What are some basic practical tips for using delicate oils like flaxseed oil?

Even if a manufacturer used great care in the production of the oil, it will not be safe for you to use unless you take the same degree of care with it. Taking care of a highly unsaturated, delicate oil like flaxseed oil means keeping it refrigerated (and always buying an oil that has been refrigerated in the store), opening it only when in use, and keeping it tightly capped when not. Delicate, highly unsaturated oils should also always be stored in an opaque container so that they can be better protected from light (which can cause rancidity).

Smell and taste all oils before use. If an oil smells like oil paint or leaves a scratchy sensation in the back of your throat, it has already become rancid and should be discarded.

In the case of flaxseed oils and other delicate, highly unsaturated oils, I like purchasing product amounts that can be used within approximately one month’s period of time, despite the claims of manufacturers that their oils, when refrigerated, will last for much longer. This one-month rule might also mean that you will need to buy the oil in a smaller quantity.

Finally, I should point out that when it comes to dietary supplements, flax oil capsules, or combination oil products sold in opaque, gel capsules are more stable than flax oil sold as a bulk liquid. When refrigerated, these capsules will usually remain stable for at least six months, and it’s usually not problematic if the retailer has left them on the shelf at room temperature before you purchased them.

I feel that one of the best ways to benefit from flaxseeds is to buy organic seeds and grind them in a coffee grinder right before use. This practice will not only help to preserve the quality of the oil found in the flaxseeds and reduce the likelihood of rancidity, but it will also provide you with the much broader benefits of a whole natural food. Flaxseeds contain a wide variety of nutrients in addition to their oils, including lignins, fibers, vitamins, minerals and other key phytonutrients.