How we pick our products
Welcome to our large peanut oil test 2023. Here we present all the peanut oils we have tested in detail. We would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best peanut oil for you. You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide.
Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should be aware of if you want to buy peanut oil.
Summary
- A basic distinction is made between cold-pressed peanut oil, organic peanut oil, refined peanut oil and hydrogenated peanut oil. Depending on your preference and intended use, one type is best suited for you.
- Key criteria such as the production method, heat stability and taste play a major role in the final purchase decision. You should consider the filling quantity and type of packaging if you want to cook with peanut oil very often.
- You should always store your peanut oil in a cool, dry and dark place to prolong its life. You can cook, fry, roast and bake with the oil.
The best Peanut Oil: Our Picks
Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying peanut oil
What is the advantage of peanut oil over other vegetable oils?
With its high proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids, it is considered very healthy. Peanut oil is equally valuable in terms of ingredients. In contrast to olive oil, it even has a higher value of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are considered healthier.
One advantage of cold-pressed peanut oil is its own flavour. If you want an alternative to common, well-known oil flavours, you will find a “nice exotic” in peanut oil. It harmonises well with meat and fish dishes and is particularly suitable for Asian dishes with root vegetables. Refined peanut oil is one of the “winners” among cooking oils when it comes to heat resistance. As it has the highest smoke point of all cooking oils and is neutral in taste, it is well suited for frying and deep-frying.
| Type of oil | Smoke point [°C] |
|---|---|
| Cold-pressed sunflower oil | 107 |
| Refined sunflower oil | 210-225 |
| Cold-pressed rapeseed oil | 130-190 |
| Refined rapeseed oil | 210 |
| Cold-pressed peanut oil | 130-170 |
| Refined peanut oil rapeseed oil | 230 |
Can I use peanut oil if I have a peanut allergy?
Where can I buy peanut oil and how expensive is it?
You can buy high-quality cold-pressed peanut oils in organic markets. If you cannot find the peanut oil you want in your local supermarket, you can of course order the product online. Some manufacturers allow you to do this directly via their website.
What can I use if I don’t want to use oil or butter?
Decision: What types of peanut oil are there and which is the right one for me?
There are four different types of peanut oil, which differ mainly in the method of extraction. We have listed the exact types below:
- Cold-pressed (virgin) peanut oil
- Organic peanut oil
- Refined peanut oil
- Hardened peanut oil (peanut fat)
Peanut oil, as the name suggests, is obtained from peanuts. Although peanut plants belong to the legume family, the oil obtained belongs to the category of nut oils. It has a high content of monounsaturated fatty acids, which are considered to be beneficial to health. It is obtained in two different ways:
On the one hand by cold pressing and on the other hand by extraction and refining. Whether you choose cold-pressed peanut oil, refined peanut oil or peanut fat depends entirely on how and for what you want to use the peanut oil. In this article we present the different types with their advantages and disadvantages.
What is cold-pressed peanut oil and what are its advantages and disadvantages compared to other types?
Cold-pressed peanut oil is the oil from peanuts that is extracted by cold pressing. Cold-pressing of peanuts mainly involves the use of the screw press. In this press, the peanut seeds are pressed together at high pressure until the oil emerges. In the press cylinder there is a so-called screw with a worm thread. The screw resembles an oversized screw.
Due to the shape of the screw, the peanut seeds are exposed to different pressures, which causes the oil to escape. Oil extraction by cold pressing is considered very gentle, as the oil is produced without any heat. Its ingredients such as linoleic acid, oleic acid and vitamin B are thus not damaged.
Another advantage is the mild, nutty taste. This is retained due to the careful processing. Depending on the quality of the peanuts, the taste of the peanut oil also varies. Unfortunately, impurities such as pesticides from synthetic pesticides remain in the oil because they cannot be filtered. The chemical pesticides are in turn harmful to the health of consumers.
How is organic peanut oil different and what are its advantages and disadvantages compared to other types?
