How should the tasting be done?
Pointing out that the tasting is made only in natural extra virgin olive oil obtained naturally without heat treatment, Köseoğlu said that the consumer who buys a product with this feature can start by smelling the product that he has opened the lid of.
When the bottle is opened, 10-15 seconds of sniffing should be done. What did he feel while smelling it, do you have a fruity, fresh smell perception? Grass scent, almond scent or various flower scents should be in a quality olive oil. When we feel the smell of oil paint and thinner in olive oil, we understand that the product is old. Or there is a defect that we call escalation, a feeling similar to the smell of dung can be perceived. Mold, dampness, mud odor, vinegary and sour odors are also undesirable features.
Noting that people generally describe olive oil that burns in the throat as bad, Köseoğlu pointed out that, contrary to what is known, burning and bitterness are indispensable for quality olive oil. Stating that phenolic compounds, which give olive oil its antioxidant properties, add bitterness and burning to the oil, Köseoğlu said, “The oil that we feel a pod-shaped bitterness on our tongue, burning in the nasal passages and a fresh aroma is quality olive oil. Bitterness and burning can disturb people. The longer the burning in your nose lasts, the more antioxidant content olive oil has.
How Long Does Olive Oil Last After Opening?
Olive oil may be essential for the pantry, but there is a time limit on how long it stays fresh. It is made from pressed fresh olives and therefore will be fresh as close to the harvest date as possible and less fresh the farther away it is. Olive oil is good for 1.5 to 2 years after bottling, or 1 to 1.5 years from the harvest date, which is usually labeled on the bottle of higher quality oils.
But this is done assuming the bottle has not been opened. It warns that after opening, the product will begin to deteriorate when exposed to light and oxygen. However, the process is not very fast. In general, opened olive oil has a shelf life of six months after opening. But try to buy smaller bottles and use them within two months, as high-quality oil will lose its flavor much faster.
In the Burhaniye district of Balıkesir, one of the important olive production centers of Turkey, a productive and high quality season is experienced in olive oil. Food engineer Kazım Karabıyık also talked about the ways to preserve the quality of olive oil. Karabıyık said that in order to preserve the quality of olive oil, it should be stored in colored glass bottles and cans. While golden yellow olive oil was flowing from the taps of dozens of olive oil factories in Burhaniye, the high quality made the farmers happy. Olive oils with acidity between 03 and 08 in the region attract great attention. Food engineer Kazım Karabıyık also talked about the ways to preserve the quality of olive oil. Explaining that very high quality olive oils are produced, Karabayık said, “Our 2022-2023 olive harvest season has begun. Very high quality oils are produced. However, we have to comply with the preservation conditions of olive oil. We need to keep the olive oil we buy in our home in colored glass bottles or tin boxes in a cool place. It will be possible to maintain the quality,” he said.
