Can You Freeze Cooking Oil?
Cooking oil, when you hear this term, you might be thinking about a variety of cooking oils, but all of them have the same purpose. Be it vegetable oil, olive oil, or canola oil, you must be using all of them for different recipes. And therefore, you must have stocks of cooking oil at your home.
However, it is noticed that if you keep oils for a long time at normal room temperature, they tend to turn rancid within a few months. This means you cannot store cooking oil in huge quantities. Even if you have stored oils in your kitchen, it is better if you consume them within a few months.
But it is not always possible to keep buying oils every few months. There could be many reasons for it. Or sometimes, maybe there is a sale at the grocery store and so you wish to buy oils in bulk. Knowing that they cannot be stored fresh for more than a few months, what can you do? Can you freeze cooking oil?
Yes, you can freeze cooking oils. And by this I mean you can freeze any kind of oil– vegetable oil, olive oil, canola oil, and many more. Freezing oil will further increase its shelf life, and the texture of the oil remains intact even after being frozen. Read on to know more!
What Happens When Oil Is Frozen?
The oil that has been frozen slowly hardens, but the hardening structure depends on the type of oil you are freezing. This is because all cooking oil types do not freeze the same way. Oils can have different freezing points.
The storage life of oils when frozen is extended by up to 24 months. And there are no alterations to its viscosity and texture. It is also quite easy to freeze cooking oil. However, it is important to follow adequate freezing guidelines to keep the oil fresh. All oils will eventually freeze if the temperature is low enough.
The different types of oil possess a difference in their flavors. Freezing will not alter the flavor and so it is completely safe to freeze cooking oil. Also, keep in mind that you do not end up freezing your oils for too long as this might ruin the texture to some extent.
How Does Oil Freeze?
Oil freezes well in the freezer. While there are two effective ways of freezing oil at home, you can choose any one of them to freeze oils. However, make sure the process you are choosing suits the oil type that is being frozen. Check out both methods of oil freezing.
Freezing Cooking Oil In Containers Or Bottles
It is very simple to freeze cooking oil in containers or bottles and does not require much time to do so. This method has a simple 3-step process to store oils effectively.
- Take a clean freezer-safe plastic container and pour the oil into it. Seal the container securely with a lid and keep it away from air contact.
- Leave a headspace of about 2-3 inches at the top of the container. This is because oil tends to expand while being frozen.
- Stack the container with oil safely inside the freezer and keep it straight. And your oil is ready to freeze.
Freezing Cooking Oil As Solid Chunks
While this might seem a slightly more complicated process than the previous method, but will be beneficial for the oil you are freezing. Check out the steps below.
- Take a silicone ice cube tray and fill each of the blocks with oil. Do not fill the blocks completely; leave a little headspace for expansion.
- Flash-freeze the oil in the freezer overnight or until it solidifies completely. The hardened structure might vary from oil to oil.
- Next, remove the tray from the freezer and carefully take out the oil cubes. Because you have used a silicone tray, it will be easier.
- Quickly transfer the cubes of oil into a freezer-safe container, close the lid securely, and your oil is ready to freeze.
What Oils Can Be Frozen?
Plenty of different kinds of cooking oils can be frozen. The process is the same for most oils. However, they all inhibit different freezing capabilities. This is determined by the initial consistency of each oil. Check out a few of the oils that freeze well.
Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oils are regular oils in the kitchen because they are used in a lot of cooking recipes. As far as freezing is concerned, you can freeze vegetable oil effectively by the ice cube method. The consistency of the oil suits this method best.
Vegetable oil is predominantly made from seeds or other parts of fruits and vegetables. The fat structure of this oil does not actually freeze, but preserves. So, you can keep vegetable oil in the freezer for later use.
Freezing increases the shelf life of the oil by up to 24 months without altering the texture of the oil. Do not forget to use highly sealed airtight containers for freezing vegetable oil.
Olive Oil
Olive oil or extra virgin olive oil, both can be frozen equally well. The best way to freeze olive oil is the ice cube method. Olive oil is composed of triglycerides and fatty acids that can crystallize at various temperatures, so you might see some cloudy particles. But that will not affect oil.
Olive oil tends to spoil due to many reasons: improper storage, loose closure, and many more. Therefore, to preserve the oil for longer, freeze the oil effectively. You can store olive oil in the freezer for about 18-24 months, while extra virgin olive oil can be stored for about 12-1 months.
Canola Oil
Well, canola oil can be kept at normal room temperature for a very long time: about a year. And that gives you enough time to finish the oil. This plant-based oil has a very long shelf-life and so does not require freezing.
It is in fact advised against freezing canola oil. This is because the composition of the oil changes when it is frozen. The taste will also be ruined, and the oil may even go rancid as a result. You would not want that, would you?
The purpose of freezing is to extend the storage duration, and canola oil has a sufficient shelf life to be consumed without being wasted. Therefore, avoid freezing the oil. However, if you still want to keep the oil for longer, store them in glass bottles in the refrigerator.
Can You Refreeze Cooking Oil?
Yes, you can refreeze cooking oil. However, it is not recommended to do so because refreezing might sometimes alter the texture of the cooking oil, and you might also notice slight flavor changes. Therefore, to avoid refreezing, defrost only required quantities.
Summing it up, that was all about freezing the types of cooking oils. Along with the mentioned ones, you can also freeze coconut oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil, almond oil, and others. Lastly, you can use your defrosted cooking oils for food dressings, toppings, or for further cooking.