Expired flaxseed oil where to use. rapid oxidation spoils the product and leads to a fire

Some describe the taste of linseed oil as delicately nutty with a noble bitterness, while others find it unpleasantly fishy and frankly bitter. Tastes, as they say, do not argue. But in many ways taste qualities flaxseed oil and its undeniable beneficial properties depend on where, how and how well you store it.

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Linseed oil, even more than other vegetable oils, is affected by the environment. Upon contact with air and sunlight, that is, in the process of oxidation and under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, fatty acids polymerize and break down. They undergo structural changes that transform all usefulness into harm. High humidity and too high or low temperatures (heat treatment and freezing) are also detrimental to the oil.

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Flaxseed oil is best stored in a glass bottle, preferably dark in color, with a narrow neck and tight-fitting lid. The optimal temperature range is from 5 to 25 ℃, humidity is moderate, in other words, ordinary room conditions are quite suitable.

Buying linseed oil be sure to pay attention to the expiration dates, specified by the manufacturer. As a rule, they are 6-12 months from the date of manufacture. If the oil is packed in a cardboard box, do not throw it away, but keep the oil at home right in it, placing it in a dark, cool place, for example, in a kitchen cabinet located away from the battery and stove, with blind (opaque) doors.

Unrefined linseed oil can also be stored in the refrigerator, but only on the door, otherwise it will thicken. It is permissible to form a small precipitate; it is considered normal when it does not exceed 1% of the total volume.

After opening the cork, the shelf life of linseed oil is reduced to 2-4 weeks, and so that it does not lose its useful properties The oil container must be tightly closed immediately after each use.

When opening a bottle of flaxseed oil, write down the date on the label to keep track of how long it will last. Turbidity, the appearance of a whitish film or flakes on the surface, a rancid taste are signs of a spoiled product. This oil must be discarded.

How is flaxseed oil used?

cooking

In traditional Russian cuisine, linseed oil was one of the important ingredients in many (especially lenten) dishes; its share in total production vegetable oils was more than 40%. To date, the popularity of linseed oil is not so high, but it is growing rapidly among adherents. healthy eating. For food and other household purposes use refined or cold-pressed oil (pressed when heated to 45 ℃).

Do not use linseed oil for frying.

Salads are seasoned with linseed oil, vegetable side dishes or cereals, desserts made from dairy products. You need to add it not to hot, but to cold or warm dishes; never use for frying: any heat treatment will harm him.

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Food seasoned with linseed oil should be eaten immediately, avoiding its prolonged exposure to air. When exposed to oxygen, the oil rapidly oxidizes and forms toxic free radicals.

  • mix it with any other vegetable - sunflower, olive, corn - in a ratio of 1: 2, that is, add 1 tablespoon of linseed oil to 2 tablespoons of your favorite oil;
  • put in a container with linseed oil spices or a crushed clove of garlic, seal tightly and let it brew for several days.
A little trick: to extend the shelf life of flaxseed oil after opening it, you can pour edible rock salt into the bottle at the rate of 1 teaspoon per 1 liter. Salt must first be calcined for 2-3 minutes in a hot, dry frying pan and cool.

Cosmetology

The composition of linseed oil includes wonderful "female rejuvenators" - vitamin E (tocopherol), a complex of omega acids and phytosterols. Therefore, we recommend using it as a component of face masks. Moreover, linseed oil “works” well with all types of skin: it nourishes and smoothes dry skin, mattifies and makes oily skin velvety, and also helps to eliminate acne and age spots.

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Medicine

Mentioning the Omega complex, it must be said that the proportion of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the composition of linseed oil is almost 90%. These include linolenic (Omega-3), linoleic (Omega-6) and oleic (Omega-9). In terms of the content of essential acids Omega-3, flaxseed oil is practically the champion among products - it is twice as fast as fish oil!

