I always threw away the oil seal; a colleague had explained to me what it was for.

You have likely noticed the small plastic tabs on olive oil bottles. Perhaps you have even ignored them, thinking they just make opening the bottle more difficult. Think again! These tabs serve a very specific purpose and can actually make your life in the kitchen easier. Before you throw them away, discover why it’s a good idea to keep them. Cooking and Recipes A dual-purpose stopper: This stopper plays an essential role in preserving the oil. It creates a perfect seal, preventing air from entering the bottle. Since air is harmful to olive oil—accelerating oxidation and altering its flavor—this stopper ensures better preservation and extends the oil’s shelf life. Controlling the amount of oil: When preparing a recipe that requires only a small amount of oil, it can sometimes be tricky to control how much pours out of the bottle. As a result, you often end up using more than necessary. But thanks to this plastic tab…