# Deep fryer oil life span
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-fryer-oil-life-span/711451
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 31, 2015, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-fryer-oil-life-span/711451 "2015-01-31T18:30:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@justmeetee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justmeetee)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2015, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-fryer-oil-life-span/711451/1 "2015-01-31T18:30:54Z")
I haven’t deep fried anything in years and up until two days ago didn’t know I had one. I bought a mobile home from someone that inherited it and everything except food, clothes and personal items were included. Among these items was what I assumed was a bread maker. Two days ago I was getting things together for a trip to Goodwill and discovered it is a rather nice deep fryer. It has a lid that seals and had oil in it that looked and smelled like new. I dumped that out (you didn’t think I was going to ask if I should use it did you?) and cleaned it up.
Now I’m thinking I might keep it. I know, slippery slope. A few times a year I get a craving for some fried chicken or fish and have had no luck what so ever with “oven fried” or pan frying. I would never have bought one but…
Anyway, I plan on using peanut oil and am wondering with a sealed lid how long could I keep and how many times could I use it?
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### Author:  [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-fryer-oil-life-span/711451/2 "2015-01-31T19:04:07Z")
I empty mine to strain out the food/coating bits which can decompose. Then I put it in coffee cans and store in the fridge. I’ve kept it in the fridge a year or so. I never use it more than 3x. (old restaurant experience with old oil)
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-fryer-oil-life-span/711451/3 "2015-01-31T19:08:06Z")
With a sealed lid the oil itself can last quite a while, months at least if not too much surface area is exposed for oxidation. The problem is that you’ll be frying things in it, that leaves residue in the oil that can spoil faster. If you’re just frying French fries it won’t make much difference, but chicken will make your oil nasty pretty quickly. Aside from fatty foods like chicken you can filter the oil after use and put it back the original container and make it last longer. A coffee filter in a strainer will do.
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### Author:  [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2015, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-fryer-oil-life-span/711451/4 "2015-01-31T19:09:12Z")
Yeah when I want to save oil, I filter it and then store it in the fridge. I don’t know how many times is safe to use, but honestly, I’ve used oil many many times over to no ill effects.
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### Author:  [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2015, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-fryer-oil-life-span/711451/5 "2015-01-31T22:29:31Z")
I strained peanut oil used for deep frying through coffee filters and poured it back into the containers it came in from the store (plastic jugs). It’s been there for 3-4 months at room temperature, while I decide what to do with it. Is it still good, I wonder? Does it have to be refrigerated? Even now? (I suppose I could taste and smell it, duh.)
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### Author:  [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2015, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-fryer-oil-life-span/711451/6 "2015-01-31T22:35:02Z")
What do you filter it with? A wire mesh colander?
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### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-fryer-oil-life-span/711451/7 "2015-01-31T22:52:11Z")
[Here](http://www.seriouseats.com/2013/09/ask-the-food-lab-how-many-times-can-i-reuse-fry-oil.html) is a very thorough article about what is possible; why and how. A couple of interesting quotes and the paragraph headings:
> [@](#):
>
> How Many Times Can I Reuse Fry Oil?
>
> There’s some good news, then some bad news, then more good news again, in that order.
>
> Good News A: You don’t have to throw out used oil. Often you can reuse it many, many times!
>
> Bad News: There’s no hard and fast rule for how many time you can reuse that oil. Distrust any source that gives a firm answer on the number times you can reuse oil, including this site.
>
> Good News B: It’s easy to tell when you’ll need to replace your oil, and more importantly, there are some great steps you can take to increase the useful lifespan of your oil!
>
> Deep Frying Basics
>
> Incidentally, the folk wisdom that oil that’s too cool will cause foods to absorb more oil is bunk. In fact, because oil tends to move into spaces that were formerly occupied by water, the amount of oil a piece of fried food absorbs is directly related to the amount of moisture that is driven off, which in turn is directly related to the temperature you cook at, and the temperature to which you cook your food to. The hotter you fry, the more oil food will absorb.
>
> The perception of greasiness is what increases with lower frying temperatures. Why? Because soggy fried foods that contain a mixture of oil and leftover water in their crust taste soft and greasy on the palate, even though the actual amount of oil they contain is lower than that of properly fried food.
>
> What About Oil Freshness?
>
> Does oil freshness really affect its ability to fry, and if so, how and why?
>
> Things That Will Ruin Your Oil
>
> So what factors will affect the number of times you can reuse your oil?
> The Type of Frying Vessel
>
> The Type of Coating
>
> The Type of Food Being Fried
>
> The Type of Oil and the Temperature
>
> Storage
>
> How to Clean Oil
>
> Three Ways to Increase the Lifespan of Your Oil
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### Author:  [@HeXen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeXen)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-fryer-oil-life-span/711451/8 "2015-01-31T23:33:28Z")
I’m not that cheap. I just buy new oil after the oil starts to darken or have a smell which isn’t too long. I usually get Peanut oil at Menards for $5 or so by the gallon.
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### Author:  [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-fryer-oil-life-span/711451/9 "2015-02-01T00:10:03Z")
is it walking on its own?
if it doesn’t stink bad or too dark then fry daddy.