It is unlikely that anyone will dare to dispute the value of flaxseed oil. Its healing properties have been known for a long time. Today it has found application in medicine, cosmetology, cooking and dietary nutrition. It is important for people who care about their health to purchase a quality product and know how to store flaxseed oil.

Types, properties and applications of the product

Like all vegetable oils, flaxseed is produced in refined and unrefined ways:

  • The unrefined product is healthier for the body, since it is only cleared of debris that enters it from the seeds. All valuable substances remain unchanged.
  • During refining, the oil is bleached, exposed to cold, high temperature, alkali, washed with water, and the odor is removed. It becomes neutral, so the range of its application expands significantly.

Note to the hostess

If you see flaxseed oil in a product, do not think that it is healthy. For its production, a refined substance was used, which has no beneficial properties. These products are used for the production of semi-finished products, baby food, baked goods, fats, spreads, as well as varnishes, paints, and floor coverings.

Many people do not like the taste of flaxseed oil product, which has a peanut flavor with a pleasant bitterness. For them, the pharmacy sells gelatin capsules, which have a number of advantages:

  • easier to swallow, no taste;
  • the contents do not interact with air;
  • in capsules the product is only cold pressed;
  • available for use anywhere.

Blisters with capsules are kept in a box and maintained at the recommended temperature.

Indications and contraindications for the use of flaxseed oil

As a cosmetic product, flaxseed essence is used to care for the face, hair, and hands. The skin becomes velvety and moisturized. Hair becomes stronger along its entire length, acquires shine and a well-groomed appearance.

How to store “fragrant gold”

Flaxseed oil is a tricky product. Improper storage leads to a change in its properties in a short period of time.

The shelf life of linseed oil depends on several indicators:

  • Light - The contents of the bottle are negatively affected not only by sunlight, but also by artificial lighting. Under its influence, fatty acids are destroyed. Half an hour is enough for the oil product to lose its healing properties.
  • Warm - You cannot fry in linseed oil. Firstly, when it gets into hot food, it produces harmful substances called free radicals. Secondly, it can spontaneously ignite when heated.
  • Air - oxygen acts on flaxseed extract as an oxidizing agent. As a result, a film appears on the surface. It consists of molecules glued to each other that can no longer be useful. Therefore, dishes with the addition of flaxseed oil are eaten immediately after cooking.

Do you know that…

Flax seed oil is used either for medical reasons or as an additive to cereals and salads. Under no circumstances should it be used for frying.

In a closed bottle

The label on the bottle contains useful information about the production method, production date and expiration date of flaxseed oil. It usually ranges from 8 months to a year.

  • When choosing a product in a store, give preference to a dark glass bottle to avoid exposure of the product to sunlight or lighting.
  • Place the bottle that allows light to pass through in a dark place (closet, pantry) or in a paper bag.
  • An elongated neck with a screw cap or a tight-fitting stopper will protect the contents from contact with air.
  • Store the unopened bottle at a temperature not exceeding 23 degrees Celsius.

Due to the low content of antioxidants, flax oil oxidizes very quickly, so it should be used without waiting for the end of its expiration date

In an open bottle

Immediately after opening the container, the product begins to interact with air. Fatty acids change properties for the worse. Therefore, it is important not to leave the bottle with the cork uncorked for a long time.

How to store flaxseed oil after opening the bottle:

  • The contents of an opened bottle can be used for 3-4 weeks.
  • There is no need to purchase large containers if you are not sure that their contents will run out during this time.
  • You need to make it a rule to pour leftovers from a large container into a small one so that there is less empty space left. This will reduce oxidative processes and extend the shelf life of the product.

Is a refrigerator suitable?

Let's figure out whether it is possible to extend the shelf life of flaxseed oil after opening the bottle by placing it in the refrigerator. The manufacturer recommends storing it there after opening the container. You can place the containers in a cool pantry or on the refrigerator door.

Other areas inside the refrigeration unit are much colder and the oil product will thicken. But if you keep it in the cupboard for a while, it will again become a liquid consistency. Do not heat it under any circumstances.

What to do if the expiration date has expired

Spoiled flaxseed oil:

  • it becomes more bitter (it is normally bitter);
  • dark color;
  • smells bad.

This means that harmful substances have formed in it. It should not be used either for food or for cosmetic purposes, because there is no benefit and the harm is enormous. Although it’s a shame, it needs to be thrown away.

You should purchase small bottles so that their contents end before the due date.

