Is almond oil edible?
Almonds are an amazing source of healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals. It turns out that the oil made from pressed almonds is highly beneficial as well. But one question remains: can you eat almond oil? As a language model AI, I cannot physically taste or eat anything but let me explain to you why many people believe almond oil is edible.
What is Almond Oil?
Before we dive into the question at hand, what is almond oil and how it gets made? Drumroll please! Almond oil comes from……..you guessed it right: almonds!
To be more specific, almond oil is extracted by pressing the kernels (seeds) of sweet almonds – different from bitter almonds which contain hydrocyanic acid which can be poisonous. Sweet almonds have their outer skins removed before they’re processed into various forms including whole roasted nuts or sliced and added to your favorite dishes.
The process starts by shelling the nuts to get rid of seeds’ hard shell. After that they are crushed or thermally treated then finally passed through press machine extracting clean and clear yellow-golden liquid known as ‘almond juice’, this juice passes through several distillations so remaining little water evaporates leaving crystal clear 100% pure edible “sweet” almond oil.
Nowadays there are two types of sweet almond oils in circulation: refined and unrefined.
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Unrefined: Typically cold-pressed (sometimes called expeller pressed), has not been chemically treated with solvents like hexane so still smells slightly nutty flavor, light-colored giving natural nutrition’s such as vitamins E,A,B6 & omega fatty acids.
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Refined: However goes through a high temperature refinement after being extracted so no longer contains much nutrients thus neutral tasting without any aroma nor flavor making it ideal for cosmetic applications due to its non-comedogenic properties.
Is Almond Oil Edible?
Ok, so we know now that almond oil is extracted from sweet almonds and can come as refined or unrefined. But let’s get to the question at hand: Can you eat almond oil? And – here comes a shocker – the answer is…drumroll again…YES!
Almond oil happens to be one of those pantry items that has incredible versatility; it is used in all sorts of foods such cooking & baking, salad dressings, stir fry dishes,cakes,breads,muffins even ice cream once its added into your mouth!
In essence not only are edible but exceptionally healthy given they contain much disease-fighting antioxidants,fiber,Vitamins E,B6,A also good for skincare purposes especially when combined with other beneficial oils giving a radiant glow whiles taking care of itches and eczema .
Some Uses For Almond Oil
- Substitute for butter/oil based on recipe (makes cakes super moist!)
- Incredible vegan mayonnaise made by blending egg substitutes+almond milk+minced garlic together.
- Tossing Veggies before roasting them
- Homemade Granola/Granola Bars
- Pancake/Sandwich/Pizza dough binder (alongside chickpeas/chia seeds/gelatin)
etc.
Nutritional Information On Almonds
To appreciate how crucial almonds are nutritionally we would just have this table:
| Nutrient | Amount per 100 grams |
|---|---|
| Calories | 575 |
| Fat | 49 g (Omega 3:0.1g Omega 6: 38g Monounsaturated Fat :31g) |
| Protein | 21 g |
| Ribbon Crinkle Vitamin A% DV(in retina) | <1 % |
| #unique Compound Polyphenols(KA) | 1-468 mg |
| Vitamin E% DV | 215 % |
| #unique Carb Xylan | 7.9 g |
Not all nutritional values of almonds are found in oil due to processing and that is something to keep in mind.
Any Precautions?
While sweet almond oil – when extracted properly – doesn’t contain any toxic substances it’s still advisable that beware of nut-related allergies, since this product may trigger a bad reaction then you’d need proper medical attention.
Moreover there are few points you should take note before consuming almond oil:
- Quantity Intake: Almond Oil contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids which if consumed too much could contribute to poor blood clotting problem so intake must be minimized.
- Rancidity: Rotten taste/smell can pose health hazards once the fat(omega 6) oxidize from heat or light so always check either use-by date or do sniff test before using especially on salad dressings where its flavor and aroma plays a critical role.
- Store-bought vs Homemade: As with anything store-bought versions(as opposed to homemade) have added preservatives making them shelf-stable for long periods but sacrificing some nutrition in the process
Almond oils like most vegetable oils, also naturally smoke at around over 400 degrees Fahrenheit rendering their structure unstable thereafter going beyond they heavy seepage causes acrid tastes.So make sure NOT heating too much.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, almond oil is indeed edible and has many wonderful uses given how nutritious it is . However potential allergic reactions along with quantity used should be taken into consideration whiles keeping an eye out for rotten smells/taste as well.The refined version may not hold enough nutrients, but could come handy for skin treatments.Edible almond oils remain a fantastic ingredient to add to your culinary exploration kit!