Most oils you buy in the supermarket are diluted in some form, this can be with vegetable oil or even cheaper oils to help create larger quantities. This means you are not getting 100% pure oil, but making your own cold pressed oil at home really couldn’t be simpler. If you buy the right device you can create homemade oil in minutes and you’ll know exactly what was added to it.
The Difference Between Store Bought and Homemade Oils
Processed oils are designed to have long best before dates, but the only way supermarkets prolong the oils shelf life is by adding preservatives. Most oils are high in Omega 3 fatty acids but as soon as you add preservatives to any type of oil, the nutritional benefits are decreased. The oil quality you buy from supermarkets isn’t pure and due to the number of preservatives that are added to shop bought oils, you can already guess there are a 101 health risks when these type of oils are consumed. Commercial oils can also be extracted at high temperatures of 300ºC, this excessive heats will destroy all nutrients and enzymes in a matter of seconds.
If you decide to opt for pressing your own oil, you will notice that the flavour is much stronger and will help add flavour to your meals. It's worth mentioning that when making your own its best to only make as much as you need for that meal. By consuming oil fresh, there is very little time for oxidisation to occur and certain cold pressed oils don’t have a very long shelf life date. By only making what you need, you will protect the nutrients and enzymes within the oil and you’ll have yourself a tasty nutritious oil to use for cooking.
Oil Pressing, How Does it Work?
The technique is in the title, an oil extractor uses a screw to press the nuts or seeds through a barrel. This then creates friction and pressure on the ingredients to release its oil, without the need to use chemicals or excessive heat. The pulp is then dispersed separately whilst the oil drips into a container. This results in a pure clean oil that has a much deeper flavour.
What Oils can you Make
- Flaxseeds
- Sesame seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Rapeseeds
- Primrose seeds
- Hemp seeds
- Black cumin
- Poppy seeds
- Coconut Shreds
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Hazelnuts
- Peanuts
- Pistachios
- Cashew nuts
With the variety of nuts and seeds you can use in an oil extractor, you will be able to make a whole load of tasty foods.
- Salad Dressings
- Marinades
- Cakes
- Bread
- Dips
- Pesto
- Seasoning for steamed vegetables or fish
Nutritional Benefits of Popular Cold Pressed Oils
Coconut
This oil is very popular to cook in as it can give a delicious flavour to chicken and vegetables and its medium-chain triglycerides have been shown to fight off viruses, balance cholesterol and even aid in weight loss.
You can use coconut oil for more than just cooking, this oil is highly versatile and can be used as a skin moisturiser, natural deodorant, makeup remover, teeth whitener, hair smoothing serum and conditioner.
Flaxseed Oil
Loaded with healthy omega-3s and good fatty acids, Flaxseeds have been associated with healthier hearts, decreased inflammation and healthier skin. Flaxseed oil adds a nutty and slightly sweet flavour so its perfect for salad dressings, smoothies, dips and sauces.
Pumpkin seed oil
Pumpkin seeds are very high in vitamins A, K and E as well as zinc, these all help to moisturise your skin and hair. Consuming pumpkin oil can help to decrease bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol. This oil is great for dressing foods such as chicken, salad, dips, soup and fish. It also can act as a great vinaigrette. Its best not heat pumpkin seed oil as you can actually damage the vitamins within it.
Our Oil Extractor Top Picks
Counter Intelligence Oilpresso Cold Oil Press & Extractor
This little device will enable you to create healthy and naturally produced cold-pressed oil in the comfort of your own home. This is a domestic cold oil press that will squeeze and extract oil from nuts and seeds, using low temperatures to ensure the highest quality oil. It’s also made from BPA free materials, making it even safer and healthier for you and your family.
The Sana Oil Extractor is very versatile and allows users to extract fresh cold press oil from the following seeds and nuts: - sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, rapeseed, hemp, poppy, evening primrose, black cumin, coconut (dehydrated shreds), almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, cashew nuts, brazil nuts, pistachios and macadamia nuts. As well as all of this it can make oatmeal flakes from oats.
The Sana Oil Extractor comes with a glass pitcher and a stainless steel strainer. Included are a protective glove and a metal pin to make cleaning easier. The Sana Oil Extractor is only compatible with the Omega Sana 707 and Omega Sana 606.