Ruth C. Hoffman writes,
<quote>Alla, how would one know if one's flax seeds were rancid? (Can you
guess
what never-opened package lurks in a corner of my cupboard?)<end quote>
Ruth,
Rancidity is fairly easy to detect unless you have a bad cold. Rancid oils
have a very unpleasant smell, sort of a mixture between musty and burned. To
find out if your flax seeds have gone rancid (if they were stored in a
cupboard, I'm pretty sure they have, even if they were vacuum-packed), grind
a small amount and smell them. If you're still in doubt, taste them, and if
they have a bitter taste or aftertaste, throw them out.
Alla
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