Old oils and vinegars

lazycatmama

I'm sorry if this has been discussed previously, but I can't find an answer. I've just been checking my oils and vinegars and some are way beyond the best before dates. I will keep ordinary vinegar (white and malt) forever, but what about apple cider vinegar, flavoured vinegars and wine vinegars? They get a bit sedimenty, but is that a problem? I also have several bottles of oil including sesame oil and they have BB dates from 2023 onwards. Would you still use them? Does the type of oil affect the answer? Does it matter if they are unopened? I'm not asking for a definitive answer, just trying to get a feel for what others would do. 

freyasmum

I reckon the vinegars would be fine - and if you don't want to use them, they make the best fruit fly traps. A small bowl of vinegar and a splash of washing up liquid and you'll be fly-free in no time. 

The oils I'd be more wary of, as they go rancid. I'd test them and, if they seem OK would use them. Any off smells and away they go.

-taff

The vinegars will probably be fine, but the oils may have become rancid. Open and smell, if they smell off, bin them. You can't mistake the smell of off oil. Keep oils in a dark cupboard or in the dark somewhere and it will increase their shelf life. 

Floss

Also, if you have old rancid oils, DON'T pour them down the sink. Your local HWRC (tip) should have an oil recycling facility.