It’s no wonder why the source of cocoa beans, the cacao tree, was named “food of the gods” (Theobroma). The distinctively chocolatey flavor of cocoa products has been a favorite of countless civilizations throughout time—satisfying cravings both bitter and sweet, while supplying a bounty of beneficial qualities beyond food. However, many overlook the complexities of…
Virgin coconut oil has been called “the healthiest oil in the world” thanks to its unique fatty acid composition and abundance of nutrients. Unlike traditional coconut oil—which is extracted from dried coconut meat, or copra, and then refined, bleached, and deodorized (RBD)—pure virgin oil is pressed directly from fresh coconut kernels, so it retains all…
Although large-scale soybean processors dominate the commodity vegetable oil markets, these solvent extraction plants can’t produce organic products because of the hazardous chemicals they use. So, while small-scale mechanical oil mills may not be able to compete in terms of overall production volume or oil recovery rates, they can differentiate themselves by specializing in organic…
Peanuts dominate as the most popular nut in America, where each person eats more than seven pounds per year on average. While Americans tend to favor this snack as a spreadable nut butter, this tasty seed is popular around the world as a versatile ingredient rich in protein, fiber, and oil. Although peanuts are most…
Sticks and stones may not break your bones, but they can certainly wreak havoc on an oil seed processing plant. No matter what material you process or which market you serve, the quality of the seeds you crush determines the quality of the oil and other byproducts. Foreign objects can impede this process and degrade…
As the primary source of protein in most animal feed formulations, soybean is highly valued for its unique amino acid profile as a low-cost nutrient supply. Unfortunately, as nutritional as soybean can be, it also contains some anti-nutritional factors that can harm animals and humans. The most problematic enzyme, soybean trypsin inhibitor, must be properly…
The ultimate goal of pressing oilseeds is to separate the oil from the solid seed material. Even in the most efficient processing plants, the oil leaving the press could still contain up to 10-20% solids by weight, which impacts the final product quality. Processors have a few options to remove these remaining particles and clarify…
Around the world, cotton is primarily grown to make the fluffy white fiber found in bedsheets, t-shirts, and blue jeans. For most of this crop’s history, the seeds were just a byproduct of textile production—even though the plants produce twice as much seed as fiber. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that processors began…
From the grocery aisles to the cosmetic counter, about half of all packaged goods on retail shelves today contain a byproduct from the oil palm. This tropical tree supplies not one but two of the world’s most versatile vegetable oils used to make ice cream creamy, crackers crispy, soaps bubbly, and much more. Although palm…
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