How Is Cold-Pressed Oil Made?
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A Step-by-Step Guide
Have you ever wondered how cold-pressed groundnut oil, sesame oil or coconut oil actually gets from the raw material into your kitchen?
Many people know the term "cold-pressed oil", but very few know what happens during the manufacturing process.
Does the seed go directly into a machine?
Why does the oil sometimes look cloudy?
How is the oil separated from the seed?
And what happens before the bottle reaches your home?
In this guide, we will explain how cold-pressed oil is made step by step, from selecting the raw material to the final bottle.
What Is Cold-Pressed Oil?
Cold-pressed oil is produced by extracting oil from seeds, nuts or other oil-bearing raw materials primarily through mechanical pressure.
Common examples include:
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Cold-pressed groundnut oil
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Cold-pressed sesame oil
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Cold-pressed coconut oil
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Cold-pressed mustard oil
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Cold-pressed sunflower oil
Unlike extensively refined oils, cold-pressed oils generally undergo less intensive processing.
The basic process is:
Raw material → Cleaning → Preparation → Mechanical pressing → Settling/Filtration → Quality checks → Packing
But there is much more happening at each stage.
Let's look at the complete journey.
Step 1: Selecting Good-Quality Raw Materials
The quality of cold-pressed oil begins before the oil is extracted.
If the seeds or nuts are poor quality, even the best oil press cannot magically produce premium-quality oil.
For example, when producing cold-pressed groundnut oil, manufacturers need to pay attention to the condition of the groundnuts before processing.
Important factors include:
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Freshness
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Moisture
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Cleanliness
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Proper maturity
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Insect damage
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Mould or contamination
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Foreign materials
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Storage conditions
This is why responsible oil manufacturing starts with raw-material inspection.
Good oil starts with good raw material.
Step 2: Cleaning the Seeds or Nuts
Once the raw material arrives, it needs to be cleaned.
Seeds and nuts can contain unwanted materials such as:
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Dust
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Stones
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Stalks
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Leaves
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Soil
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Foreign particles
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Damaged seeds
These materials need to be removed before the extraction process.
Cleaning is not simply about making the seeds look better.
It is an important part of maintaining food hygiene and consistent processing.
Step 3: Inspecting the Cleaned Raw Material
After cleaning, the raw material can be inspected again.
This is an important quality-control stage.
The manufacturer can check for:
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Damaged seeds
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Unusual colour
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Insect infestation
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Excessive moisture
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Foreign materials
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Other visible quality problems
Removing unsuitable raw material before pressing helps protect the quality of the final oil.
Step 4: Preparing the Raw Material for Pressing
Different raw materials behave differently during oil extraction.
Groundnuts, sesame seeds and coconuts are not identical.
Therefore, the preparation and pressing conditions can vary according to:
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Type of seed
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Moisture level
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Seed condition
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Machine design
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Pressing speed
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Production conditions
This is one reason experienced oil manufacturers pay close attention to the raw material before starting the press.
Step 5: Mechanical Pressing
Now comes the stage most people associate with cold-pressed oil.
The prepared seeds or nuts are fed into an oil press.
Inside the machine, mechanical pressure gradually breaks down the raw material and separates the oil from the solid portion.
The result is two main outputs:
Oil + Oil cake
The oil flows out of the press while the remaining solid material is separated as oil cake.
For example:
Groundnuts → Groundnut oil + Groundnut oil cake
Sesame seeds → Sesame oil + Sesame oil cake
The exact extraction efficiency depends on the raw material and processing conditions.
What Does "Cold-Pressed" Actually Mean?
The term "cold-pressed" refers to mechanical extraction carried out without intentionally using high heat as the primary extraction method.
However, it is important to understand that mechanical pressing can naturally generate some heat because of friction and pressure.
Therefore, "cold-pressed" should not be interpreted as meaning that the oil literally remains at one fixed temperature throughout the entire process.
The actual temperature can depend on:
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Raw material
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Machine design
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Pressing speed
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Feed rate
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Moisture
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Operating conditions
This is why responsible manufacturers should focus on controlling their process rather than simply using the words "cold-pressed" as a marketing claim.
Step 6: Freshly Extracted Oil
Immediately after pressing, the oil may not look like the crystal-clear refined oil many consumers are familiar with.
Freshly extracted oil can contain tiny suspended particles from the raw material.
