Cold-pressed oils for amazing health benefits

Cold-pressed oils, like the ones produced by Gyros Farms, are really good for your health. But what exactly are cold-pressed oils? Well, when we get oils for cooking, they come from seeds, fruits, vegetables, and even nuts. Cold-pressed oils are made by extracting oil from these seeds, like groundnut oil, sesame, sunflower, coconut, mustard or olive, without using heat. When heat is used, the flavor and nutrition of the oil can be harmed. In the cold press method, the seeds or nuts are crushed and the oil is squeezed out with pressure.

How are cold-pressed oils made?

In the olden days, people used a device called a "ghani" to extract oil from seeds. It was a long, cylindrical tool made of stone or wood. They used an animal to apply pressure and get the oil out. It was a simple way to make cold-pressed oil because it didn't create too much heat. Nowadays, machines are used instead of ghanis, but sometimes they generate too much heat, which can affect the quality of the oil. Cold-pressed oils are of higher quality because they are processed at temperatures that don't harm the ingredients. During pressing, some heat is released, but it doesn't go beyond 49 °C (120 °F) to be called cold pressed. When oils are extracted this way, they keep their natural flavor, smell, and nutrients.

What's the difference between cold-pressed oil and refined oil?

Refined oil is made using high heat and chemicals that can damage the beneficial components of the oil. Refined oil gives a higher yield, but it's not as good for you. To make refined oil look good, they remove certain things from it, like gums, and then refine it further using acetic acid, hexane, or bleaching soda. Sometimes, they even do a double-refining process. All this heat, around 200 degrees Celsius, destroys all the nutrients.

Cold-pressed oil, on the other hand, is extracted in its natural form. The oilseeds are simply pressed or crushed to get the oil out. That's it, just pressing, nothing else. Cold-pressed oil is really healthy because it has all the natural nutrients and flavor. Cold pressing is more expensive because it takes longer and produces less oil, but it's the safest and most natural way to extract oil.

Why are cold-pressed oils better?

Cold-pressed oil is made at lower temperatures, so it doesn't change the properties of the oil. It contains more phenolic compounds and nutrients compared to oil made with other methods, like expeller-pressing. Cold-pressed oils keep all their flavor, smell, and nutritional value intact. That's why they're great for cooking and taking care of your skin.

Can we heat cold-pressed oil?

Yes, you can use cold-pressed oil for cooking, especially for food that is cooked on low or medium heat. Remember, the extraction process uses very little heat to keep the beneficial properties of the oil. So, if you use high heat while cooking, you'll lose some of the benefits.