When Olive Oil goes bad . . .

Factual Questions
1

I’ve got an opened bottle of olive oil in the pantry- “opened” as in the seal has long been broken, not “opened” as in the cap has been left off- it says best if used by October 31st 2007.

Would I be tempting fate were I to make use of this 2+ months after the “best if used by” date???

What should I look for in olive oil “gone bad”???

2

I’d use it. Taste it and smell it. If it tastes bitter and rancid, it’s bad. If not, it’s good. Bad oil is pretty obvious.

That said, I’m not a microbiologist, so take my advice at your own risk. I’m just not sure what baddies could find home in oil.

3

For the record, this site claims there’s no danger in eating rancid oil, it’s just not appetizing.

4

[QUOTE=bienville]
What should I look for in olive oil “gone bad”???
[/QUOTE]

Popeye standing outside the bar taking payments to watch?
:smiley:

In all seriousness I have had olive oil that went bad and there is no question in your mind when it’s not good. It smells like… well it doesn’t smell like something I would ever put on my salad. If you smell it and don’t gag it’s probably ok.

5

Yeah, if it passes the smell test it’s very probably OK. You could get a drop on your finger and touch it to your tongue, just to be sure, but I’d guess it’s fine. Also, if you’re cooking w/ it, you’ll be sure when you put the heat to it, as that will enhance any foul smell.

6

Rancid oil smell=greasepaint smell

7

Thank OG it ain’t another Popeye thread.
I’d feared the worst–pron.

8

[QUOTE=pulykamell]
Bad oil is pretty obvious.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, there’s no ambiguity.

If it’s been kept away from heat and light, it’s probably okay, two months past the date. But give it a sniff and see. If it’s Gone Evil, you’ll know pretty much immediately.

9

When olive oil goes bad…

…it pulls a gun on the calamari, and the kitchen becomes chaos.

10

[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor]
Thank OG it ain’t another Popeye thread.
I’d feared the worst–pron.
[/QUOTE]

I specifically came in here to see what Popeye jokes people would make. Not bad t-mobileguy. I thought there’d be a lot more though.

11

[QUOTE=Greg Charles]
I specifically came in here to see what Popeye jokes people would make. Not bad t-mobileguy. I thought there’d be a lot more though.
[/QUOTE]

Thank you folks, I’ll be here all week. Try the veal. Remember the 10:30 show is completely different than the 8:00 show. Don’t forget to tip the wait staff.

:smiley: