What is refined oil – production technology and how to choose the right, beneficial properties and harm

The content of the article

• Refined oil – what is it
• What is the difference from unrefined
• How oil is refined
• Benefit and harm
• Which oil is healthier – refined or unrefined
• Which olive oil is better – refined or unrefined
• How to choose
• Price

Amber oily liquid, without which it is difficult to imagine eating and preparing many dishes, is in every kitchen. The rich composition and huge benefits of vegetable oils explain its widespread use in nutrition, medicine, cosmetology. There is only one drawback of this ideal product – when boiling, some substances in the composition are converted into harmful elements that provoke malignant neoplasms. To prevent the release of carcinogens during frying and increase the shelf life, the oil is refined.

Refined oil – what is it

Refined vegetable oil is a product obtained as a result of purification from pressed vegetable raw materials and consisting of triglycerides of fatty acids. As the source material, use is made of sunflower seed, oilseed plants or the oil base obtained from them. The term refining was adopted from the French language and means “processed”. Refined vegetable fats are oil extracts purified from undesirable groups of lipids, impurities, and along with the characteristic color, smell and taste.

What is the difference from unrefined

Both types of vegetable oil (both natural and refined) are good for human health. The basis of the oil extract is 99.9% fats, and the calorific value of 100 g of the product is 900 kcal. Removal of certain categories of fat-like substances during processing from an oil base makes it less caloric. Because of this feature, people who follow a diet consume it. There are other differences between unprocessed vegetable fats and those that have gone through the refining process:

How oil is refined

Refining is not an easy operation, consisting of many successive steps. The aim of the processing and purification process is to remove various substances and impurities from unrefined raw material. Modern methods of refining vegetable fats: physical method using absorbents, chemical technology using alkali.

In modern production, they often practice the second method of refining oil extracts from plant materials. The reason for this is a simplified process, better processing, ease of quality control of finished products. Manufacturers assure customers of the absolute safety for the health of vegetable oil obtained by chemical refining. Manufacturers guarantee consumers a complete absence of harmful impurities and claim that they use exclusively harmless alkalis during refining.

In industries, oil refining is carried out using a chemical called Hexane. Saturated hydrocarbon belongs to the class of Alkanes, is an integral part of synthetic gasoline. The colorless organic element does not dissolve in water, and the boiling point for it is 67.7 degrees. The process of refining vegetable fat involves the following steps:

1. Mixing of sunflower seeds with Hexane in this case, the release of oily liquid from plant materials.
2. The removal of saturated hydrocarbon is carried out with water vapor.
3. Neutralization consists in treating the remaining oil mixture with alkali..
4. Hydration of vegetable fat is aimed at removing phospholipids from the oil base. In an unrefined product, fat-like substances in a short period of time are able to form insoluble hydrated substances that precipitate, which leads to clouding of the oil base.
5. Freezing helps eliminate waxy substances that affect the transparency of the oil.
6. Adsorption refining (bleaching) is achieved by removing pigments from the composition of sunflower oil using charcoal and bleaching clays.
7. Deodorization leaves the final product without aroma and taste inherent in natural lean oil. The process consists in passing the oil fluid through a hot steam vacuum..
8. Bottling finished vegetable oil, sticking labels and sending to outlets.

Why refined vegetable fats, if this does not affect its beneficial composition, as manufacturers say? This is done to obtain an odorless and tasteless oil, that is, neutral. In cooking, it is used to prepare all kinds of cold and hot dishes. If for salads natural vegetable fats are more suitable, which give the appetizers a rich taste and aroma, then for frying it is better to use refined.

Natural oil extract from plant materials for cooking hot dishes at high temperatures can do more harm than good. This happens due to the conversion of certain substances to carcinogens, which are the cause of cancer. In addition, the process of frying on unrefined is always accompanied by the formation of foam, smoke, burning.

Benefit and harm

The benefits and harms of refined oil are the cause of ongoing debate among lovers of this product. Some like refined and clarified oil, others prefer natural, full of aroma and taste of fruits or oilseeds. Each type of oil extract has its advantages and disadvantages..

