gives.

Unopened
6 to 12 months in the pantry
After opening
3 to 5 months in the pantry, or about 4 months refrigerated
Where to keep it once open
Pantry or cupboard. The source gives a shorter time in the fridge than in the pantry, so the fridge does not help.

Sources and limits

The after-opening time runs from the day you opened it, not from the date printed on the package, so write that day down. Well Stockd doesn’t know when your package was made, bought or opened: follow the package directions, keep it somewhere cool and dark, and check the official listing when food safety is in question.

The storage times above are quoted from the sources below. They’re a guide, not a safety guarantee: quality varies with packaging, temperature and how the package is handled between uses. Nothing here overrides a label that says to refrigerate. This page was last updated .