Flaxseed oil is of particular value:

  • for women during pregnancy - ensures the correct formation and development of the central nervous system of the fetus;
  • for children - promotes full healthy growth;
  • for vegetarians who refused to eat fish;
  • for adherents of a healthy diet and those wishing to get rid of excess weight;
  • for the elderly - as a means to reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood and strengthen of cardio-vascular system which is an effective prevention of heart attacks and strokes.

Linseed oil intended for use in medical purposes, is available in the form of capsules that have an accurate dosage and a sealed coating. This form well protects the oil from environmental influences, which significantly increases its shelf life. If you are using flaxseed oil capsules, still keep the package away from heat and light in moderate humidity.

Flaxseed oil has long had a wide range of applications, as it contains many useful substances that have a beneficial effect on the human body. However, with long or improper storage, it loses its properties. In order for this valuable product to remain suitable for consumption as long as possible, you need to take care of it. proper storage.


Varieties

Getting it valuable product- a well-established process in those regions where flax grows. However, there are different ways its production, affecting the qualitative composition of the final product. The most saturated with useful substances is oil produced by cold pressing.

Raw materials are cleaned, crushed and put under a press. The resulting product has a beautiful color, it has a taste and a light aroma. It preserves as much as possible useful components that contained raw materials. Such oil can be distinguished visually - it may contain a cloudy precipitate. This perishable product, although the most expensive.

Not refined oil may be hydrated, that is, treated with water to remove sediment-forming substances; a small amount of sediment is sometimes present. The product retains almost all of the properties inherent in unrefined oil, however, the hydration process removes some of the beneficial components.


On sale you can find refined linseed oil. It is obtained from unrefined by mechanical and chemical processing. There is no sediment in it, it is stored longer, has a mild taste, color and aroma.

Refined oil can undergo another purification - deodorization. Deodorized oil is transparent, there is no sediment in it, it has practically no taste and smell.


It should be understood that each subsequent processing, although it prolongs the shelf life of the product, reduces the content of useful substances in it, and, therefore, makes it cheaper and less valuable. Nevertheless, each type of oil finds its application in different areas of life.

In industry, it is used to make drying oil and quick-drying oil paints; natural linoleum is made from it. However, the abundance of useful substances makes it an indispensable product for a healthy diet, in medicine and cosmetology.



Useful properties and application

Useful properties of the oil are given by the polyunsaturated fatty acids contained in it, vitamins and trace elements. Their diversity in composition is great, and this makes the oil suitable product under various conditions of the body.

It is enough to consume one to two tablespoons of the product per day to:

  • normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • heal lesions on the gastric mucosa and prevent their occurrence;
  • reduce blood pressure;
  • reduce the risk of acquiring cardiovascular diseases;
  • strengthen blood vessels, improve their elasticity and cleanse them of cholesterol;
  • regulate metabolic processes in the body;
  • improve the body, improve immunity;
  • prevent weight gain;
  • look good, have healthy hair and nails;
  • quickly restore health after illnesses and operations;
  • normalize menstrual cycle among women.



A small dose, not exceeding a teaspoon, can be given to a child. He will become stronger, smarter and more resilient.

You should know that the beneficial properties of the oil as food additive appear only if you take the oil as such, and do not use it for cooking fried or baked dishes: heat treatment leads to the formation of carcinogens. Therefore, add it to ready-made, but not hot, dishes or use it as a dressing for salads.

It must be remembered that polyunsaturated acids lose their properties very quickly when exposed to air. This means that you need to add oil only before the direct serving of the dish on the table. Don't overcharge large portions- storage, even in the refrigerator, they are not subject.

You should not take too large doses of oil - this will lead to diarrhea, badly affect the liver, and cause other unpleasant conditions. Also, the oil is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance and some chronic diseases and when taken in combination with some medicines. In the presence of diseases, it would be useful to consult a doctor.