The oil may also have:
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Natural aroma
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Characteristic colour
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Small suspended particles
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A more noticeable flavour
This is normal for many mechanically extracted oils.
The next stage is therefore important.
Step 7: Settling and Filtration
Freshly extracted oil can be allowed to settle so that heavier suspended particles naturally move downward.
Depending on the manufacturer's process, the oil may then undergo filtration to remove unwanted suspended particles.
Filtration can help improve the appearance and cleanliness of the finished oil while maintaining the desired characteristics of the product.
Different manufacturers may use different filtration systems.
At RJS, traditional settling and filtration methods form part of our approach to producing cold-pressed oils.
Why Does Cold-Pressed Oil Sometimes Look Cloudy?
This is one of the most common questions from first-time buyers.
If you are used to refined cooking oil, you may expect every oil to be perfectly clear.
But cold-pressed oil can sometimes have a slightly cloudy or naturally varied appearance.
This can be influenced by:
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Natural particles
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Filtration method
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Settling time
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Temperature
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Raw material
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Storage conditions
Clear does not automatically mean better.
And:
Cloudy does not automatically mean better either.
The appearance of an oil should not be the only measure of quality.
Step 8: Quality Checks
Before the oil reaches the customer, quality needs to be considered at multiple stages.
A responsible manufacturer should pay attention to:
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Raw-material quality
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Manufacturing hygiene
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Extraction conditions
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Filtration
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Packaging
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Storage
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Product specifications
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Applicable food-safety requirements
Laboratory testing may also be used where appropriate to assess specific product parameters.
This is an important difference between simply pressing seeds and running a proper food-manufacturing operation.
Step 9: Packaging the Oil
Once the oil has gone through the required processing and quality checks, it is packed.
Packaging is not just about making the product look attractive.
Good packaging helps protect oil from factors such as:
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Excessive heat
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Light
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Air
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Contamination
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Poor handling
Consumers should always check the product label, manufacturing/packing information, best-before date and storage instructions.
Step 10: Storage and Delivery
The journey does not end when the bottle is filled.
Oil needs to be stored appropriately before it reaches the customer.
Once you purchase the oil, you should also store it properly.
Keep your cooking oil:
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Away from direct sunlight
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Away from excessive heat
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In a clean and dry place
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Properly sealed after use
Avoid keeping the bottle immediately next to a hot cooking stove.
How Groundnut Oil Is Made
Let's take a simple example.
Groundnuts
↓
Quality inspection
↓
Cleaning
↓
Preparation
↓
Mechanical pressing
↓
Fresh groundnut oil
↓
Settling / filtration
↓
Quality checks
↓
Packing
↓
RJS Cold-Pressed Groundnut Oil
The result is an oil with the characteristic aroma and flavour associated with groundnuts.
How Sesame Oil Is Made
The same basic principle applies to sesame oil.
Sesame seeds
↓
Cleaning and inspection
↓
Mechanical pressing
↓
Fresh sesame oil
↓
Settling / filtration
↓
Quality checks
↓
Packing
↓
Cold-Pressed Sesame Oil
Because sesame has its own distinctive characteristics, the resulting oil also has a recognizable aroma and flavour.
How Is Coconut Oil Made?
Coconut oil follows a somewhat different raw-material preparation process because the starting material is coconut rather than a dry seed such as groundnut or sesame.
The exact process depends on the type of coconut oil being produced and the manufacturing method.
This is why you should not assume that every "cold-pressed oil" is manufactured in exactly the same way.
The raw material determines much of the process.
What Happens to the Oil Cake?
Oil extraction doesn't simply produce oil.
The remaining solid material is called oil cake.
For example:
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Groundnut pressing → Groundnut oil cake
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Sesame pressing → Sesame oil cake
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Other oil-bearing seeds → Corresponding oil cake
Oil cake can have value as a by-product, depending on the raw material and its intended use.
This means the oil extraction process can make use of more than just the liquid oil.
Cold-Pressed Oil vs Refined Oil: Where Is the Difference?
The main difference is what happens after and during extraction.
Cold-pressed oil generally focuses on mechanical extraction with less intensive processing.
