What is cold pressed oil?
The difference between cold pressing and hexane extraction of oilseeds lies in the initial extraction of the oil from the seed. Cold pressing is a traditional method in which the seeds are not heated before, during, or after the pressing process. Seeds are selected, cleaned, and crushed; they are then mechanically pressed at a slow pace to limit friction and avoid elevating temperatures above 60 °C. Its color, taste, and odor are much more pronounced than those of refined oils. Cold pressed oils, labeled as such and usually sold in health-food stores are comparable to whole-wheat flour, which has undergone very little processing and very little nutritive losses. Solvent-free oil is not however, as expensive as cold pressed oil. There is a higher antioxidant content to cold pressed oils (Vitamin E), which inhibits the absorption of cholesterol, and a significantly lower content of trans fatty acids. Despite these definite benefits, no regulation protects the Canadian consumer against o