In cosmetology, it is used for various skin lesions, used as a wound healing agent. It can be added to creams and masks. The oil perfectly moisturizes the skin, relieves dryness, irritation and peeling. Just do not need to prepare large portions of funds - they are not stored for a long time.

The product can also be used as a hair mask. It will have a good effect on split ends, strengthen hair follicles, help restore hair after dyeing, and make it more silky.

It is also useful to periodically treat them with nails. The oil will help with their delamination and brittleness, will help restore their elasticity and shine.

If for ingestion you need to take unrefined oil, then more purified or with preservative additives is quite suitable for adding to cosmetics, and therefore has a longer shelf life.



How and where to keep?

All the numerous properties of the product will be manifested if it is fit for consumption, has not lost its freshness. The expiration date indicated on the packaging refers to the product in the unopened container of the manufacturer. But the fact is that after its opening, linseed oil can be stored for about a month. Unsuitable storage conditions accelerate the process of loss of useful qualities.

To prevent this from happening, keep open oil Right. It would be useful to write down the date you opened the bottle on the label. First of all, temperature control is very important.

The destruction of polyunsaturated acids and vitamins begins when the mark is exceeded at 23. The temperature of 18–23 is considered optimal. The product can be stored in the refrigerator door. Low temperatures may cause the product to thicken or precipitate. It's not scary - room temperature it will return to its original state. In no case should you heat it in the microwave or using a water bath.

It is very important to take care that sunlight does not fall on it, which will start the oxidation processes. Therefore, the product should be stored in a dry dark place.



You also need to take care of the storage container. It is best if darkened glass or high-quality ceramics are used for its manufacture, since the substances contained in the container should not enter into chemical interaction with the elements of the oil.

If you bought oil in a plastic container, then after opening it, you need to pour it into a glass, preferably brown, bottle with a narrow neck and a tight-fitting cork. If you do not have a dark bottle on hand, then a light one for better storage wrap with thick paper.

The storage location should not be located near stoves or heating appliances.

Be sure to minimize the contact time of the oil with air. Remember to close the cap on the bottle tightly immediately after each use to reduce the time the oil is exposed to air, which oxidizes it. For the same reason, oil should be stored in a bottle with a narrow neck.


Where is the best place to buy?

Since flaxseed oil cannot be stored for a long time after opening, you should not buy it in a large package, more than 0.5 liters, it is unreasonable to purchase it. Today, you can buy flaxseed oil in the store, and in the pharmacy, and in the market. On the market, it is sometimes offered to purchase for bottling. And although in this case you can buy a small amount of it, you should still refuse such a purchase - it is very difficult to create favorable storage conditions for the product on the market, it is not protected from temperature extremes and exposure to air.

It is safer to buy in a store where the oil is sold in a dark glass bottle, hermetically sealed at the factory.


In pharmacies, you can buy flaxseed oil in capsules. This is very convenient because:

  • the product is dosed - it contains the daily rate;
  • long shelf life;
  • is better protected from harmful effects environment, destructive processes are slow, and the oil remains suitable for the entire stated period on the package;
  • in capsules, as a rule, there is only a product obtained by cold pressing, that is, everything useful material it is maximally preserved;
  • convenient to store or take with you on the road; Just keep it away from heat and direct sunlight.


You can somewhat extend the service life using the folk canning method. You need to add the usual table salt at the rate of half a teaspoon per 0.5 liters of oil. At the same time, be sure to follow the other storage rules.

The popularity of linseed oil as a carrier of components that are especially useful for the human body is becoming more and more every year.

People acquire this product, unique in its composition, in different quantities and natural, in connection with this, the question becomes: how and where to store linseed oil.

How storage affects the properties of linseed oil

  • as a useful food supplement;
  • for the treatment of certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, heart;
  • for cosmetic purposes;
  • with dietary nutrition;
  • to improve the condition of wool in animals;
  • as a prophylactic.

