In today’s world, there are a plethora of cooking options available, especially when it comes to cooking oil. Not only can you find a wide variety of seed and vegetable-based oils in the market, but there are also plenty of ways to extract said oil from their source. In a modern way, refined oils make use of speedy methods to extract as much oil as possible, and require less manual labour and a higher yield.
Though refined oils are becoming the norm, there is still a large portion of our population that has remained connected to traditional cooking oils. There are a number of ways to refer to them, but the most commonly heard term is Wood Pressed Oils. However, people continue to confuse these traditional cooking oils with Cold Pressed Oils. What are those and how are they different from each other? This article takes a detailed look at the difference between wood pressed and cold pressed oil. Let’s explore them one by one.
What Is Wood Pressed Oil?
Much like the name suggests, wood pressed oils are extracted using a wood pestle that presses the seeds and crushes them for extracting the oil. The key thing to understand about the process of wood pressing is that it makes use of a wooden pestle and wooden collector to press and collect the oil. All this is done at a low temperature to keep the temperature of the entire process below 40 degrees. The wood pestle absorbs any increase in temperature and does not generate heat through friction.
Nutritional Benefits of Using Wood Pressed Oil
- Contains low cholesterol levels as wood pressed oils are manufactured under low heat and contains no chemical at all.
- Helps to prevent the risk of Heart Disease and eliminate other health problems.
- Improves blood circulation and helps to provide healthy skin and prevent it from wrinkles and premature ageing.
- Loaded with antioxidants, strengthens the jaws and prevents bleeding gums.
- Improves hair growth and restores the damaged ones.
What Is Cold Pressed Oil?
Cold Pressed Oils make use of a similar principle but can be applied to a variety of different mechanisms of extraction. The pestle is wooden, but the entire machine is of steel or iron. The idea is to slowly press the seeds in the extractor to crush the seeds without generating any heat, which is why they get the name cold-pressed oils. The oils extracted from this method may have some impurities and might not have high nutritional benefits.
Nutritional Benefits of Using Cold Pressed Oil
- Contains no added preservatives and chemicals which keeps you fit & healthy.
- Rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin C.
- Eliminates the risks of cholesterol from the body & can reduce several health complications.
- Reduces blood pressure levels & slows cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
- Improves insulin sensitivity in diabetic patients.
What Is the Difference Between Cold Pressed & Wood Pressed Oils?
Despite the similarities between the two methods of oil extraction, there is a difference between wood pressed and cold pressed oil. Cold-pressed oils are a border spectrum that covers all different kinds of mechanisms that are used to extract a quality yield at lower temperatures. Wood pressed oils only cover the extraction of oil through wooden pestles (Ghani, Kolhu or Chekku). However, it is noteworthy that wood-pressed oil uses the cold-pressing method for oil extraction, which makes them a type of cold-pressed oil.
This means that all wood pressed oils can be called cold-pressed oils, but not vice versa. If this was to be explained using a Venn diagram, the smaller circle of wood pressed oils will be entirely enclosed within the larger circle of cold-pressed oils.
The key thing to note here is that while the yield received from both these methods is low, cold-pressed and wood pressed oils are a better alternative for your health. This is especially true when compared to modern refined oils that make use of immense heat and additives for oil extraction. This means that oils extracted through traditional methods retain their properties and nutrition, while refined oils do not and can actually harm you in the long run.
Which Is Better Wood Pressed Or Cold Pressed?
When there needs to be a comparison of wood pressed vs cold pressed to decide which one is a better choice, the balance will tip into Wood Pressed oils’ favour. Why? Because the oil does not react with the wood, is extracted at a comparatively lower temperature than cold-pressed oils, and has a more enhanced taste.
Furthermore, Wood pressed oils are the healthier option because they do not contain any additives, preservatives, and trans fat, all of which can collectively do more harm than good to your health. Enjoy 100% natural and unadulterated Wood pressed oil from Nayesha Mills and transform the way you cook. Head to our stores now and order your own share of bottled gold, directly from Nayesha Mills.