Organic peanut oil is also produced by cold pressing peanuts. However, only peanuts that come from organic farming are used for oil production. Farmers do not use any mineral fertilisers or artificial pesticides to grow the peanuts. This therefore means that impurities such as pesticides are not found in the oil.
Furthermore, manufacturers pay special attention to the quality of the peanuts. The peanut oil’s own flavour only really comes into its own with high-quality peanuts. It is therefore advisable to use organic peanut oil when choosing cold-pressed peanut oil. In general, you should only heat cold-pressed peanut oil moderately, as it tends to smoke between 160°C and 170°C. You can still use it for cooking. You can still use it for light frying, but it is not suitable for frying or deep-frying.
However, the intense heating produces substances that are harmful to health and inedible. These are removed by refining, which improves the quality of the oil. Nevertheless, important and healthy ingredients are lost through the heat.
This purification filters out free fatty acids, odours, flavours and bitter substances and makes the oil both longer lasting and more heat-resistant. As a result, the oil is quite neutral in taste and is therefore suitable as a good cooking oil for everyday use.
What is hydrogenated peanut oil and what are its advantages and disadvantages compared to other types?
Hydrogenated peanut oil is liquid, refined peanut oil that becomes solid through the process of artificial fat hardening. It is soft in consistency and is also known as peanut fat. The unsaturated fatty acids of peanut oil are converted into saturated fatty acids during the process. Therefore, peanut fat is considered less healthy compared to peanut oil. However, like refined peanut oil, it can be heated strongly.
It will keep for over a year if refrigerated. If you do not store peanut fat in the refrigerator, it can be kept for up to twelve months. Always keep peanut fat sealed. Otherwise, the peanut fat could absorb foreign odours.
What is refined peanut oil and what are its advantages and disadvantages compared to other types?
Refined peanut oil is also oil that is extracted from peanuts. Unlike cold-pressed peanut oil, it is obtained by chemical extraction. Roasted peanuts are crushed and pressed under high heat until the oil escapes. The yield, i.e. the quantity, is 99% of the oil extraction. The yield of the oil is therefore very high.
Buying criteria: You can compare and evaluate peanut oils based on these factors
In this section we would like to introduce you to factors that may play a role in your choice of purchase. You can use these factors to compare and evaluate peanut oils. This will make it easier for you to find out whether the oil is suitable for your use or not. In summary, these are:
- Production method and heat stability
- Taste
- Health and body benefits
- Filling quantity
- Packaging
- Country of origin
In the following paragraphs you can read about the importance of the individual purchase criteria and how you can classify them.
Method of production and heat stability
At the beginning we have already gone into detail about the production method, i.e. oil extraction by cold pressing or refining. However, we would like to point out once again that the type of production, the type of oil and the heat stability are the most important purchase criteria. Because these criteria have the greatest influence on your possible uses. So consider the question of what you want to use the peanut oil for. Do you want to use it for food preparation or as a cosmetic product?
If you want to use peanut oil for body care or to refine cold dishes such as salads or dressings, you should use cold-pressed peanut oils, as the valuable ingredients are preserved. However, if you want to use peanut oil for frying or deep-frying, you should definitely opt for refined peanut oil. In contrast to cold-pressed peanut oil, it has a higher smoke point. You can therefore heat it more without further risk and also reuse it.
Refined peanut oil is therefore very economical. Nevertheless, make sure that the smoke point is not exceeded. Cold-pressed peanut oil, on the other hand, has a lower smoke point. If this is reached, harmful substances are produced that can cause cancer, for example. Therefore, you should only use cold-pressed peanut oil for short frying.
Taste
In addition to heat stability, taste should also play an important role in the purchase decision. Because of its inherent flavour, peanut oil is one of the exotic oils. So if you are looking for an oil to give your delicious dish that certain kick, cold-pressed peanut oil is definitely recommended. The mild, nutty peanut flavour is preserved because of the gentle cold pressing. The flavour of peanut oil can vary in intensity depending on the manufacturer.
