The most gentle and environmentally friendly method of oil pressing is cold pressing, which solely involves mechanical pressing. True cold-pressed oils are extracted from raw, unroasted seeds without any heat treatment or additives (such as salting or solvents). The pressing is done using specially developed screw presses that can overcome the resistance of even the hardest seeds. The press head might warm up slightly due to mechanical friction, but we intentionally do not roast the seeds to preserve their health-protective components and transfer them into the oil. After pressing, the oil undergoes settling, filtering, and bottling without the use of preservatives. The valuable fat-soluble components of the seeds easily flow into the oil, enriching it with vitamin E, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidants (various polyphenols, phytosterols, etc., depending on the type). The taste, color, and aroma of cold-pressed oils closely resemble that of the original plant/seed. In contrast, the refined oils found on store shelves achieve their final form through a complex manufacturing process that involves the use of chemicals. This technology extracts a much larger quantity of neutral-tasting and smelling, long-lasting, high-smoke-point oil from the same amount of seeds, and offers it at a relatively low price. There is a huge difference between refined oil production and cold pressing not only in yield, quality, and content (health-protective components) but also in terms of environmental impact.
In the case of Grapoila products, this gentle, chemical-free production process is combined with a zero-waste philosophy, meaning we strive to make versatile use of the by-products and end-products of oil production, resulting in an exciting product range that includes gourmet butters, seed flours, and natural cosmetics.
To preserve freshness, cold-pressed oils should be stored in a cool place, protected from light and heat (e.g., stove, radiator, etc.). After opening, it's best to keep them in the refrigerator. (The oil may become cloudy due to the cold, but this does not affect its quality.) Tip: As long as the oil doesn't taste rancid, you can safely consume it. A rancid smell doesn't always mean the product has expired. Remove the pouring insert from the bottle neck and taste the oil! The film layer that forms on plastic is prone to rancidity, but the oil inside the bottle can still be perfectly fine.
