What is rancidity? Give some examples and some precaution also.

The term “rancidity” is often used in association with butter (oil). When we use old, left over cooking oil for making food stuff, it is found to have foul odour called rancidity.

i. Chemically, rancidity is an oxidation reaction.

ii. When oils or fats are left aside for a long time, they undergo air oxidation and become rancid.

iii. Example: Butter, ghee, or any food that has been made in such oils.

Precautions to prevent rancidity are as follows:

i. Keep food (snacks cooked in oil) in air tight containers, as this prevents the interaction of the oil and oxygen in the air and thus oxidation of fats doesn’t occur.

ii. Use of gases like nitrogen in packed foods prevents oxidation of food.