Does baking flaxseed into bread or muffins make it go rancid?!
Answers: I just heard this and I was wondering if it was true because that's how I get my omega 3 fatty acids in my diet.
No, it shouldn't. I am allergic to eggs and use flax as an egg substitute. My breads and other baked goods stay fresh for several days sitting on the kitchen counter. If you are using flax oil, it CAN go rancid fairly quickly. It is usually purchased from the refrigerater case. If you use the oil, put your muffins in the fridge to store them. I grind the whole flax seeds, and never have any issues with them.
No...but smell the seeds before using them because they might already be rancid. Keep them in the freezer for best shelf life.
No, they are like any other unsaturated fat for how fast they go rancid. Cooking speeds it up but you should not have a problem it you are using other good ingredients. If what you make it with is chemically modified it may contain radicals that would make a difference. Natural plants and animal foods carry radical suppressants that can counter this. If you are worried enough to watch for omega-3 you probably cook with good ingredients and wont have any problem with it (unless you burn it, then you have all kinds of reactions going on).
they don't go rancid, but the oil has a very low 'smoke point', which basically means it is sensitive to heat.
to absorb the oils, they need be ground up, otherwise they will slip through your system intact. you can buy ground flaxseed and put them on cereal or into a spread - that's the best way to get the benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids.
you can make delicious crackers purely out of flax seeds. add a little flavor if you like, like herbs and veggies, honey and sugar etc. let it sit in a bowl with a little water until it gets gelatinous (ten minutes), spread it on a cookie sheet and bake at 210 degrees F until dry and crispy. break appart and enjoy!