Grapeseed oil--rancid or not?

[mrs.puff]

My mom gave me a large bottle of grapeseed oil for Christmas last year, but when I opened it, it had a funny rancid smell. If it was regular veg oil, I would have thrown it out. Is it supposed to smell like that? I've used a bit of it in stir fries and such, and never noticed a funny taste. Of course, now it is 2 years old, but I've kept it cool and in the dark.

 

[Wifezilla]

I would go by smell. Toss it.

 

[mrs.puff]

The thing is, it smelled like that when it was BRAND NEW.

 

[freemotion]

I use grape seed oil as my massage oil, so I am very familiar with it. It has a very short shelf life compared to other oils, so is not one to stock up too much. I put open bottles in the fridge and use them up within 6 months or less. It should have a fresh smell, or a grapey smell, but not an old popcorn smell. Even no smell is ok. I'd toss it.

Brand new, it may have been on a shelf in a warehouse for too long, or stored in a hot place.