Refined oil typically undergoes additional processing designed to produce a more neutral, consistent product.
| Stage | Cold-Pressed Oil | Refined Oil |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material selection | Important | Important |
| Cleaning | Yes | Yes |
| Mechanical/extraction stage | Mechanical pressing commonly used | Extraction method varies |
| Extensive refining | Generally no | Yes |
| Natural aroma | Often noticeable | Usually reduced |
| Natural flavour | Often noticeable | Usually neutral |
| Appearance | Can vary naturally | Usually very uniform |
Neither term alone tells you everything about product quality.
The manufacturer, raw material and complete process matter.
Why Does the Manufacturing Process Matter?
Imagine two bottles sitting next to each other.
Both say:
"100% Cold-Pressed Groundnut Oil."
Can you assume they are identical?
No.
The quality can depend on:
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Where the groundnuts came from
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How they were stored
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How they were cleaned
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How they were pressed
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How the oil was filtered
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How it was stored
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How it was packaged
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What quality controls were followed
This is why the manufacturer's process matters as much as the words printed on the front of the bottle.
How RJS Makes Cold-Pressed Oil
At RJS Healthy Foods, we believe customers deserve to understand the journey behind their food.
Our approach starts with the raw material and continues through:
Selection → Cleaning → Mechanical pressing → Settling/filtration → Quality checks → Packing
We focus on traditional oil extraction while maintaining modern food-quality practices.
Our range includes:
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Cold-Pressed Groundnut Oil
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Cold-Pressed Sesame Oil
-
Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil
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Cold-Pressed Castor Oil
We believe that good oil doesn't begin with the bottle.
It begins with the raw material.
How to Identify a Good Cold-Pressed Oil
When buying cold-pressed oil, don't look at just one thing.
Check:
1. The ingredients
Look for clear ingredient information.
2. The manufacturer
Know who actually produced the oil.
3. The process
Look for transparency about extraction and filtration.
4. The packaging
Check whether the container is properly sealed and in good condition.
5. The date
Check manufacturing/packing and best-before information.
6. Food-safety information
Look for the relevant information required on the product label.
7. The storage instructions
Follow the manufacturer's recommended storage conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is cold-pressed oil made?
Cold-pressed oil is generally made by mechanically pressing oil-rich seeds, nuts or other raw materials, followed by processes such as settling, filtration, quality checks and packing.
Is cold-pressed oil really made without heat?
Mechanical pressing can naturally generate heat through friction and pressure. "Cold-pressed" generally refers to mechanical extraction without intentionally using high heat as the primary extraction method.
How is cold-pressed groundnut oil made?
Groundnuts are selected, cleaned and prepared before being mechanically pressed. The extracted oil can then be settled and filtered before quality checks and packing.
How is cold-pressed sesame oil made?
Sesame seeds are cleaned and inspected before mechanical pressing. The extracted oil is then typically settled and/or filtered before being checked and packed.
Why does cold-pressed oil look different from refined oil?
Cold-pressed oil can retain more natural characteristics of the raw material and may have variations in colour or clarity depending on filtration and settling.
Is cold-pressed oil unfiltered?
Not necessarily. Cold-pressed oil can be filtered after mechanical extraction. The filtration method varies between manufacturers.
Does cold-pressed oil contain chemicals?
The term "cold-pressed" describes the extraction method. It does not by itself describe every aspect of a product's formulation or processing. Always check the ingredient list and product information.
How should cold-pressed oil be stored?
Store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and excessive heat. Keep the container tightly closed after use.
See How Traditional Oil Becomes Part of Your Kitchen
Now that you know how cold-pressed oil is made, the next question is simple:
Why not know exactly what goes into the oil you cook with every day?
At RJS Healthy Foods, we focus on bringing traditionally processed oils to modern kitchens with attention to raw-material quality and food-safety practices.
Explore our range of cold-pressed oils and choose the one that fits your kitchen.
🛒 Order RJS Cold-Pressed Oils
Traditional Process. Modern Quality.
Final Takeaway
Cold-pressed oil doesn't simply appear inside a bottle.
Its journey begins with the raw material.
From selecting and cleaning the seeds to mechanical pressing, settling, filtration, quality checks and packing, every stage can influence the final product.
So the next time you pick up a bottle of cold-pressed oil, don't just look at the label.
Ask:
Where did the raw material come from?
How was the oil extracted?
How was it filtered and stored?
Who made it?
Because when it comes to cooking oil, the process matters.
Good food begins with good ingredients.
