Oil yield, physicochemical characteristics, oxidative stability and microbial safety of perilla seeds stored at different relative humidity

•Quality of perilla seed (PS) stored at 11–93 % relative humidity (RH) for 12 weeks was studied.•At 11 % RH, PS oil yield was about 7.5-times greater than the 93 % RH.•At 33–43 % RH, PS showed >8-times lower oxidation than the 11 % and 93 % RH.•2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity was highest at 33–43 % RH.•Yeasts and molds were not grown in PS during storage at 11–53 % RH.