Gold nanoparticles produced using the Turkevich method were able to have their hydrophobicity modified using octanethiol in a novel method for SERS application. Both amphiliphic GNPs and hydrophobic GNPs were produced and differentiated by Raman signals. The amphiliphic GNPs were able to enhance the SERS signals of the protein emulsifier in the emulsion in situ and the hydrophobic GNPs were able to enhance the SERS signals from canola oil. Further purification of the hydrophobic GNPs proved to have higher enhancement and sensitivity, but still poor consistency which is typical of SERS. Monitoring lipid oxidation using Raman and SERS using alternative approaches was the primary objective of the thesis. The purified GNPs were capable of enhancing the canola oil over two weeks, but the poor consistency led to no major trends. Using normal Raman, a triphenylphosphine oxidation reaction was capable of producing a peroxide value correlation in a very simple and rapid manor. Using a gold nanoparticle modified stainless steel wire, the headspace volatiles from canola oil oxidation were able to be enhanced, but with poor consistency. Silver dendrites were used to enhance the canola oil signal but with poor resolution. A combination of silver dendrites and GNPs were used to slightly improve enhancement, but not as strong as GNPs alone.