The healthy oils available today include cold-pressed groundnut oil. This oil is produced from groundnuts (peanuts) through a traditional extracting process. The extracting procedure involves retaining the natural nutrients contained in the oil. Within this blog, we’re going to discuss the extraction process of cold-pressed groundnut oil. Knowledge about the traditional process would yield better quality and flavour.
What is Cold-Pressed Groundnut Oil?
The production of cold-pressed groundnut oil involves the use of cold-pressing to groundnuts without the application of heat. This helps the oil retain its natural taste and health benefits. Cold-pressed oil is not subjected to high temperatures like other refined oils. This conserves antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in the oil.
The Traditional Process
The traditional method of making cold-pressed groundnut oil is simple yet effective. It does minimal processing, thereby retaining the natural purity of the oil. Let’s go through each step in the process.
Selection of Groundnuts
The process begins with selecting the best quality groundnuts. Freshly harvested groundnuts by farmers are cleaned properly, and the nuts are classified to remove the damaged or low-quality nuts. Only good nuts are used for the preparation of the best oil.
Roasting the Groundnuts
The groundnuts are then roasted. Roasting takes place at a low temperature. This helps bring out the flavour and not destroy the nutrients in the nut. The process of roasting makes the nuts softer and thus facilitates easier oil extraction.
Crushing and Pressing
The groundnuts are crushed to extract the oil after roasting. This is either done using traditional wood presses or mechanical expellers. Crushing is done slowly so as not to generate heat. It is because of this that it is termed cold pressing. This ensures that all the natural goodness of the oil is retained in the process.
Separation and Filtration
Once the oil is extracted, it settles. The oil is filtered to separate all the remaining solid particles. The outcome is pure oil, absolutely clean, and ready to use.
Advantages of Cold-Pressed Groundnut Oil
Cold-pressed groundnut oil is a storehouse of health benefits. It has a high content of monounsaturated fats, which are heart-friendly. In addition, it is full of antioxidants, such as vitamin E. These antioxidants help the body combat free radicals. Furthermore, the oil is full of essential fatty acids, which play a significant role in the skin.
As oil is extracted without heat, there is no loss of the original aroma and flavour. Therefore, cold-pressed groundnut oil is a natural choice for cooking. With its rich nutty flavour, the oil can be used not only for frying and sautéing but even in the dressing of salads.
Wood Pressed Oil: A Traditional Touch
Wood-pressed oil is yet another type of cold-pressed oil. This process involves oil extracted from a wooden machine. This method has been in use since ancient times. However, it is rather very time-consuming and labour-intensive, yet it gives excellent quality oil. In the slow extraction process, the nutrients stay within the oil. And that’s why wood-pressed oil is considered the finest out of all cold-pressed oils.
Furthermore, wood-pressed oil has a unique scent and taste. It is one of the preferred oils by many people due to its traditional appearance. Wood presses are usually used to extract oils from various seeds, such as sesame, sunflower, and mustard. This process keeps the oil fresh and pure.
Why Choose Cold-Pressed Groundnut Oil?
There are numerous reasons why most people prefer cold-pressed groundnut oil over other oils. The first reason is that it is healthier compared to many other oils. Cold-pressed oil cannot be subjected to refining and bleaching processes, thereby removing necessary nutrients. In addition, its smoke point is higher compared to many oils, thereby making it usable for very high-heat cooking. Lastly, it is flavoured, making it perfect for use in preparing numerous dishes.
Additionally, cold-pressed groundnut oil lasts longer in comparison to other oils. They do not have chemical refinements, which can accelerate the degradation of the lifespan of the oil. Oxidative reactivity inside the oil slows down oxidation and, therefore, does not go rancid shortly. It is thus a valuable investment for healthy cooking.
Conclusion
Traditionally, the production process for cold-pressed groundnut oil ensures a nutrient-rich and pure product. It goes from selecting the best groundnuts to slowly pressing them, so every single detail is carried out with much care to preserve the oil’s natural qualities. Some of the health benefits provided by cold-pressed groundnut oil include heart health, skincare, and antioxidant protection.
However, cold-pressed groundnut oil is the best when it comes to health-conscious consumers searching for pure and natural products. Whether you are cooking, frying, or even dressing salads, this is an oil that will fit right into your needs. Even using a wood pressed, when extracting the oil only adds more tradition to the quality of this product. So if you need a healthy and flavorful oil, look no further than cold-pressed groundnut oil.
