How long can cooking oil be used/stored?

John M: How long can cooking oil be used/stored?
If you fry with cooking oil do you need to throw out the used oil after the first use or can it be stored and re-used? Does it need to be refigerated? Strained? How long should you keep it if you can use it again?

Answers and Views:

Answer by The Mokoda
I don’t know exactly how long, but it can be kept for quite some time. At least several weeks according to my own experience. Of course, at some point, it might start to take on the flavor of what you’re frying, so at some point it may need to be discarded for that reason.
I usually keep it in an empty coffee can right on the stovetop. I do strain it, but that’s about it.

Answer by TOM
always a good idea to strain your oil,it also depends on what you fry in it as to weather you keep it or not,i mean if you do fish you don’t want to cook something the next day that will get the fish taste through it,as for keeping it i use mine 5/6 times then change

Answer by dorie0371
As long as it smells and tastes OK it is OK to use. I keep my french fry oil in my fryer and I keep the oil I use for fish and clamcakes in a coffee can in the fridge.