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How Long Does Coconut Oil Last?

How long does coconut oil last? Since virgin coconut oil has a fairly long shelf life, many people ask "does coconut oil go bad"? The shelf life of coconut oil depends on the best by date, the processing method to retrieve the oil, and how the coconut oil is stored. Coconut oil is a "healthy fat" which is composed of 50% lauric acid, an essential fatty-acid that boosts immunity. In fact, the only other place that such high levels of lauric acid are found is in human breast milk. Coconut oil has such extensive health benefits that it is even used a medicine in many cultures. For the long list of health benefits visit the coconut research center. It also makes an interesting sub for butter.

There are two types of oil; refined, which is either "expeller pressed" where a machine extracts the oil then uses steam to distill or "RBD" which uses chemical solvents to extract the oil and the other is unrefined, also called "virgin" or "extra-virgin" which contains the most nutrition.

Coconut oil is generally stamped with a "best by" date 18 months from production. It should not turn rancid before this time unless you have introduced some type of contaminant, but should last beyond this time as in the table below.

So, does coconut oil go bad? When properly stored, the shelf life of coconut oil past its purchase date or best-by date is approximately ...

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Coconut Oil Expiration Date

	Pantry
	Past Printed Date
Refined Coconut Oil lasts for	2 - 3 Months
Virgin or Extra-virgin Coconut Oil lasts for	Indefinite

Of course, coconut oil lasts for a shorter period of time if it is not stored properly. Containers usually have a best before date which is a date set by the manufacturer to guarantee best product quality and not an expiration date or an expression of safety.

How to tell if Coconut Oil is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Use your senses to determine if coconut oil has gone bad. There is always a rancid smell to spoiled oil which you will notice when opening the jar. The white oil will also begin to turn slightly yellow in color. Virgin or extra-virgin varieties last for years after the "best-by" date, at least 3-5 and some manufacturers say it is indefinite.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Coconut Oil to extend its shelf life?

Coconut oil should be stored in the pantry. It can be safely stored in either a liquid form, which it is in warmer climates (above 76°F), or in a solid state, which it is in cooler climates. Either form of storage is fine.

Coconut oil can be stored in the fridge or freezer, but it is not recommended because it makes the oil so hard that it becomes very difficult to use.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

How long is Coconut Oil good for when prepared in a dish?

Does coconut oil go bad? That depends. How long do bakery products last? In general, all foods last only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the dish.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Coconut Oil lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Coconut Oil.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Coconut Oil shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!