The decisive factor is the quality of the peanuts harvested for oil production. Refined peanut oil, on the other hand, is almost neutral in taste and smell. It is therefore well suited for the preparation of all dishes that should not absorb any foreign flavours or odours.
Advantages for health and body
If you want to use peanut oil to benefit your diet or your body, then the following information is certainly relevant to you. Peanut oil is especially rich in oleic acid, linoleic acid and vitamin E. Regular consumption of peanut oil is therefore considered beneficial to health on several levels. Especially if you have a high cholesterol level, you should often eat meals that have been prepared or refined with peanut oil.
The high content of oleic acid and linoleic acid has a lowering effect on cholesterol levels. Peanut oil also strengthens your immune system and prevents heart disease. Vitamin E, which is abundant in peanut oil, is responsible for the formation of antibodies and the activation of defence cells. So if you want to make your diet healthier, it is recommended to use cold-pressed peanut oil. This is because very few ingredients are lost during the gentle production process. If you definitely want to buy a cold-pressed peanut oil, then it is recommended to go for an organic peanut oil. These are produced without any chemical pesticides.
If you don’t like the taste of peanuts, refined peanut oil is a good alternative. Although some ingredients may have been lost in the refining process, it still contains a high proportion of healthy ingredients. 
Peanut oil is equally beneficial for external use. If you only want to use pure peanut oil for body care, cold-pressed peanut oil is more beneficial. The many ingredients can be slowly absorbed into the body through your skin. If you don’t like the smell of peanuts, that’s not a problem. You can still use the good ingredients of peanut oil by simply using refined peanut oil. As it is rather odourless, it blends well with essential oils.
Fill
Once you have done a little research on peanut oils, you will have noticed that the contents of the bottles vary greatly. It is noticeable that cold-pressed peanut oils are sold in smaller quantities than refined peanut oils.
In this section we would like to explain to you what lies behind the different filling quantities and which filling quantity is best for you. An important factor why cold-pressed peanut oil is also sold in smaller quantities is its shelf life. Since cold pressing also leaves a lot of free fatty acids, the oil becomes rancid more quickly than refined oil. For consumers who only occasionally want to use cold-pressed peanut oil to round off their dishes, a bottle with a smaller filling quantity is therefore more recommended.
Refined peanut oil, on the other hand, is often used for frying or deep-frying. Logically, you need considerably more oil for your deep fryer. It is therefore very advantageous that manufacturers offer their products in larger fill quantities. Furthermore, refined oils have a longer shelf life and can be reused. Basically, you should first ask yourself whether you want to use the oil only occasionally or daily. Depending on this, you can decide whether a filling quantity of, for example, 250 ml or 500 ml would make more sense for you. If you only use the peanut oil occasionally, then it is better to buy a bottle with less content.
However, if you only want to use peanut oil as cooking oil from now on and you like to prepare your fries in the deep fryer, then it makes much more sense to buy a 1 litre oil bottle. Then you should also ask yourself whether you like the peanut flavour or not. If you are particularly keen on the taste, it would make sense to try out cold-pressed peanut oils from different manufacturers with smaller fill quantities to find your personal favourite.
As tastes are very subjective, we do not want to specify here which peanut oil is the best in terms of taste. Therefore, consider small fill quantities as a sample to find the best peanut oil for you personally. This way, you won’t have spent a lot of money on an oil that doesn’t appeal to you in retrospect and ends up just sitting around in the “kitchen corner”.
If you want to use the peanut oil for cosmetic purposes, smaller quantities are also more advantageous. For body care, a small amount of peanut oil is sufficient. A small bottle is therefore also very productive.
Packaging
Like most oils, peanut oil is sold in glass bottles and plastic bottles. It should be noted, however, that only refined peanut oil in plastic bottles can be found in the range. The question of whether bottled peanut oil in a plastic bottle or a glass bottle is better therefore only arises if you choose refined peanut oil. According to the research, many consumers prefer oils that are bottled in glass bottles.