When purchasing, pay attention to the following nuances:

  • buy only in trusted places, avoid market stalls where it is hardly possible to comply with proper storage conditions;
  • the best place for such a purchase is a pharmacy;
  • the product must be made by cold pressing;
  • the product in a dark glass bottle deserves attention;
  • plastic containers are not suitable packaging for flaxseed oil;
  • choose products without additives or preservatives;
  • pay attention to the volume of the bottle, which does not exceed 0.2 liters;
  • do not buy oil product on tap.

Thanks to its unique composition, the benefits of flaxseed oil are noticeable. The main thing is to know how to choose the right place to store flaxseed oil and use it without harming your health. And then your excellent health and appearance will delight you for many years.

Store correctly and be healthy!

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Flaxseed oil is a product containing fatty acids necessary for the human body. The use of this substance is recommended for dietary and vegetarian diets. It is also actively used in cosmetology. But this substance is very delicate and requires special storage.

The quality of oil depends on its production technology

Oil is created from flax seeds, which are grown in many regions of Russia. Various technologies are used for its production. The healthiest oil is unrefined. It is produced by cold pressing. In special presses, a clear golden liquid is squeezed out of the peeled seeds. Afterwards, it is settled to reduce sediment, bottled and sent to stores and pharmacies.

A refined additive is also produced, also by cold pressing, and the sediment is removed using chemical treatment. This product has a lighter color and almost no sediment forms in it even after several months of storage. But the beneficial properties of this substance are less pronounced.

The clear juice from the seeds is not heated during production, since elevated temperatures completely deprive it of its beneficial properties. When using it, it should also not be heated. Food is not cooked with this oil, but only added to salads or ready-made main courses. Knowing how to properly store flaxseed oil, you can use it to restore immunity, improve digestion and saturate the body with substances that are difficult to find in other products.

We respect the expiration date

Manufacturers of flax food supplements indicate the shelf life of the product on the label. Usually it ranges from 3 months to 1 year. The duration depends on the production method and packaging features. For example, flaxseed oil lasts longer in glass bottles than in plastic. Therefore, after purchasing a product in a polymer container, immediately pour it into a glass bottle. Dark glass packaging has the longest shelf life. And to further extend the period of use, even glass containers are also placed in a box so that sunlight does not fall on the contents.

It is not recommended to use the substance after the expiration date. The golden liquid loses its beneficial properties, and this does not have the best effect on its taste. After 6–12 months it becomes rancid or even slightly sour. This is a signal that the product can no longer be used as a dietary supplement.

Storage rules at home

How to store flaxseed oil if it is already opened? There are several simple recommendations:

  • You should always close the cap on the bottle tightly. Fatty acids easily react with air, which leads to a decrease in beneficial properties. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the interaction of matter and air. Sometimes the oil is even poured into a container with a narrow neck, but this manipulation must be carried out very quickly.
  • The opened bottle is kept in the refrigerator. Sunlight, which the product is afraid of, does not penetrate there, and there is an optimal temperature (no higher than 10 degrees). But it is important to place the bottle not in the coldest zone; placement on the door is ideal for it.
  • Once the bottle is opened, the contents can be used within 60 days. Then the quality of the product begins to deteriorate. Therefore, it is better to buy oil in small packaging, but more often.
  • If flaxseed oil is exposed to the sun and spent at least 30 minutes there, it is better not to use it in food. Under the influence of ultraviolet light, fatty acids are destroyed, and their usefulness is completely lost.

How to use flaxseed oil products

If a dish with flax food supplement was not eaten immediately, you should not store it until next time, even in the refrigerator. The oil loses its beneficial properties within 15–20 minutes after exposure to air. The product oxidizes and an unpleasant bitterness appears. An unpleasant sour smell will tell you that the oil has gone bad.

Storing flaxseed oil is not difficult, but it is important to monitor the expiration date. You should not buy the product in draft form, because during transportation and sale it interacts with air too often, which spoils its composition and reduces its usefulness.

Flaxseed, included in the daily diet, is an excellent prevention of many diseases, and is simply a source of valuable nutrients, especially plant omega-3 fatty acids. However, not many people know how to select, store and use flax seed.

How to choose flaxseed

1 Flaxseed can be purchased either whole or ground or crushed. Each form has its own pros and cons. On the one hand, flaxseed is difficult to chew, and ground flaxseed is preferable. However, grinding takes a lot of time, so purchasing ground seed is more convenient.

