What do "Cold Pressed" and "Unrefined" really mean?
WHY IS LAUREL OREGON HAZELNUT OIL COLD PRESSED AND UNREFINED?
Have you ever wondered what “cold pressed”, or “unrefined” means on an oil bottle? These terms reference the beneficial processing method used to extract oil from the original source, and they mean you are getting the highest quantity of nutrients in the oil you choose. If you don’t see these terms on a label you can assume the oil inside has been mechanically refined with high heat or even chemicals.
REFINED OIL
Generally, mechanically refined oils have been subjected to high heat to “soften” the materials while in the oil press, the high heat destroys many nutrients naturally found in nuts and seeds. Chemically refined oil, like most vegetable oils, is created using heat and chemical solvents to express the oil from the source ingredient. In this process a hexane solvent is used. The oil is then subjected to heat to distill the hexane before bleaching and deodorizing. Chemically processed oils are not considered healthy for consumers yet they persist because of the efficiency of oil extraction and production of a heat tolerant oil. Additionally, chemically refined oils are able to mask lower quality ingredients thus significantly reducing costs compared to creating unrefined oils. The refinement process strips most of the beneficial nutrients and antioxidants, resulting in an inferior healthful product.
“Cold pressed oils are made without heat or chemicals, the process is solely mechanical.”
COLD PRESSED OIL
Cold pressed oils are made without heat or chemicals, the process is solely mechanical. At Laurel Foods, we grind premium grade natural Oregon hazelnuts from local orchards through an expeller press, extracting pure flavorful oil from the hazelnuts. The final step before bottling is letting the oil settle naturally, thus allowing the majority of sediment to separate from the oil. It is this process that differentiates Laurel Hazelnut Oil from most other oils and allows the oil to remain clear and not cloudy. Lastly, we bottle it. The resulting oil is rich in vitamins, nutrients and flavor.
The values of Laurel Foods come from the farming community we reside and work in. Our aim is to provide you the healthiest and freshest products maintaining the integrity of premium Oregon hazelnuts from the Willamette Valley. Laurel Oregon Hazelnut Oil is always cold pressed and unrefined to preserve the benefits from delicious heart-healthy and antioxidant rich hazelnuts, you will see it on our label and taste it from the bottle!
RESOURCES:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/145529-what-is-cold-pressed-oil/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/healthy-cooking-oils#section4
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/extra-virgin-vs-olive-oil#4