The Best Ways to Store Fish Oil

Fish oil supplies a large amount of fatty omega-3 acids to the body. This is said to lower the body's production of triglycerides, which can lead to coronary disease and possible heart attacks and strokes. Fish oil is most often purchased in the dietary supplement section of your store and comes in capsule form. However, there is a lot of conflicting advice on how to store fish oil after it has been purchased.

In The Freezer

• One school of thought is that the fish oil capsules or liquid should be stored in the freezer. Fish oil does not freeze, but freezer storage keeps the oil from becoming rancid and keeps the sunlight from leaching the nutritional benefits out of the oil. It is also believed that the cold capsules are easier to swallow. This makes some people believe that freezing the fish oil the best way to store the product.

In The Refrigerator

• This second school of thought uses the same reasoning for keeping the fish oil in the refrigerator. Because you open and close the refrigerator more often than you do the freezer, it is believed you are less likely to forget to take the fish oil capsules daily.

On The Counter

• For most people, storing the fish oil on the counter insures that they will not forget. If you choose to store the capsules this way, make sure they are in a cool area out of direct sunlight. Purchase only the amount of capsules you need for no more than a month. A good compromise might to be placing up to a week's worth of capsules into a second bottle and storing the remainder of the fish oil in the refrigerator or freezer until needed.