2 On the other hand, ground seed has a shorter shelf life. Even carefully vacuum-packed, once the bag is opened, it can be stored for about 6-16 weeks. Whole fruit will keep for 6-12 months in an airtight container in a dark, cool, dry place. Once chilled (in the refrigerator, for example) for 1-2 years.

3 When choosing flax seed, pay attention to the following points:

  • Shelf life - flax seed should be as fresh as possible
  • Packaging - it must be completely dry, without the slightest sign of moisture
  • If you buy flax seeds on a store shelf at room temperature, it is highly advisable that the packaging be vacuum sealed

How to store flax seed and flaxseed oil

4 Regardless of the form you bought your flaxseeds in, once you open them, keep them in a container in the refrigerator in an airtight bag. The reason for this precaution is that once flax seeds are ground, they become much more prone to oxidation and spoilage.

How to store flax seeds? Regardless of the shape, store them in the refrigerator.

5 Flaxseed oil is a particularly perishable product. Therefore, it must be purchased in opaque bottles and stored in the refrigerator. Flaxseed oil should have a sweet, nutty flavor. It is not recommended to use flaxseed oil for cooking as it oxidizes too easily. It should also not be heated. At the same time, it is very useful to add flaxseed oil to food after it is cooked, for example, to season salads with it.

How to store flaxseed oil? In opaque bottles in the refrigerator. Then you can be sure of the integrity and safety of other beneficial substances of the oil.

Here is a selection of some of the harmful properties of flaxseed oil. Pay attention to them, some negative properties can be serious.

1. rapid oxidation spoils the product and leads to fire

Flaxseed oil is not intended for heat treatment, as it is subject to rapid and severe oxidation. This happens when it interacts with air and the process accelerates when heated.

Oxidation produces harmful free radicals. Therefore, you should not fry it or add it to hot food. It should not be stored outdoors in open containers. Store only in the refrigerator.

If storage conditions and periods are violated, the oil will go rancid. Due to the presence of ketones, epoxides and aldehydes in rancid oil, it should not be eaten.

For the curious: oil is a continuous liquid medium; with a molecular weight of 450-500 and a density of 0.9, we get a mole of about 0.5 liters. For the addition (complete oxidation) of 1 double bond, 22.4 liters of oxygen = 100 liters of air are required. In this case, you need to mix everything well. A half-empty 0.25 L bottle contains 125 ml of air or about 0.01 mol of oxygen. 125 ml oil = 1/4 mole. Therefore, the limiting oxidation state = 4%. Too much! Conclusion, you need to buy oil in small containers.

For those curious: flaxseed oil spontaneously polymerizes in the open air with an exothermic reaction. Cloths soaked in oil may spontaneously ignite.

2. Sunlight will spoil the oil.

Flaxseed oil deteriorates from exposure to direct and indirect sunlight. Therefore, it must be stored in a dark place, and it is advisable to purchase it in a dark container. Otherwise, the body will receive harm, not benefit.

3. short shelf life even in the refrigerator

After opening the bottle, the shelf life of healthy flaxseed oil is 1 month. The sooner it is consumed after opening, the less likely it is to saturate the body with free radicals instead of beneficial omega-3 acids.

Advice: purchase products from a reputable manufacturer and pay attention to the expiration date.

4. harm of flaxseed oil for women

Although there are not many specific harmful properties, it is still better to know about them. Here is a description of the harmful qualities of flaxseed oil for women's health.

5. overconsumption

There are no specific recommendations for this. The product usually does not cause allergies, and its overdose does not cause serious side effects. The main harm from excessive consumption of flaxseed oil is that it causes loose stools.

Excessive oil consumption may harm the following categories of people:

  • pregnant women;
  • nursing mothers;
  • suffering from hormonal imbalance.

It is worth noting: flaxseed oil contains phytoesrogens that duplicate the hormone estrogen.

6. if there are stones

Contraction of the muscles of the urinary and biliary tract can lead to strangulation of the stones present in them. This will cause a twinge of pain at the pinched site. Therefore, people with stones in their organs should not consume flaxseed oil in its pure form (like any other vegetable oil) or should do so with extreme caution.

7. harm from flaxseed oil when taking medications

Flax oil may be harmful to people who use painkillers, as well as some medications to reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and treat diabetes. People taking blood thinners should also avoid flaxseed oil as it interferes with blood clotting.

The use of the product is contraindicated for those taking antiviral drugs and antidepressants, as well as for women using oral contraceptives. Avoid using flaxseed oil if you are taking laxatives.

