Rapeseed Oil

Rapeseed oil is made by pressing the seeds from the oilseed rape plant.  Just as olives are pressed to produce olive oil. Flowering in Spring, the crop is easily recognisable by its dazzling golden flowers. After the flower has died off the seeds continues to grow and harden until its  time for harvest, usually around the end of July, beginning of August. White's of Old Cantley then use their combine harvester to separate the seeds from their pods and the rapeseed is then dried using our 100% sustainable solar power. You can watch our 2016 harvest in action here.

 

Cold Pressing? 

White's of Old Cantley use the traditional method of cold pressing to extract their rapeseed oil. The small black seeds are simply pressed once (extra virgin) without the use of heat, this means that the oil's natural golden colour and all of the beneficial nutrients are preserved. The rapeseed oil is then carefully filtered after which it is ready to be bottled. The process is very simple and is greatly different from large scale industrial processing which uses heat to extract as much oil as possible leaving a heavily diluted, pale oil whose benefits have been lost due to the exposure to heat.

 

Why is Rapeseed Oil better than other culinary oils?

White's of Old Cantley cold pressed rapeseed oil has the lowest levels of saturated fat of all common culinary oils. It has half the amount of saturated fat of it's Mediterranean cousin, olive oil! 

Our oil is a great natural source of omegas 3, 6 and 9 which are fatty acids key to many bodily functions  from building healthy cells to maintaining brain and nerve operation. Rapeseed oil actually contains 10 times more omega 3 than olive oil, which is important in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.

Our rapeseed oil also contains Vitamin E, an anti-oxidant, which helps to promote healthy skin. (Try using our natural oil as massage ointment!) To read more about the benefits of rapeseed oil click here.

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The Cooking Benefits.

Unlike olive oil, which begins to break down, smoke and can become toxic when overheated, White's rapeseed oil can be heated up to 230˚C meaning it is perfect for a variety of cooking methods including shallow frying, deep frying and roasting. Our oil, grown on healthy sandy-loam South Yorkshire soils, has a light and delicate taste meaning it will not overwhelm dressings, marinades and sauces as olive oil can. You can even substitute our oil for butter in your baking for a healthier alternative which is just as delicious! For some top cooking tips click here.