Cold-Pressed vs Refined Oils: Indeed in this health-obsessed world, cooking oil alone can make a difference in overall health. Cold-pressed oils and refined oils are perhaps the two most controversial cooking oils among others. Both go through their own types of processing, with differences in their nutritional values, but both are very essential in cooking. So, which one is healthier, really?
Cold-pressed oils are extracted naturally by crushing seeds and nuts, completely without heat or chemicals. This is the traditional method of preserving the oil’s natural nutrients, flavor, and aroma; examples include cold-pressed coconut oil, sesame oil, and mustard oil.
Keep antioxidants, vitamins, and good fats
Free of harmful chemicals
Best for salad dressings and low-heat cooking
Often richer in flavor and texture
Refined oils undergo such very high precision processes involving a whole lot of heat, high chemicals, and bleaching agents to increase the shelf life and eliminate impurities. Some common examples are sunflower oil, soybean oil, and refined canola oil.
Disadvantages:
Lost nutritional value due to heat applied during processing
Possess traces of chemicals used during refining
Natural flavor usually lacking
May incite inflammation when consumed excessively
Cold-pressed oils are healthier nutritionally speaking. Even though they are specifically more expensive and have a shorter shelf life, the oils retain antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin E and polyphenols, which allow heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory use. On the contrary, refined oils are cheap but lose most of their nutrients and may thus not prove beneficial for health in the long run.
Also Read: Cholesterol in Men vs Women: Key Differences Explained in Detail
Cold-pressed oils should be used in dressings, sautes, and finishing dishes. Refined oils should be used only when high-heat cooking is required. Read the labels always for purity and processing details.
Cold-pressed oils are better if nutrition and natural goodness in cooking matter to you. Refined oils are indeed convenient, but they should be consumed in moderation. For bettering oneself towards a healthy future-life style, switching as much as possible to cold pressed will only help.