How obvious is it when.....

[Stina]

How obvious is it when nuts and seeds go rancid? I don't have the sharpest taste buds and am wondering if it's detectable to the average person.
Now sometimes it's really obvious. Years ago I had airplane peanuts that were so rancid that they hurt my tongue! gross
And how unhealthy is that factor?

[lavendarJ]

I ate some bad raw almonds once and I knew without a doubt, bitter and sour-like taste and a little bit of a queasy tummy afterwards..I can tell when the nuts don't taste fresh...you know when their old and have probably been in the store forever and ever

[Rawkinlocs]

They also have this weird smell. It's almost like a...."stale" (for lack of better term) smell and you've probably smelled it before in various types of nuts, but that smell is the same no matter what kind of nut or seed it is. That's how I know when they are rancid.

[RAWk Angel]

I only buy in small amounts, so I can't help, sorry:(

[Sammijane]

when you soak them, the ones that rise to the top (floaters) are rancid. I'm not sure how bad they are for you though.

[the_lab_rat]

I think what happens to nuts when they turn rancid is the fats in them oxidize. Presumably this would change the structure of the fats, probably to something not very desirable. I read somewhere that rancid oils contain free radicals, and that they can turn into trans-fats. Not sure if this is exactly what happens with nuts, but probably best to play it safe and not eat anything you think is rancid.