Oils and fats
What are oils?
A tasty, healthy salad, smooth hair or a warm home in winter - one substance plays a decisive role in all three examples: oil. Different oils are therefore extremely important for our well-being; whether we are talking about high-quality oils in our diet, essential oils for cosmetics or mineral oils that are used as fuel or gear oil. The properties of oil are extremely diverse. In general, the term "oils" (lat. oleum) covers all organic liquids that are not miscible with water due to their high viscosity. Now another question arises: Is oil fat? The difference between fat and oil lies solely in the aggregate state of the substances. In chemistry, both fat and oil are lipids. Oil is therefore nothing other than liquid fat.
What oils are available?
Oils are categorised into different groups. There are fatty oils, essential oils, mineral oils and silicone oils. Mineral oils are used to generate energy; they are also used to produce plastic. Silicone oils are mainly used in industry, for example for lubrication, but can also be found in the cosmetics sector. Examples of fats and oils in nutrition, on the other hand, are provided by the first two groups, the fatty oils known as edible oils and the essential oils.
Where are oils and fats contained?
Basically, there are animal and vegetable fats and oils. Animal fat is contained in dairy products, for example, in yoghurt or cheese, in tallow or lard. Animal oils include fish oil or fish oil. However, as they have their own flavour, which is not to everyone's taste, they are rarely used in the diet. The exception is cod liver oil: extracted from the liver of cod or cod, this fish oil provides valuable omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, D E, iodine and phosphorus.
But where are vegetable fats and oils contained? The list here is much longer: high-quality edible oils include sunflower oil, olive oil, rapeseed oil, coconut oil or fat and safflower oil. However, there is also aniseed oil, hemp oil or pumpkin seed oil as well as various nut oils. Peanut oil, for example, adds an interesting flavour to various dishes. Linseed oil, which is obtained from flax seeds, is a real all-rounder. It protects wood, is used for colouring and is also used in natural cosmetics. Linseed oil is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help to maintain normal cholesterol levels.
What do oils contain?
Compared to animal fats, vegetable oils are characterised by a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids and are therefore considered healthier. In addition to monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, cooking oils also contain saturated fatty acids. However, the composition of the individual oils differs considerably: sunflower oil, for example, contains only 8 per cent saturated fatty acids, whereas olive oil contains 19 per cent. In addition, edible oils have different smoke points: the smoke point is reached when the oil clearly smokes when heated. Free fatty acids or water, among other things, become visible. The smoke point is between 130°C and 200°C for oils and over 200°C for hydrogenated fats.
The production of edible oils
Firstly, the various parts of the plant are cleaned. An oil mill is then required to extract the oil. A distinction is made here between decentralised and centralised oil mills. Various processes influence the quality and flavour of the oil.
Refined cooking oil
The production of refined oils takes place in several steps. The first step is delecithinisation. In this process, the raw material lecitin is extracted without compromising the quality of the oil. In the next step, clouding mucilage and free fatty acids are removed. This is followed by bleaching in a vacuum process at a temperature of up to 90°C. A final heating process of up to 270°C removes harmful substances and undesirable odours and flavours. Refined oils are very light in colour and relatively neutral in taste. However, they are characterised by a long shelf life.
Virgin and cold-pressed edible oil
Virgin oil may only be heated slightly, and cleaning is also not permitted. In this case, the oil is pressed mechanically and temperatures above 50°C must not be exceeded. Cold-pressed oil provides an even higher quality: the plants are selected very carefully and temperatures above 27°C are not permitted when pressing the raw material. The shelf life of these oils is significantly shorter than that of refined oils. However, they have a much more pronounced flavour and contain considerably more essential fatty acids and vitamins. Cold-pressed oils are mainly used in cold dishes. However, olive oil is suitable as a cold-pressed oil for frying or deep-frying, as it has a relatively high proportion of saturated fatty acids. Rapeseed oil or sunflower oil is suitable for baking thanks to its neutral flavour.
What are essential oils and what are they used for?
Many plants contain essential oils in their flowers, leaves or other components, which provide the typical fragrance of the plant. On the one hand, essential oils provide a pleasant room fragrance, on the other hand they are used to help with various illnesses. For example, essential oils can be inhaled when you have a cold. Essential oils are also finding their way into natural cosmetics as perfume oils. Essential oils, which are usually available in various blends, are also suitable for aromatherapy. Well-known fragrance oils include rose oil, sandalwood oil and distillates of lemon or lemongrass.
The production of essential oils
Essential oils are usually extracted by steam distillation. A mixture of oil and water is collected in a container. The fragrant oil is then separated from the water. Lemon essential oil is an exception; like cooking oil, it is cold-pressed as distillation is not possible here. vitafy offers 100 per cent natural essential oils from Primavera, for example the Orange in Love fragrance blend, the Happy Mind fragrance blend or the Schlafwohl fragrance blend.