On the one hand, glass bottles are easier to keep clean and on the other hand, unlike plastic bottles, glass bottles cannot be crushed during use. If you don’t like greasy marks on the oil bottle or are worried that you won’t be able to measure out the amount of oil accurately, a peanut oil in a glass bottle would therefore be recommended.
When choosing peanut oil, bear in mind that a dark bottle is more suitable for the light-sensitive oil.
Country of origin
If it is important to you to keep your “ecological footprint” as low as possible, you should also ask yourself where the product comes from. You can find this information by looking at the country of origin. The country of origin is the country where the product is produced.
Many consumers would like to be able to understand the environmental impact of the production of peanut oil. If these aspects are also important to you and you want to know whether long transport routes have been taken between the production and sale of the peanut oil, then always find out where the origin of the peanut oil is.
Facts worth knowing about peanut oil
What is the best way to store peanut oil?
Ideally, peanut oil should be stored away from light, air and heat. Cool, dark places in the kitchen are therefore particularly suitable for storage. It is also important to reseal the bottle after each use of the oil. This is because the unsaturated fatty acids oxidise due to the oxygen in the air. Oxidation causes the oil to go rancid and it is then no longer edible.
If you like, you can also store your peanut oil in the refrigerator. However, this will not extend the shelf life. The side compartment in your fridge door is a good place to store it. Don’t be alarmed if the consistency of the peanut oil changes. At temperatures below 8°C, the peanut oil thickens and becomes gel-like or viscous. With this consistency, peanut oil should not be used for cooking. Therefore, it is better to take the oil out of the refrigerator before use. As soon as the oil has reached temperatures above 12°C, the consistency is liquid again and you can use it as usual. The flavour remains intact even if you store it in the refrigerator.
If you store refined peanut oil optimally, it can keep for up to 24 months. Cold-pressed peanut oil, on the other hand, does not keep as long because of the many unsaturated fatty acids. Make sure that there is no cloudiness in the oil. It should also not have a bitter taste. This is an indication that the peanut oil is already rancid.
How can I use peanut oil?
Peanut oil in the kitchen (cooking, frying, roasting, baking)
Cold-pressed peanut oil is especially recommended to round off dishes. Peanut fans” in particular are likely to enjoy the taste of peanut oil. Its mild, nutty aroma lends a pleasant note to the dish without appearing obtrusive. It is therefore particularly suitable for the preparation of salads or dressings. Lovers of Asian cuisine should also try peanut oil. For Thai cuisine, for example, the cold-pressed peanut oil is excellent for fried noodles, rice pans or wok vegetables precisely because of its aroma.
However, do not heat the oil too much, as the smoke point of cold-pressed peanut oil is 160 to 170°C. If the oil starts to smoke, it is best to use it as a frying oil. If the oil starts to smoke, it loses its valuable ingredients. In addition, harmful carcinogenic substances are formed. Small tip: To increase the heat resistance, you can simply mix cold-pressed peanut oil with refined peanut oil. Since refined peanut oil and also peanut fat are very heat-resistant, they only start to smoke at temperatures above 230°C.
Because of the neutral taste, refined peanut oil and peanut fat are suitable for frying, baking and deep-frying. Refined peanut oil is therefore highly recommended for dishes that should not absorb any of their own flavour from the oil. Peanut fat is excellent for deep-frying and baking. Bakeries, for example, like to use peanut fat to fry donuts and doughnuts or pancakes.
Peanut oil for your body, hair and face
Peanut oil is also popular in the world of cosmetics because of its nourishing fats and vitamins. It has a particularly high content of oleic acid, linoleic acid and vitamin E. – But what exactly does this oil do and how can it be used?
For external use, peanut oil is just as excellent as the popular coconut oil if you have a dry skin type. It forms a protective film on the skin, penetrates deep into skin cells and provides them with moisture.
The ingredients of peanut oil work as follows:
The linoleic acid it contains moisturises the skin, locks it in and thus protects the skin cells from drying out. It also regenerates skin cells that have been damaged (for example by the sun). Linoleic acid therefore also has an anti-inflammatory effect. Because of the oleic acid, peanut oil spreads well and leaves the skin feeling soft.
