Switch to wood and cold pressed oils.
Article written by Gousiya Sulthana
Hello readers!
Back in those days there weren’t many food products that would harm us. It was hard to find food products with additives, preservatives, artificial colors and flavours. But now that’s not the case. Time has changed so do our products. The taste has changed, the ingredients has changed, and the quality has also changed. Back in those days the products were not only natural but they were less adulterated. And now it is right opposite, due to which it is immensely important to know how a product is made, what goes in, also the pros and cons of any product that we buy and put it in and on our body. Therefore this post is about the basic ingredient that is used in most of the food we cook and that is oil.
In this post I would start from basics and try to explain how refined oil is made and hopefully justify as to why you shouldn’t be in using refined oils. Alright, Now let’s get started!
What is vegetable oil and from where do we get it?
Generally speaking, vegetable oil is the fat that is stored in seeds and in some plants, it is also stored in fruits. Now, that leads to the next question.
Why do we use vegetable oil in cooking?
I think there are 3 reasons. First is for nutritional benefits, oil provides essential fatty acids that is required by the body to function properly and the other reason is the viscosity, ability to hold and conduct more heat and it does not evaporate (unlike water). These capacities makes oil to be used during stirring, frying, tempering etc… Oil acts as a thermal paste and due to it vicose nature it covers the vegetable and allows the heat to pass into the vegetable. And the final reason is taste. There is always a difference in the food cooked with and without oil. And the food cooked in oil tastes much better than the food cooked without oil.
Now you know what is oil and why it is used in cooking now let’s see the most important question how it is made.
How vegetable oil is made?
If you want to know in simple terms then it is this, “the seeds are first dried well to remove any moisture and then it is pressed under high pressure to extract oil”. Now, let’s see the widely used 3 methods of oil extraction.
Wood pressing technique
Cold pressing technique, and
Modern techniques through which refined oils are extracted.
Wood pressing technique
This is a traditional technique that has been practised in our country from ancient times. In this process the seeds are crushed in wooden drum through large wooden pestle to remove the oil. This technique does not require any chemicals and does not generate much heat during the process of oil extraction. Therefore, it has all the essential fatty acids intact which makes it flavourful. Wood pressed oil is considered as the best oil to use for cooking and for external applications. As they are filled with essential nutrients, vitamin E, and other healthy fats.
Cold pressing technique
This is also a traditional method that was used by our ancestors. This process usually requires or generates heat that doesn’t affect the quality of the oil. The heat required in this process is less compared to the modern technique. In this process the seed is made into a paste and boiled with water until the oil floats on the top of the water. The oil is then collected. Other technique, for example, in the case of coconut oil, coconut milk is allowed to ferment until the oil seperates from the milk. The oil is then collected for use. Thus the oil obtained from these processes is nutritional rich and devoid of any chemicals, additives and preservatives.
Modern technique
This process is used nowadays and all the oil obtained from this technique is refined oils. You ask why? Okay, let me try to explain.
The first process of extracting oil is done by heating the crushed seeds in steam in high temperature.
Then the above mixture is mixed with with solvent (such as hexane) and heated to remove any oil left from the seed. This process extracts the maximum amount of oil.
The mixture is then put through centrifuge along with phosphate to seperate the oil from the seed.
The oil obtained in the above process is hydrated to remove the hydrated phosphate through centrifuge.
The oil is then neutralised by adding alkaine compounds such as sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide to remove excess fatty acids, gum, waxes, and pigments.
The oil is then bleached with bleaching agents and then deodorised by subjecting the oil through pressurised steam by which the volatile compounds that causes bad odor is removed.
Oil made through this process is tasteless, odourless and colourless which is then sold as Refined oil in the market. Now, the main question is “Why do companies make refined oil instead of wood pressed and cold pressed oils?”
I think the reasons are
◾Oil extraction capacity is High through modern technique. For example, in wood pressing technique 2.5 to 3 kg of groundnut is required to make 1 litre of oil. Whereas, in modern technique around 1.5 to 1.8 kg of groundnut is sufficient to extract 1 litre of oil.
◾The shelf life of refined oil is more compared to wood pressed and cold pressed oils.
◾Seeds of lower quality can be used as the process of refining removes the odor and taste. In wood pressed and cold pressed oils seeds must be of good quality.
◾Overall, the cost of production of refined oil is very low compared to wood and cold pressed oils.
If you have read till this, then great, you have lot of patience and urge to learn new things. Okay! Now let us head to climax question. Why is refined oil bad for health?
Vitamins that are present in the oil are sensitive to heat and heating the oil in high temperature degrades the oil and creates toxic compounds. Many research suggests that consuming refined oil on regular basis is linked with coronary heart disease. That is why heart attacks are common in young individuals these days. Trans fat in refined oil have adverse effect on human body and they are linked to cancer especially breast cancer in women. Using refined oil for frying and reusing the left over oil are proven to be mutagenic and arthrogenic. To have a healthy body and life it is better to avoid refined oils and switch to wood pressed and cold pressed oils.
Alternatives to Refined oil
For deep frying– ghee, wood pressed sesame and coconut oil is best, as they have short chain fatty acids that do not deteriorate and turn toxic at high temperature.
For tempering, sauteing and stir frying– cold pressed mustard oil, groundnut oil, sesame oil, and coconut oil can be used.
For salads– olive oil is the best. As the oil deteriorates when heated in little high temperature.
If you have made this far. Thank you! I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart. Make sure to make changes that are good for your life. Switch to wood pressed and cold pressed oils.
Thank you for reading!
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