In the supermarket or herbalist it is common to find pomace, olive and extra virgin olive oil. It may be tempting to buy pomace oil instead of extra virgin olive oil based on price, but are they the same?
Because the oils are not created equal, their uses and functions are also different, which is why there is a need to classify them. In this case, the refined pomace oil can be used for consumption, while its crude version is not suitable for the table.
What is pomace oil?
Like olive oil, this is the juice extracted from the fruit of the olive tree. But unlike other olive oils, pomace it is not harvested mechanically. Instead, it is made from the oil left over in the olive pulp after the olive and extra virgin oils have been extracted.
The pomace is mixed with solvents and other chemical products. Practically it does not have flavor, which can be ideal for dishes that don't lend themselves to strong flavors. It is also an oil refining, which means that it has been extracted from virgin olive oils by refining.
Pomace oil can refer to refined or crude. The former is appropriate for consumption, while the latter can only be used for industrial purposes.
Differences with olive oil
Many people believe that olive pomace oil is the same as olive oil. This is not really the case because the extraction of pomace oil from olive oil results in a drastic chemical change. Specifically, the olive is created with expeller pressure, while the pomace is obtained using a solvent.
In recent years, consumers have sought to learn more about exactly what they are buying. As a result, some governments have introduced stricter controls. These include identifying the sources of ingredients, additives, and manufacturing processes.
The bottom line is that olive oil and extra virgin olive oil are not the same as olive pomace oil. In fact, there are several versions of olive oil available on the market. First and second press olive oils are made by squeezing the olives and extracting the oil.
Instead, olive pomace oil is radically different. It is produced by processing the dried pulp residues with simple pressing methods to extract olive oil.
However, the following table shows the differences between both types of oil.
| Properties | Olive oil | Orujo oil |
| Provenance | fruit or seed | dry pulp |
| Production | With ejector pressure | Solvent Extracted |
| Uses | diabetes treatments Heart diseases Skin treatments Cooking |
Skin Hair Aromatherapy Cooking |
| PREMIUM QUALITY | Extra virgin Virgin Refined olive pomace |
Raw Refined Olive oil composed of refined pomace oil and virgin olive oil |
| Correlation | Olive oil is made up of pomace | The pomace is a type of olive oil |
health benefits
Regular consumption of this oil can help keep the arteries clean. This is because it is 80 percent monounsaturated, which can help lower cholesterol levels. It also retains the benefits of olive oil, including a high level of oleanolic acid It helps reduce high blood pressure.
And like other olive oils, the pomace oil is also naturally gluten free, even after being refined.
Although pomace is considered a waste byproduct, it is not without its benefits. Nutritionally, one study reported that it is rich in healthy unsaturated fats, vitamin E, and antioxidants.
It also contains a variety of healthy fats and beneficial bioactive compounds, such as antioxidants and pentacyclic triterpenes. These compounds are believed to help:
- Fight bacteria, fungi and other microbes.
- Fight cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis.
- Reduce the negative effects of diabetes.
- Decrease inflammation.
- Low cholesterol.
- Protect various organ systems, including the gastrointestinal system and the liver.
Certain compounds found in olive pomace may help support the treatment of certain different diseases, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and osteoporosis. For example, an August 2013 study in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture reported that apple seed oil it is also rich in antioxidants and healthy unsaturated fatty acids. Like olive pomace oil, it has interesting biomedical properties, such as effects anticancer.
Although less common, you can also get other types of pomace oil from other plants. In many cases, the seeds they are separated from the remaining pomace to create a purer oil.
It's cheaper
Olive pomace oil is the lowest grade of olive oil. It has the cheapest cost compared to the other grades. The price difference between pomace oil and extra virgin is quite large.
This means that if choosing the lowest price is a high priority for us, pomace should be at the top of the list of oils to consider.
It is made of olives
It is produced from the dry and surplus pulp of the olives, after carrying out the first pressing, giving rise to extra virgin olive oil. Although it is a lower grade oil that takes advantage of the "leftover" oil in the olive remains, it is still produced from olives.
Olive oil is one of the most highly regarded oils in the world. Even if it is a lower grade oil, being "second best" is still better than many of the alternatives on the market.
refined oil
This can be good or bad, depending on the flavor profile we're looking for. Olive pomace oil used in food manufacturing is refined to create a light color and consistent flavor. This means that the oil does not add much flavor to the food.
For any food manufacturer looking for a healthy alternative to conventional soybean oil, this is a common choice: it's healthier, reputable, and still light in color and flavor to make it a simple substitute.
It is not genetically modified
All grades of olive oil, including olive pomace oil, are generally not genetically modified. As more and more consumers seek assurance that their food does not contain a genetically modified organism, this naturally genetically modified organism-free ingredient is an ideal choice.
Gluten-free
Olive pomace oil is a naturally gluten-free ingredient. This may seem like a no-brainer to some, but since many manufacturers now have to confirm the gluten-free claim on their ingredients, it's always helpful to reiterate.
Of course, we should always check that the manufacturer is packaging in a gluten-free facility to avoid cross-contamination and get a gluten-free claim from them.
How to use pomace oil?
Like the olive one, this one can be used for cooking. The good thing about this is that, unlike extra virgin olive oil, which has a low boiling point, pomace oil can be used to fry plates.
Apart from its uses in the kitchen, it can also be used to treat problems with the hair. Using a little pomace oil on damaged scalp can relieve dryness. In the same way, you can also use pomace in the bath to rejuvenate the leather drought.
Pomace oil, like other olive oils, is versatile, although it may fall a bit short of extra virgin olive oil and other olive oils. However, it maintains the same benefits as olive oil, which makes it a ideal substitute for ingredients such as butter (and even olive oil). After all, it is still made from the same olive. It is an affordable, useful and healthy oil that every person needs in the kitchen.
The pomace is not only used to make oil; can also be used to produce schnapps pomace and other products. The brandy it is usually made with grape pomace and other sweet fruits, rather than olive oil. However, none of this is healthy for the body.
Contraindications
Pomace oil is not the best version, and there are some unwanted effects in its production and consumption.
It is produced with solvents
Olive pomace oil is extracted with solvents such as hexane. The extraction process helps to get even the last drop of oil from the pulp, without generating waste. However, the use of hexane in the extraction process is often criticized by the natural and specialty foods industry.
However, many consumers simply do not like solvent extraction (especially in the natural and specialty foods industry). The same concern applies to any conventional household oil like soybean or canola. These are also produced using solvent extraction, which is the industry norm at this time.
It is a refined oil
As mentioned above, among the good properties, being a refined oil can also be attributed to its bad properties. This depends on the person using it because since it does not impart any fresh olive flavor to food, olive pomace oil may not be considered by some to be the best alternative to cooking oil.
It is less healthy than extra virgin olive oil
Olive oil is naturally packed with a host of health benefits, not entirely found in pomace oil. As it is the form extracted from the pulp already used, it does not possess the cancer-fighting polyphenols and other elements found in olive oil.
Other health benefits are unique to extra virgin olive oil, such as cancer-fighting polyphenols found in varying levels in fresh EVOO. Refined oils such as pure olive oil, refined olive oil, and olive pomace oil lose these exclusive health benefits of first cold-pressed oil.
Therefore, if you are torn between choosing a better and healthier alternative for your cooking oil, pomace oil is a good option (even if it does have a small number of drawbacks). Why? It is a type of olive oil, it is cheap, refined and gluten-free.