When running a food service, you’re always working against the clock. You have to get orders out in a timely fashion or else you risk loosing customers. At the same time, you have to move food products quickly enough so that they don’t spoil. For every item in your inventory, the rate of spoilage and the associated risks are different, and you have to learn tips and tricks for all of it.

When it comes to olive oil — an essential in many kitchens — the biggest risk is that it will oxidize and turn rancid. How do you prevent that?

There are two things you need to know: proper storage and proper usage. You’ll find explanations of both below.

Safe Storage & Olive Oil Pour Spouts

The easiest way to protect your olive oil and keep it pristine for long periods of time is to implement practices of safe storage.

First and foremost, keep it sealed tightly. The easiest way for olive oil to turn rancid is through exposure to oxygen. Oxygen in the air reacts chemically with olive oil and will spoil the oil over time. If your oil bottle is sealed with a screw cap, that cuts off the flow of air to the bottle, and the oil will keep much longer.

On a similar note, it’s important to store your olive oil in an appropriate bottle. You want to use nonreactive materials. Glass is the most common choice because it doesn’t react with olive oil at all. Ceramic and porcelain containers are also safe. Stainless steel can work too, but be sure that it is in fact stainless.

Most metal containers are no good, as the metals react with the oil and spoil it faster. Plastic bottles are suboptimal too, as the oil can dissolve and absorb PVCs in the plastics.

Lastly, store your oil in a dark, cool place. Cellar temperatures are ideal; there’s no need to freeze olive oil. Higher temperatures speed up chemical reactions and shorten the oil’s shelf life. Similarly, light can add energy to the bottle and accelerate the oxidation and degradation of the oil.

Safe Usage

Of course, you buy the oil to use it. It can’t just sit on a shelf forever. How do you safely use olive oil to prevent spoilage?

You follow as many of the above principles as possible. When it’s not in use, keep it in proper storage. Even when it is in use, stick with glass or other nonreactive bottles.

Most importantly, you want to minimize how much oxygen can get into the bottle. For that, the easiest solution is to use sealing olive oil pour spouts. In most cases, sealing pour spouts are also measured pour spouts. How do measured pour spouts work?

They have valves built into them that prevent air from making its way into the bottle. So, you can pour out oil as needed, and even though you have an open spout, air is not readily flowing back into the bottle, and you reduce the risk of oxidation.

If you want pour spouts that help you serve olive oil and keep it from turning rancid, look no further than Anytime Olive Oil & Wood Products. Contact us today to see all of your options and find the perfect tools that protect your olive oil.