How to distinguish correctly if a long stored coconut oil is still usable?
I have just discovered there is a passed BBD (best before date) purified coconut in the storage. This is also the first time for me to know what is a purified coconut because of the search/research of the captioned matter.
It appeared to be pale yellowish with white precipitation (photo is 99% matching the actual situation).
It is never opened before. I did try to smell and taste, because it is purified from aroma, no odour is smelled. It tastes neutral, tasteless, no bad taste or odour particularly.
I wonder if it is still safe to consume. Why does it become more yellowish even if it doesn't open? And since it is summer here, it is supposed to be in full liquid form, I wonder what is the precipitate?
Here is the photo for reference.
Best Answer
Oddly [at least to me] the shelf life of refined coconut oil is much shorter than that of virgin.
The 5 signs of it going off are:-
Yellow colour
Blotchy or chunky
Black oil spots
Bitter or sour smell
Sour flavour.
Now, to me that looks a tad yellow - but as I live in the UK where coconut oil is generally a solid except for a week in July, it's not something I'm used to seeing. Melt point is about 24?
I've had jars of virgin coconut oil that are still good three years past their sell-by, opened from new & just left in the pantry, but I don't really have any experience with refined. I buy it for the huge coconutty flavour-boost so refined doesn't suit my use-case.
The sediment doesn't really bother me, though again it's something I almost never see in liquid form in the jar. Personally, I'd call it OK if it doesn't smell or taste - perhaps try gently heating some just to see if any odour is being masked by it being cooler. It's unlikely to have gone mouldy if unopened, so there's only the slightly yellow colour that bothers me at all. Maybe shake it up & put it in the fridge for a day to see what it looks like as a solid. It should look like a jar of fresh snow.
Pictures about "How to distinguish correctly if a long stored coconut oil is still usable?"
Quick Answer about "How to distinguish correctly if a long stored coconut oil is still usable?"
How do you know if coconut oil has gone bad?
If the coconut oil you have on hand looks like it has changed from its creamy white color into another unusual shade, chances are it has gone bad. A yellowish color, marbled appearance, and black or moldy-looking spots are all bad signs for coconut oil.Does coconut oil really expire?
Coconut oil has a long shelf life, but it is perishable and will go bad. You can prolong the shelf life of coconut oil by storing it properly in an airtight container in a cool place. Only use coconut oil if you're sure it hasn't become rancid. Discard expired coconut oil immediately.CAN expired coconut oil be used?
As already mentioned, coconut oil doesn't go bad after the date on the label. It's okay to use for months or even years after that date if stored properly. That means that as long as your oil is fit for consumption, using it as a hair care product shouldn't cause any issues.How do you store coconut oil for a long time?
There's no need to refrigerate coconut oil. It'll last a long time\u2014up to two years\u2014in your pantry. Just keep the lid on tight. Depending on how warm it gets where you live, your oil might go from solid to liquid in the jar.4 YEARS EXPIRED!!! Coconut Oil \u0026 Preparedness - Long Term Food Storage 🌴 🥥
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Dana Tentis, Ron Lach, Karen Laårk Boshoff, Nout Gons