What is the Difference Between Cold-Pressed vs Expeller-Pressed Castor Oil
Written by: Victoria Williams
How do you know you’re getting top quality Castor Oil? Is it enough to know that it’s organic? Or how about the extraction method? Have you ever wondered what the terms, cold-pressed or expeller-pressed mean or wondered how the extraction method of your Castor Oil affects its quality, and more importantly, its nutrient integrity?
Afterall, you use Castor Oil because it’s loaded with nutrients, agreed? So, let’s explore the different extraction methods, how they work, their uses, and how all these factors affect that luscious oil you know and love.
Key Points:
- Castor Oil has a high stability level that makes it able to withstand high temperatures.
- Castor Oil’s nutrients do not begin to break down until the oil is exposed to 302°F (150°C).
- Expeller pressing only exposes the oil to 140-210°F (60-99°C).
The variable nature of Castor Oil
When buying large quantities of bulk Castor Oil, suppliers like Queen of the Thrones® must consider the quality of the beans themselves, and then choose the extraction method that will yield the best quality oil.
As with any crop, the castor bean is affected by many environmental conditions. Sometimes the crop is abundant with super healthy castor beans, and other times the crop may be scanty.
Because of this, Castor Oil, whether expeller or cold-pressed, goes through rigorous testing to determine if the product meets nutrient requirements. Here at Queen of the Thrones® we use a third party to test our Castor Oil, and from there we make a decision on whether to buy it.
Does expeller-pressing destroy nutrients?
It’s important to remember that because Castor Oil is a natural product, its composition may vary from batch to batch.
Sometimes cold-pressed Castor Oil may test better, while other times, expeller-pressed Castor Oil may be the optimal choice. Every batch of Castor Oil is unique, and the quality must be verified through testing.
Third-party testing of Queen of the Thrones® expeller-pressed Castor Oil shows that it meets key specifications, including fatty acids/ricinoleic acid profile and saponification within the same strict range of standards as cold-pressed Castor Oil.
So whether you use it in a Castor Oil Liver Pack, Thyroid Pack, Pelvic Pack, or Eye Compress, remember that rigorous testing ensures the safety and quality of the Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil.
From bean to oil: Castor Oil extraction
The Castor Bean Extraction Process:
Stage 1: Seed Collection
Ripe castor plants are selected for seed collection. The process begins by exposing these plants to the sun’s warmth, causing them to split open naturally, allowing the seeds to be gathered.
Stage 2: Dehulling
The castor seeds are stripped of their outer layers, a process that can be done manually or mechanically with the assistance of a castor bean dehuller.
Stage 3: Cleaning
After dehulling, the seeds undergo a thorough cleaning process to eliminate impurities such as sand, leaves, sticks, stems, and dirt. A seed cleaner equipped with revolving screens or reels is employed for this purpose.
Stage 4: Drying
To reduce moisture content and catalyze the extraction process, cleaned seeds are gently heated in a steam-jacketed vessel. This step hardens the seeds, preparing them for pressing.
Stage 5: Cold or Expeller Pressed
High-pressure crushing of seeds occurs in this stage. The extracted oil is filtered, and the residual bulk is blended with fresh seeds for further pressing, while the resulting residual bulk is referred to as Castor Cake.
Stage 6: Filtration
The oil is filtered through a fine filtration system to remove both small and large impurities.
Stage 7: Packaging
The final stage in processing is packaging the oil into steel or plastic drums (Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil is always in steel) to transport it to a bottling facility.
Stage 8: Bottling
The Castor Oil is bottled into its final container, either plastic or glass, and ready for the wellness consumer to purchase (Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil will ALWAYS be bottled in glass!).
What is the difference between expeller and cold-pressed Castor Oil?
Expeller-Pressed Oils
The expeller pressing method involves physically pressing castor beans to extract the oils, avoiding the use of chemicals. While this technique employs pressure for oil extraction, the pressure itself can generate temperatures between 140-210°F, so it is not considered a true “cold processed” method.
Expeller pressing is a more efficient method of extraction because the heat that is produced helps extract MORE oil, meaning a higher yield is produced, and less of the plant is wasted. While this heat is higher than in cold pressing, it is still considered relatively low.
Cold-Pressed Oils
Cold pressing oil, on the other hand, also generates heat, but it does not surpass 122°F during extraction.
