What are Wood Pressed oils and Why should you prefer them?

Cooking oil is one of the vital components of all Indian dishes. It is used for sauteing, frying and roasting purposes. Market is loaded with many finely packaged edible oils claiming enormous health benefits. It is necessary to select the right variety of edible oil by being aware of the different types of oils and their extraction. It is advisable to avoid refined oils, since during the refining process, oils are heated to high temperature resulting in loss of nutrients which are preserved in wood pressed or cold pressed oils. 

In  the quest to revive the healthy food habits of traditional India, we should prefer the edible oils made from the old wood pressed method. 

Let’s understand what wood pressed oil is –

• There are plenty of ways to extract any oil from its source. In a modern way, refined oils make use of speedy methods to extract as much oil as possible, and require less manual labor and a higher yield.
• 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. 
• The entire process is done at a low temperature below 40 degrees. The wood pestle absorbs any increase in temperature and does not generate heat through friction. 
• This method ensures that the oils made have an accepted taste, are highly nutritious, and full of aroma.
• Wood pressed oils only cover the extraction of oil through wooden pestles (Ghani) in a wooden pit. A wooden press consists of a large drum and a shaft, rotated or steered by livestock because of the quantities and a considerable amount of time and energy required to make these oils.
• 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.

Why should we prefer wood pressed oils?

• They are naturally extracted at low temperatures and the nutrients are not lost. 
• It helps to prevent the risk of heart disease.
• Improves
•  blood circulation and helps to improve skin health.
• Loaded with antioxidants.
• Made in small batches so quality is retained

So, next time you buy oil,  it is advisable to look for healthy options and nothing beats the slow and steady wood pressed oil. Also, we must opt for FSSAI approved wood pressed oils available in the market. Try it!!