Which oil is healthier – refined or unrefined

A natural oil extract from sunflower seeds contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have a beneficial effect on the human body. These substances are valuable in that they take an important part in metabolism, and they also build up cell defense to withstand the negative effects and protect them from destruction. The composition of sunflower oil includes three main fatty acids: linoleic (omega 6 content from 45 to 60%), linolenic (omega 3 – 23%), oleic (omega 9 content from 25 to 40%).

This natural product is characterized by the highest alpha-tocopherol content, of which about 100 milligrams are found in 100 g of product. Vitamin E is known for its ability to restore reproductive function, positively affect vision, improve joint mobility, elasticize blood vessels, and rejuvenate the skin. Just two tablespoons per day will provide the body with many useful substances that activate hemoglobin synthesis, improving blood composition.

Regular use of natural sunflower oil in the diet will help normalize the activity of the gall bladder, the immune and digestive systems, and suppress foci of inflammation in the body. Its use reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, prevents the development of atherosclerosis. Phosphorus, contained in the oil extract in the amount of 2 mg per 100 g of product, improves the condition of all bone tissues, has an important role in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Phosphorus deficiency inhibits the central nervous system, adversely affects the brain, causing mental retardation.

Refined vegetable oil subjected to multistage processing is not as useful as natural. The main advantage over the crude oil extract is the absolute harmlessness when used for cooking hot dishes. Purification from impurities allows you to consume fat from oilseeds for those who suffer from food allergies.

Which olive oil is better – refined or unrefined

Due to its rich composition, natural olive oil is a real storehouse of useful substances (vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and other trace elements) that contribute to the healing and rejuvenation of the whole body. Ideally, you need to use olive oil extract only cold pressed marked on the label Extra Virgin, it contains a lot of useful substances:

• phenols and polyphenols prolong youth;
• tocopherols, terpene alcohols normalize blood sugar;
• oleic acid accelerates metabolism, strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
• omega 9 fatty acid has a prophylactic effect against diabetes, atherosclerosis, and obesity;
• linoleic acid accelerates the regeneration of damaged tissues, increases visual acuity;
• Qualification prevents the development of neoplasms;
• Vitamin E (natural antioxidant) stops the process of premature aging, fights against radicals, prevents intoxication of the body;
• Vitamin A promotes the formation of new cells, restores skin firmness and elasticity;
• Vitamin D acts as a prophylaxis of rickets, participates in the full formation of bone tissue.

Refined olive oil in the body benefits is much inferior to a natural product, because when it is refined, it loses many useful trace elements. Most appreciated is the “drip” olive oil of the first cold pressing. The advantages of the processed oil extract from the fruits of olive trees include an increase in its shelf life, lack of sediment.

How to choose

It is easier to buy a good natural vegetable oil, because the quality is always evidenced by the characteristic amber color and the smell of the feedstock, a rich oil taste without bitterness, and the absence of a pronounced residue at the bottom of the bottle. To choose a quality refined product, pay attention to the information indicated by the manufacturer on the label:

• Shelf life is from 3 months to 2 years (maximum storage time with nitrided oil extract);
• a mark on compliance with all standards in accordance with GOST (oils manufactured in accordance with TU pass less stringent control);
• the category of vegetable fat from oil plants, on which the purpose of the product depends (“Premium”, “Premium”, “First grade”, etc.);
• production and bottling dates must match.

The bottle, label or packaging must be free from damage and smudges. The most expensive and high-quality varieties of vegetable fats are poured into dark-colored glass bottles with a metal or cork cap. But this does not mean that in a plastic container, the oil extract is necessarily of poor quality. When buying, you should always read the consumer information indicated on the label.

Price

The cost of refined vegetable fats depends on the raw materials, the category and degree of processing of the product, the remoteness of the manufacturer from the place of sale, the popularity of the brand. During the days of holiday promotions at large points of sale, you can buy such products at competitive prices. It is always more profitable to purchase vegetable fats from sunflower seeds of domestic production, because the minimum transportation costs are included in their cost. The price of olive oil depends on the country of origin, mainly Spain, Italy, and Greece..