We just opened a new bottle of olive oil, and I thought I'd try a sip to see how it tasted. Therre was a mild olive flavour, and then a burning feeling in the back of my throat. Is this oil rancid, or is that just how straight oil tastes?

(If this is not the right forum, could someone please move this? Thanks!)

Kipling

Is it extra-virgin, unfiltered or from a small producer?

Sometimes very young oils with a high acid content leave a burning sensation. Some people like it, some don't. A rancid oil smells stale and has a "soapy" tasting quality to it.

More generic oils like Colavita or Bertolli do not have this quality. They are mild and cleanly olive-y.

I hope this helps.

Karen

It is the 3l Cotsco bottle:
SOLON Extra Virgin Oive Oil
First Cold Pressed
Acidity 0-1%

Should I decant half and keep in the fridge, and keep the other half handy for cooking? What is the avaerage shelf life for olive oil, please?

Thank you for your help!

Kipling

Depending on how much you use, I would put it into either 1/2 liter or three liter bottles for storage in the fridge.

Olive oil should last unrefrigerated for at least a month.

Karen

Thanks for all your help, Karen!

Wow! only a month? I will get some in the fridge immediately! My guess is, that in the absence of any soapy taste, and since the bottle was newly opened, the 'after-burn' was due to it being 'extra-virgin' olive oil.

I did buy a bottle of Bertolli Extra-Light, just to compare the taste, and there was no afterburn.

Kipling

If memory serves, Bertolli is either cut with a vegetable oil, or it's not extra virgin, hence the "light". That's why there is no burn. You probably noticed that the taste was not very distinctive. Try a bottle of Bertolli extra virgin when you run out and compare.

Karen

Bang on. Bertolli Light is just plain olive oilm, and has no distinctive taste. We now have 1.6l in the fridge.

Thanks for all your help!

Kipling