In this process, the oil is extracted using methods such as bladder pressing (for softer fruits), hydraulic pressing, or low-resistance expeller pressing to ensure the temperature stays below 122°F. Sometimes cold water may be run through the machine to keep temperatures cooler.
How Castor Oil’s composition protects its nutrients from heat exposure
So, how does this play into the extraction method?
Expeller pressing can expose the oil to temperatures up to 210°F, while cold pressing exposes the oil to up to 122°F – so neither method comes close to damaging the oil.
But when it comes to heat and extraction methods, it appears that Castor Oil’s nutrients stay intact. Why? Because the oil must reach 230°F before it begins oxidizing and the nutrients start to break down.
And this is amazing because you can rest easy with the knowledge that the Castor Oil you know and love so much is also providing you with the nutrients you expect it to have!
Would you love to know more about the history, benefits and versatile usage of Castor Oil? Download your free eGuide now, Castor Oil: Magic or Myth?
Castor oil uses and benefits
If you’re reading this, you probably already know how Castor Oil is used, but just in case you don’t, we’re going to give you a thumbnail of its uses here.
Castor Oil has been used since ancient times as a beauty aid, in more recent times as a stimulant laxative, moisturizer, and most importantly, in Castor Oil Packs.
Liver Castor Oil Packs are the most well known application for Castor Oil because they are thought to have the most systemic benefits for the body when worn on the liver area. From hormone balance, to inflammation support to lymph flow, better sleep, digestion, and detox… the liver area is where the OG Castor Oil Pack was worn.
A Thyroid Castor Oil Pack is thought to have similar benefits focused on the thyroid gland, but is famously known for helping to reduce the appearance of aging and wrinkles on the neck… amazing for supporting hormone balance!
Another common use of Castor Oil Packs is in the Pelvic and Hip area. Beloved by women (and men) of all ages, a pack worn in this area is thought to support the reproductive organs. This ancient practice is used to support fibroids, endometriosis, period pain, and perimenopause symptoms.
Breast Castor Oil Packs are thought to support lymphatic drainage and blood flow to the breasts. These are both key components for breast health, especially since many women are used to wearing restricting bras.
Lastly, the Castor Oil Eye Compress is a fan favorite because Castor Oil is well known for supporting the appearance of crow’s feet and dark circles, as well as supporting thick luscious lashes and bold beautiful brows. Not only that, but wearing an eye compress to sleep may help support natural melatonin production4 5.
You can see why it is such a well-loved oil, agreed?
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Click here for references
1. Harhar & al. Chemical characterization and oxidative stability of castor oil grown in Morocco. Moroccan Journal of Chemistry 4 N°2 (2016) 279-284
2. Ntsako Portia Chauke, Hembe Elie Mukaya, Diakanua Bavon Nkazi Chemical modifications of castor oil: A review. Science Progress 2019, Vol. 102(3) 199–217 © The Author(s) 2019
3. Patel VR, Dumancas GG, Kasi Viswanath LC, Maples R, Subong BJ. Castor Oil: Properties, Uses, and Optimization of Processing Parameters in Commercial Production. Lipid Insights. 2016 Sep 7;9:1-12. doi: 10.4137/LPI.S40233. PMID: 27656091; PMCID: PMC5015816.
4. Rong-fang Hu, Xiao-ying Jiang, Yi-ming Zeng, Xiao-yang Chen, You-hua Zhang. Effects of earplugs and eye masks on nocturnal sleep, melatonin and cortisol in a simulated intensive care unit environment. Published online 2010 Apr 18. PMID: 20398302
5. Khoddam H, Maddah SA, Rezvani Khorshidi S, Zaman Kamkar M, Modanloo M. The effects of earplugs and eye masks on sleep quality of patients admitted to coronary care units: A randomised clinical trial. J Sleep Res. 2022 Apr;31(2):e13473. doi: 10.1111/jsr.13473. Epub 2021 Sep 12. PMID: 34514653.
Please bring back cold pressed!
We are hoping in the New Year! Thank you for your feedback!
Has Queen of Thrones brought back cold pressed yet?
No we are hoping by summer! (July-August)
Why does the expeller pressed castor oil smell so differently from the cold pressed oil?
There should be no change of smell between these, maybe a little nutty but not much of a smell.
Give our team an email at care@queenofthethrones.com with your order # and we would be pleased to assist you.