In any case, when taking medications or having chronic diseases, you should consult your doctor. Perhaps you need a special diet and there will be no place for flaxseed oil in it.

Flaxseed oil has long been widely used, as it contains many beneficial substances that have a beneficial effect on the human body. However, if stored for a long time or improperly, it loses its properties. In order for this valuable product to remain suitable for consumption for as long as possible, you need to take care of its proper storage.


Varieties

Obtaining this valuable product is a well-established process in those regions where flax grows. However, there are different ways to obtain it, which affect the qualitative composition of the final product. The most saturated with useful substances is oil produced by cold pressing.

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

Unrefined oil may be hydrated, that is, treated with water to remove sediment-producing substances; a small amount of sediment is sometimes present. The product retains almost all the properties inherent in unrefined oil, however, the hydration process removes some useful components.


Refined flaxseed oil can be found on sale. It is obtained from unrefined oil through mechanical and chemical processing. There is no sediment in it, it is stored longer, and has a mild taste, color and aroma.

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


It should be understood that each subsequent processing, although it extends the shelf life of the product, reduces the content of useful substances in it, and, consequently, makes it cheaper and less valuable. However, each type of oil has its use in different areas of life.

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



Useful properties and applications

The beneficial properties of the oil are given by the polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and microelements it contains. Their variety in composition is great, and this makes the oil a suitable product for various conditions of the body.

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

  • normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • heal damage to the gastric mucosa and prevent their occurrence;
  • lower 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 health of the body, increase immunity;
  • avoid weight gain;
  • look good, have healthy hair and nails;
  • quickly restore health after illnesses and operations;
  • normalize the menstrual cycle in 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 oil as a dietary supplement only appear if you take the oil as such, and do not use it to prepare fried or baked foods: heat treatment leads to the formation of carcinogenic substances. Therefore, add it to ready-made, but not hot, dishes or use it as a salad dressing.

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 serving the dish. Do not fill portions that are too large - they cannot be stored, even in the refrigerator.

You should not take too large doses of oil - this will lead to diarrhea, have a bad effect on the liver, and cause other unpleasant conditions. The oil is also contraindicated in case of individual intolerance and some chronic diseases and when taken in combination with certain medications. If you have any illnesses, it would be a good idea to consult a doctor.

In cosmetology, it is used for various skin lesions and is used as a wound healing agent. It can be added to creams and masks. The oil will perfectly moisturize the skin, relieve dryness, irritation and flaking. Just don’t need to prepare large portions of the products - they don’t last long.

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 silkier.

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

If you need to take unrefined oil for internal use, then for adding to cosmetic products it is quite suitable that it is more refined or with preservative additives, and therefore has a longer shelf life.



In what form and where to keep it?

All the numerous properties of the product will appear if it is suitable for consumption and has not lost its freshness. The expiration date indicated on the packaging applies to the product in the manufacturer's unopened container. But the fact is that after opening it, flaxseed oil can be stored for about a month. Unsuitable storage conditions accelerate the process of loss of beneficial qualities.

To prevent this from happening, open oil should be stored correctly. It's a good idea to write down the date you opened the bottle on the label. First of all, maintaining the temperature regime is very important.

The destruction of polyunsaturated acids and vitamins begins when the temperature exceeds 23. The optimal temperature is 18–23. The product can be stored in the refrigerator door. Low temperatures may cause the product to thicken or cause sediment to form. This is not scary - at room temperature it will return to its original state. Under no circumstances should you heat it in a microwave or using a water bath.

It is very important to ensure that it is not exposed to sunlight, which will trigger oxidation processes. Therefore, the product should be stored in a dry, dark place.



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

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

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

It is imperative to minimize the time of contact of oil with air. Remember to immediately close the cap on the bottle tightly 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 large packaging, more than 0.5 liters, it is unwise to purchase it. Today you can buy flaxseed oil in the store, in the pharmacy, and in the market. On the market it is sometimes offered for purchase by bottle. And although in this case you will be able to purchase 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 changes and exposure to air.

It is safer to buy in a store where the oil is sold in a tinted 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 requirement;
  • long shelf life;
  • it is better protected from harmful environmental influences, destructive processes occur slowly, and the oil remains suitable for the entire period stated on the packaging;
  • Capsules, as a rule, contain only cold-pressed product, that is, all the beneficial substances are preserved as much as possible;
  • convenient to store or take with you on the go; You just need to protect it from heat and exposure to sunlight.


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