| Pantry | Refrigerator | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole | - | 3-5 Months | - |
Shelf Life of Olives:
Olives are from the family of Oleaceae, and they are fruits that grow on the trees. They also belong to drapes. If obtained directly from the tree, they can be eaten right away. If you are buying canned olives, they can be consumed until their date and can also last for 1-2 years past this date if they remain unopened. If they are opened once, they can be consumed for up to 3-4 months past the printed date. If dipped in oil, they must be consumed by the date printed and otherwise must be kept in the refrigerator, so can last for up to 2-3 months.
Purchasing Olives:
The sense of smell can tell the freshness of any fruit. Old olives will have a bad odor, and their texture and color will differ from their natural color. Rotten olives will have spoilage at their corners from which seeds come out, and there will be bruises on the skin. Also, when buying canned olives, apart from looking at their expiry date, you can also check their lid; if it is dome-shaped rather than flat, then the olives are probably not fresh. After buying, you must hear the pop from the lid. Otherwise, the seal has been broken.
Storing Olives:
Storing olives must be done with special care. If they are opened, before placing them in the refrigerator, they must be placed in an airtight container, being fully submerged in their liquid. If they are unopened, they can be kept at a temperature, or around 23 degrees Celsius, or below. Storing also depends on the type of olives. Some olives are also stored dry, usually using dry cured-in salt. Above all, refrigeration and storing them in an airtight container is the best solution to keep them and to give them a long-lasting life to be used for later purposes.
How to Handle Olives
Olives can become rotten and bitter in taste with the passage of time. Thus, there are different techniques and methods which are used to handle them, and if they have to be stored for a long time, and to prevent them from turning purple. For example, green olives can be cured by using a water cure technique by first cutting them first and then covering them with water in a plastic bag so that it can penetrate. This water must be changed every day, and these olives are covered in brine, so they can last for up to one year. Also, choosing the right seasoning and placing them in the fridge can make them last longer.
Cooking With Olives:
Olives are a complete package of minerals. They contain calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, vitamins, selenium, and natrium. Thus, to have them, these can be added to any dish that you want. They are mostly added as toppings to pizza and pasta. They are also processed and transformed into oils, so other dishes can be cooked using olive oils. The most suggested olive oil is extra virgin olive oil. Also, olives are used in pickles to enhance the taste of your meal. Many Mediterranean and Italian dishes contain olives, such as Mediterranean chicken and tapenade costini.