How long can you keep cooking oil stored in its original container? Does it ever go stale, or ';spoil';?

My friend has some cooking oil that is 6 years old! He insists that oil never stales, and that it's safe to use forever! I beg to differ, although the oil looks oaky, who is right? I think he needs to trash it, he says keep it!How long can you keep cooking oil stored in its original container? Does it ever go stale, or ';spoil';?
your in luck i used to work for bunge oil and i can tell you that it does not really spoil what happens is that it loses it power and wont really keep things afloat if you know what i meanHow long can you keep cooking oil stored in its original container? Does it ever go stale, or ';spoil';?
oil will keep indefinitly but in time all food oxidizes and that changes flavor color and taste not to good. best to always use fresh products.
Oil does go bad!


I would not want to eat anything cooked in old oil.
yes oil gets old and it may have a funny taste and smell, but it will not hurt you. It will make your food taste funny. But if it is mold do not use because there is something besides oil in the bottle.
i'VE NEVER REALLY HAD IT SPOIL OR GO STAIL ON ME AND I DONT REALLY USE MINE A WHOLE LOT. SO I'D SAY JUST SMELL IT OR SOMETHING BEFROE YOU USE IT.....LOL
no...oil does go stale...it develops a sticky feeling and smells too...why take the risk of posing serious health hazards like cancer? better use hygienic stuff and renew ur oil in intervals...
Depends on the type of oil as to how long it will take. Certain nut oils will go bad VERY VERY fast, much like the nut itself will go rancid fast. These oils, you may want to keep in the freezer. (mostly oils for flavor, i.e. sesame oil)





Olive oil will last longer than those nut oils, but you will be able to tell a flavor difference when they have started to go bad. Until the flavor is unbearable, you can use olive oil that has started to go bad as regular pan frying oil. Make sure you keep these in a cool dark place.





Most safflower/sunflower/peanut/vegetable oils will last a LONG LONG time as long as it isn't hot, or in direct sunlight.





I think it has to do with the monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and polysaturated natures ... or something like that.
umm...i wouldn't keep it unused for over 6 months.