For different purposes, a certain dosage and frequency of taking linseed oil is required. As a result, special attention must be paid to how to store flaxseed oil. It should be understood that improper storage can not only reduce the activity of beneficial properties, but also cause intestinal disorders and disorders in the work of many systems.

Particular attention should be paid to how to store linseed oil after opening the bottle. Because high content fatty acids is the main reason for the rapid drying of the oil composition in air, when the molecules of fatty acids stick together to form polymer units. As a result of this reaction, the polymers differ in their characteristics from the previous molecules, which provokes the loss of the beneficial properties of flax.

Storage Requirements

People who use this product for long-term therapeutic or preventive procedures should follow certain rules on how to store flaxseed oil after opening.

Should be considered:

  1. After opening, the oil bottle cannot be stored without a cap.
  2. Products in which oil has been added - salads, cereals, should be eaten immediately.
  3. Since open oil quickly oxidizes, allowing free radicals to form, close the lid immediately after taking the required amount.
  4. A place to store cold-pressed linseed oil or unrefined composition is a refrigerator in which the temperature does not exceed 5 degrees.
  5. When sediment appears, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the product can be used further only on the condition that this sediment is no more than 1% of the total volume.
  6. Refined linseed oil is stored in a dark cool place.
  7. If the oil is rarely used, then it is better to purchase a small amount of it - a small bottle of 100 g.
  8. The shelf life of the purchased oil can be found on the packaging or in the instructions attached to the product. Each manufacturer has its own storage requirements.
  9. Fresh flaxseed oil has little or no nutty flavor. unrefined fresh oil may be slightly bitter. If rancidity is felt in the oil, it has already deteriorated and cannot be used for food.

The shelf life of linseed oil after opening is standard - no more than two weeks, if stored in a cool place. No more than 1 month should be stored medicines that are prepared on the basis of linseed oil and other types of fat-containing components - vitamin E, fish oil, etc. It concerns cosmetics, prepared at home and mixtures for animals.

According to generally accepted standards, bottled flax oil is stored at a temperature of no more than 23 degrees in a dark place, with low humidity. Shelf life if properly stored and unopened is 1 year from date of manufacture.

How long flaxseed oil is stored depends on how it is prepared in working conditions. Flaxseed oil, which goes on sale, is:

  • refined;
  • cold pressed.

Refined oil can be stored longer than cold-pressed flaxseed oil. In any case, you must follow the instructions on the packaging. By useful characteristics unrefined oil in the process of pressing using low temperatures leaves more beneficial vitamins, and refined - fatty acids. The only difference is the shelf life.

In no case should flax oil be boiled or used after the statute of limitations has expired.

How to choose linseed oil

How useful linseed oil will be, storage affects, of course, in the first place.

But it is also worth paying attention when buying this product to other equally important features.

There are some important factors to consider:

  1. There are several forms of production of linseed oil. It is sold in bottles of 100 ml, 250 ml, 500 ml and 1 liter, as well as in the form of capsules. Preference should be given to small packages if the intended service life is not more than 2 weeks.
  2. Large bottles of flaxseed oil are best used for large animals or a large number of people.
  3. Very convenient for long term the use of flax oil as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent - capsules. They already have a dosed composition that is easy to use with a single application.
  4. When choosing linseed oil, you need to look at the date of manufacture - the oil must be fresh.
  5. The packaging in which the oil is stored must be dry, especially for capsules. High humidity can cause rapid deterioration of the product when it is opened.
  6. Do not sound the alarm if a precipitate has formed in the purchased oil. This is often the case with cold-pressed oils.
  7. You should pay attention to how linseed oil is stored in a pharmacy or store. If the requirements are violated, it is worth finding another place to buy it.
  8. If the oil is used as an oral supplement or treatment, care should be taken to ensure that there are no additional impurities in the oil. Such options can only be welcomed in cosmetology.

It should be remembered that flax oil is beneficial only under the condition right choice and storage.

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