Is Your Flaxseed Rancid?

Fresh flaxseed oil clear, golden-yellow color free of cloudiness. Flaxseed oil might contain particulates of ground flaxseed. These particulates contain lignans, a beneficial class of phytoestrogen, and the label is marked “high-lignan.” To check for rancidity, pour a tablespoon or two of flaxseed oil in a wine glass and hold it up to the light while tilting it slightly. If you notice haziness or a dark-brown or dark yellow color, you have rancid flaxseed oil. Rancid flaxseeds have a discolored, cracked, soft or otherwise damaged seed coats.

How to Know Whether Flaxseed Oil is Fresh or Rancid

Flax oil has a mild nuttiness like raw sunflower seeds or sesame seeds. Fresh flaxseed oil gives a ligtness when inhaled. To check the aroma of flaxseed oil, pour a few tablespoons in a wine glass, the shape makes a the aroma more perceivable. Put your nose in the wineglass and inhale deeply. Rancid flaxseed oil has a burnt and bitter odor. A smell similar to used frying oil. Any smell that deviates from nutty and leans toward bitter or burned indicates rancidity.

Fresh flaxseed tastes like it smells—clean, crisp and mildly nutty. To taste flaxseed oil to check for rancidity, coat the back of a spoon with the oil and let the excess drip off. Rub the back of the spoon over your tongue, making sure it touches the entire surface, and rub your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Or, if testing flaxseeds, chew a few and check for a burnt or bitter flavor.

Stores flaxseed oil and capsules in dark containers to minimize contact with light. Store the containers in the refrigerator or a dark cupboard. Grind flaxseeds as needed; ground flaxseeds start to oxidize as soon as you grind them. Flaxseed has a shelf life of one year when stored in a dark container. Never cook flax or store it above room temperature.

Benefits of Fiber and Omega-3″s in Flaxseed

Flax seeds contain 42 grams of fat, 28 grams of carbohydrates and 18 grams of protein for every 100 grams in weight. Today flaxseeds are considered a superfood, primarily due to three key elements.

Fiber

Omega 3-fats

Lignans.

Flaxseeds can be brown or golden. You can grind them in a coffee bean grinder. They can be used in soups, or steamed veggies and smoothies. You can find them in the bulk bins or refrigerated packages. Once brought home they should be refrigerated.