Does olive oil need to be refridgerated?

No it does not need to be refrigerated. however if you do then it will turn smoky or muggy but will not spoil. It will get back to its normal state once you remove from refrigerator and leave it to room temperature. Also note to store your olive oil in a glass container and with a tight seal. Make sure it is not a plastic container. It will be rancid after a while.

Buying and Storing Olive Oil

Buying oil in small sizes, or splitting larger bottles with friends, is a practical way to buy expensive oils. Oil purchased in bulk should always be poured into smaller containers, preferably in a can or a dark-colored bottle.

Air, heat, and light will cause olive oil to turn rancid (rancid is the flavor which is imparted in an oil after it has undergone the process of oxidation. Since prolonged contact with oxygen is the rot cause of oxidation, rancidity is a common defect, so it should be stored in a cool place in an airtight container).

Store at a temperature of 14 degrees C. or 57 degrees F. If you have a wine cellar, store your olive oils there and keep a small amount in your kitchen. Always replace the cap on the bottle. Do not put olive oil in a container without a tight cap.

When chilled, or in cold weather, the oil may turn cloudy and even solidify. Such oil will clear again as it warms, so cloudiness should not be taken as an indication that the oil is part its prime. Be sure bottles are tightly sealed. Olive oil can be refrigerated but doing so will cause it to congeal and turn cloudy, but should not affect flavor. If refrigerated, olive oil will return to its original, liquid state when warmed to room temperature again.

Tinted glass, porcelain, or stainless steel are the best materials for containers; oil should never be stored in plastic or in reactive metals. Stay away from plastic containers as the oil can absorb PVCs.

Yes . I buy mine from a good Greek grocery store in a 3 liter tin. I pour out what I will be using for a week into a sealable glass bottle and refrigerate the rest.

Many posters have recommended storing it at "room temperature" and it's a fallacy.

Room temperature as you may or may not know is often used when referring to wine storage and the room it refers to is either a wine cellar or a cave which is usually around 55 degrees or so.The term does not refer to your cozy warm 73+ degree house.

Cool is better.

No, not at all. Unless you've infused it with other flavors.

Use more olive oil anyway. I can barely keep a bottle around here for 1 month. It goes in everything I make.

No. However, olive oils that have other items mixed in must be kept away from sunlight. The organic matter in the oil can have a negative reaction to sunlight and that can affect taste and maybe more.

No. Just wipe off the mouth of the bottle thoroughly before closing the cap tightly. Olive oil turns cloudy and syrupy in the refigerator.

No. But, you should keep it closed and in a cool, dry location (like a pantry). Oil left open or in too warm locations will go rancid.

no, olive oil can be room temperature, i keep mine in the pantry with the other spices

Nope.

NO! It thickens when refrigerated,Room temperate is just fine!