Vitamin E also promotes wound healing. It also tightens the skin, renews skin cells, counteracts wrinkles and protects against sunburn. In liquid form, it is often used as a base for massage oils. Hardened peanut oil is a popular base for ointments and creams because of its soft consistency. In the next sections you will learn how to use peanut oil in everyday body care. Peanut oil is very good as a massage oil because it spreads well on the body.
Although it penetrates the skin only slowly, it forms a strong protection in the deeper skin cells. It also promotes blood circulation and relieves tension.
If you use the oil in refined form, you can also mix it well with other essential oils because of its neutral smell and relax even better.
Peanut oil can also be used as an oil bath. In general, oil has the property of being dispersed in the bath water drop by drop. During the bath, a thin film of oil is deposited on the body, which gently cares for the skin.
Dry, flaky skin can be treated particularly well in this way. Especially for people suffering from neurodermatitis, psoriasis or a dry scalp, a long-term therapy with peanut oil is recommended. Whether you use it in its pure form as a massage oil, in an oil bath or as a hair treatment is irrelevant. There are also cosmetic products on the market that contain peanut oil. Daytime face creams have a lower peanut oil content than night creams.
The peanut oil content in day creams is so low that it does not leave any shiny marks. It still nourishes the face well. At night, the peanut oil has enough time to work in well. Therefore, the peanut oil content is higher in these products.
Making your own soaps and creams with peanut oil
You can also use hydrogenated peanut oil to make your own soaps and creams. As it is very soft in consistency, you should combine it with other harder fats if you want to make soap. It also combines well with essential oils to create a pleasant fragrance.
Summary
The following table summarises the areas of application and their exact use:
| Area of application | Description | Exact use |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking, frying, roasting, etc. | The heat stability of peanut oil is an absolute plus point due to its high flash point, as this makes it ideal for high temperatures | Cooking, grilling, roasting or even deep-frying can be done with this oil without any problems. Peanut oil is also suitable as a dressing. |
| For the hair | peanut oil forms a protective film around the individual hairs, creating moisture deposits. The hair remains supple and healthy and is protected from external influences | apply a few drops to the hair and then distribute and rub in with the hands. |
| For the skin | Damaged cell structures are bound by the use of peanut oil and can easily absorb the moisture into the skin. The peanut oil acts as a thin film of oil on the skin and offers it protection against harmful external influences | here, too, a few drops on the skin followed by rubbing in are sufficient. In addition, peanut oil treatment is particularly suitable for neurodermatitis sufferers and against eczema. |
| In industry | peanut oil is increasingly used in the food industry. Furthermore, peanut oil is also found in paints and soaps. In addition, peanut oil can be used as a fuel | it is used, for example, to improve the taste of spices and soups, but also in the production of margarine. |
| As massage oil | peanut oil has a high lubricity and durability, as well as a good viscosity. Furthermore, it is odourless, which makes peanut oil suitable as a massage oil | peanut oil can be used very sparingly due to its described properties. Just a few drops are sufficient for massaging entire regions of the body. |
| Against constipation | The peanut oil also softens hard stool and turns it into a smooth mass that can be easily excreted. In addition, such an enema activates intestinal activity and makes bowel movements much easier | To relieve constipation, it is best to do an enema with water and a few drops of peanut oil. The water should be at a temperature of 38-40 degrees. |
Where does the raw material peanut actually come from?
The peanut originates in South America and belongs to the legume family. Because the pods of ripe peanuts do not open like the pods of beans or peas, the peanut is morphologically classified as a nut. The peanut plant or Arachis hypogaea thrives for one year.
Light, sandy soils are particularly suitable for the development of the plant. The peanuts need about four to five months to ripen. The most important cultivation areas today include India, Nigeria and China.
Image source: Pixabay.com / Couleur
Why you can trust me?
Most popular
Related posts
