Cold Pressed Castor Oil
Cold pressed castor oil is oil that has been mechanically pressed out of castor seeds without added heat, rather than extracted with heat or a chemical solvent.
Cold pressed castor oil: how it is made
Castor seeds are cleaned and pressed in an expeller, which squeezes the oil out mechanically. "Cold pressed" means no heat is added to the process beyond the friction of pressing. The oil is then filtered and bottled.
Cold pressed vs other methods
| Cold pressed | Heat extracted | Solvent extracted | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How | Mechanical pressing, no added heat | Seeds heated before pressing | Seeds soaked in a solvent such as hexane |
| Yield | Lower | Higher | Highest |
| Solvent used | None | None | Yes, then removed |
| Price | Higher | Middle | Lowest |
Solvent extraction is explained further in hexane free castor oil.
How to tell what you are buying
- Look for "cold pressed" on the label, not just "pure"
- Look for "hexane free" or "solvent free"
- Check for an organic certification if that matters to you
- Prefer dark glass to clear plastic
Ours
- 100% certified organic castor oil, one ingredient
- Cold pressed, without added heat
- Hexane free: no chemical solvent
- Bottled in amber glass, not plastic
- 200 ml and 500 ml, packed in Australia