What is cold-pressed oil?

Answer 1

Cold-pressed oil is oil obtained from oil-bearing seeds or fruits primarily through mechanical pressing, without intentionally applying heat as part of the extraction process. The oil may then be settled, filtered or centrifuged. This is also how the Codex standard describes cold-pressed oils.

The important point is that cold-pressed does not simply mean “the machine feels cold.” Mechanical pressing itself can generate heat because of pressure and friction. Therefore, the actual operating conditions, seed preparation, moisture content, machine design and temperature control all matter. Codex has specifically noted that friction during cold pressing can cause temperatures to rise, so there is not one universal temperature number that defines every cold-pressed oil.

For example, in mustard oil, you may come across terms such as refined, expeller-pressed, cold-pressed and kachi ghani. These describe different processing approaches and should not automatically be treated as identical.

Refined mustard oil undergoes additional processing steps such as degumming, neutralisation, bleaching and deodorisation. Depending on the manufacturing route, solvent extraction can also be used. In India, FSSAI's standards specifically recognise mustard oil obtained from mustard seeds and also address solvent-extracted oils and residual hexane limits after refining.

Expeller-pressed oil is mechanically extracted, but the word “expeller” by itself does not tell you exactly what temperature the oil reaches. Mechanical pressing can generate heat, so the machine and operating conditions are important.

With cold-pressed oil, the objective is mechanical extraction without intentionally applying heat. This is why I would not judge an oil only by the words “cold pressed” printed on the bottle. I would want to know how the seeds were prepared, whether water or anything else was added, how the temperature was controlled, and how the finished oil was filtered and tested.

At Pure Tatva, we use what we call a Zero Heat Extraction System for our Extra Virgin Mustard Oil. We first control/remove excess moisture from the seeds and then mechanically extract the oil without intentionally adding water. The oil is subsequently filtered using our positive-pressure and capillary-action filtration process.

So, in simple terms:

Cold-pressed oil = mechanically extracted oil where heat is not intentionally applied during extraction.

But the more important question for a consumer is not just “Does the bottle say cold pressed?” It is:

“What actually happened to the seed between the farm and the bottle?”

I’m Ravi Pratap Rana, Founder of Pure Tatva, with 19 years of experience in the Pharmaceutical Industry. I believe understanding the actual extraction process is one of the simplest ways to make a more informed choice when buying cooking oil.

Answer 2

What makes up for top quality cold-pressed mustard oil? The rich flavour and taste you get from cold-pressed mustard oil in an ordinary oil bottle are hard to find. Holygrain's cold-pressed oil has the best natural flavour and taste that will help you cook the tastiest meals that are absolutely healthy at the same time.

Answer 3

Cold-pressed oil is extracted from seeds, nuts, or fruits by pressing them at a low temperature without the use of heat or chemicals. This method helps preserve the oil's natural flavors, nutrients, and antioxidants.