How to Preserve Feta in Olive Oil – Mediterranean Style

Hey feta lovers, I feel you. I LOVE feta, but sometimes I open a package and can’t finish it in time and it just goes bad in about 2 days. So I found the perfect method to avoid this: I preserve feta in olive oil, adding lots of spices, herbs and flavour!

BUT WHY SHOULD YOU PRESERVE FETA IN OLIVE OIL?

Well, feta which is preserved in brine goes bad really easily once you open it! This happens because the brine protects it from air (and gives it that salty and slightly sour flavour). Once you open the package and discard the brine, the cheese dries out and becomes sharply sour. To avoid this, you should store feta in the fridge in an air-tight container and fully covered with the brine. However, the brands that I find here in Italy have packaging that cannot be closed and don’t have a lot of brine to entirely cover the cheese afterwards. So I figured I should do it the old and traditional way!

People have always preserved food in olive oil, especially here in Italy and in Mediterranean countries, where we preserve cheese, fish and vegetables. It’s a natural preservative which protects food from air and delays molding!
Of course you could also make your own brine with salt and water, but I think olive oil just gives it so much flavour and complexity.

SAFETY TIPS FOR PRESERVING FOOD IN OLIVE OIL

Always make sure that your jars, containers and tools are dry and clean. I suggest using glass jars with an airtight lid. Make sure you jar/container isn’t damaged or leaking.

Then you only have to make sure that the oil is covering the food completely. Whatever raises above the surface won’t be protected anymore. Once you covered everything in oil, cover tightly and store it in your pantry! There’s no need to put it in the fridge, unless you prefer to eat it cold, of course.

I also have some jar recommendations for you!

• For the UK: this Kilner 0.5l jar
• For the US: these Bormioli Rocco jars (the same that I have)

WHAT SPICES/HERBS SHOULD YOU ADD?

It depends on your taste and on the food you’re preserving! For feta, I like to keep it mediterranean. I add fresh garlic, oregano, dried chillies, a few peppercorns and some lemon zest. But you can customize it! Add whatever you like: basil, parsley, rosemary, mint, za’atar, coriander, cardamom, etc.

How to Preserve Feta in Olive Oil

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 7 days

Total Time: 7 days 5 minutes

Learn how to preserve food in olive oil and give it awesome flavour!

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Ingredients

• 1 block of feta cheese (mine was 200 g)
• 2 garlic gloves, sliced
• 10 black peppercorns
• 5 dried chillies
• 2 tsp of fresh or dried oregano
• 400 ml of extra-virgin olive oil (or enough to fill the jar, depends on size)

Equipment

• Glass jar with air-tight lid (mine was 500 ml)

Instructions

1. Cut feta into cubes. Then put it in a clean jar. Add all the other ingredients and cover entirely in olive oil.
2. Once everything is covered in oil, seal tightly and store in the pantry for at least one week before consuming. It will last indefinitely stored in a cool and dark pantry.

Notes

• Use dry and clean glass jars with an air-tight lid.
• Don't discard the oil! Once you ate all the feta, you can cut another block and just add it to the jar.