How we pick our products
Welcome to our big corn oil test 2023. Here we present all the maize germ oils that we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the internet.
We would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best maize germ oil for you. You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. If available, we also offer interesting test videos. Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should definitely pay attention to if you want to buy corn oil.
Summary
- Maize germ oil has many positive properties that benefit health, especially in cases of high blood pressure and obesity.
- It is one of the most popular cooking oils because it has a neutral taste and can be heated to high temperatures. Therefore, it is mainly used for frying and deep-frying.
- Although the use of maize germ oil is mainly in cooking, it can also be used for cosmetic purposes and for pets.
The Best Corn Oil: Our Picks
Guide: Questions to ask yourself before buying corn oil
What are the benefits of corn oil?
Furthermore, maize germ oil can have positive effects on diabetes and support the regression of scars as well as protect the cells of the blood vessels.
Who is maize germ oil suitable for?
Corn oil is mostly used for frying vegetables, meat and potatoes. If you also prepare these dishes often, maize germ oil offers you a nice preparation option.
Since corn oil is considered a dietary product, it can also be consumed by people suffering from obesity and high blood pressure.
Since many health aspects come into play, maize germ oil is also suitable for very health-conscious individuals.
How much does maize germ oil cost?
| Price category | quantity | price range |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap | 1000 ml | up to 2 euros |
| Premium | 1000 ml | approx. 4-12 euros |
What alternatives are there to corn oil?
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Olive oil | Like the olive, olive oil also has a slightly tart taste. Especially the cold-pressed (native) oil contains secondary plant substances and monounsaturated fatty acids. It goes very well with Italian cuisine and you can put it on mozzarella cheese or use it in salads. |
| Linseed oil | This oil, which is made from linseed, also contains a high proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. It goes well with curd cheese, fish and vegetables. It goes well with curd cheese, fish and potatoes. However, it must be consumed quickly after opening as it does not have a long shelf life. |
| Rapeseed oil | Rapeseed oil has a slightly nutty but also woody taste. It contains a high proportion of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. A great advantage of this oil is the fact that it hardly gives off any flavour of its own and is therefore very suitable for grilling or frying. |
| Pumpkin seed oil | This oil also has a high vitamin E content and monounsaturated fatty acids. Since a lot of pumpkins are needed to produce one litre of oil, it tends to be a more expensive oil. Therefore, it is almost too bad for cooking and you can use it to add a light pumpkin flavour to pasta, salad dressings and vegetables. |
| Coconut oil | Coconut oil goes very well with Asian dishes as well as for desserts. It contains many saturated fatty acids and is solid when refrigerated and then liquefies when heated. |
Decision: What types of maize germ oil are there and which is the right one for you?
What distinguishes conventional maize germ oil and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Maize germ oil has no flavour and is therefore neutral to all foods. It is available as cold-pressed, virgin oil or hot-pressed, refined version. Corn oil contains no cholesterol and is easy to tolerate, which is why it is often used in cooking.
It is advantageous that maize germ oil has no flavour of its own and is odourless and colourless. Therefore, it can be used without any problems in many different dishes during preparation in the kitchen.
Maize germ oil also has health-promoting effects: It consists of about 75 % unsaturated fatty acids. These stimulate the metabolism, promote blood circulation in the body and can have pain-relieving effects in rheumatic diseases. Furthermore, they help in the formation of nerve cells and have positive effects on the blood vessels.
Furthermore, the acid content of the oil is relatively low, which has a positive effect on the body’s cholesterol level. Disadvantages can arise in the production process of hot pressing, because here the maize germ oil loses its complete added health value.
What distinguishes organic maize germ oil and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Genetically modified maize is increasingly grown in monoculture. Furthermore, pesticides and fertilisers are used, which can lead to problems in the human body if the plant is consumed. As has already been discussed, maize germ oil contains many important nutrients and unsaturated fatty acids as well as vitamins.
Naturally, these beneficial agents are best expressed in maize in which the genetic material has not been altered. Consumers can therefore guarantee the best quality by making sure that the maize they consume and use in their cosmetic care is organically grown.
Buying organic maize also has a positive effect on the environment, because when consumers demand more organic maize, less genetically modified maize is grown and environmentally damaging monocultures in agriculture are less likely to occur. So if you want to make sure that you consume healthy organic maize, you should also buy the organic maize germ oil.
Buying criteria: You can use these factors to compare and evaluate maize-germ oil
In the following we would like to show you which factors you can use to compare and evaluate maize-germ oil. This will make it easier for you to decide whether a particular corn oil is suitable for you or not.
In summary, these are:
- Type of pressing
- Area of application
- Colour and healthy ingredients
- Quantity
Type of pressing
The type of pressing is to be distinguished between the cold pressing and the hot pressing process.
In the cold pressing process, the germs of the maize grains are pressed to obtain the valuable oil. First, the oil is pressed from the kernels and then filtered. No health-promoting ingredients are lost in the process and the end product is a reddish shimmering oil.
However, maize germ oil can also be obtained through the process of hot pressing. Unfortunately, all health-promoting ingredients are lost and the end product is a colourless and odourless clear oil.
Area of application
Maize germ oil is used in cooking, cosmetics and for animals. Depending on the area of application, there are different aspects that you should consider. For animals, for example, you should only use cold-pressed maize germ oil, as this is the only oil that contains the important ingredients.
However, if you do not want to do without the health-promoting effects in any area of application, native (cold-pressed) is always preferable to refined (hot-pressed).
Colour and healthy ingredients
The colour and smell of maize germ oil depends largely on the process by which the maize kernels were pressed to get to the oil. As discussed earlier, there are primarily the two processes of cold pressing and hot pressing.
The cold-pressing process produces a reddish and odourless oil that still has all the beneficial health ingredients. The hot pressing process produces an odourless and colourless oil as the end product.
Unfortunately, the health-promoting fatty acids and vitamins are lost. Often additives such as beta-carotene are added to give the oil a yellow colour.
Quantity
Maize germ oil can be found on the market in different quantities. The smallest package is 0.5 litres and should be used if you use the oil only rarely or if you want to cook a new recipe that uses maize germ oil. Of course, you can also find larger packages with 1 and 2 litres of maize germ oil.
If you want to stock up on the oil so that you don’t have to think about it when you regularly go grocery shopping, there are also large 5-litre packs that should last you a long time and provide enough corn oil for cooking.
You can also find value packs of e.g. 12 x 1 litre packs, which are offered at a reduced price.
Facts worth knowing about maize germ oil
How is maize germ oil produced?
As the name suggests, the oil is extracted from the germ of the maize grain. The germs are separated from the maize starch during production. In this respect, maize germ oil is a by-product of starch production. Afterwards, the germs are pressed either cold or hot in a pressing machine.
The chemical solvent hexane is added to the press cake that results from this process in order to extract the residual oil content from the germ buds. Afterwards, the pressed oil is freed from mucilage, cleaned and finally dried, bleached and cooled.
Finally, a filtering process is carried out, preparing the oil for storage in the refrigerator.
What recipes are good for corn oil?
Maize germ oil, both refined and cold-pressed, is considered a dietary product and is suitable for people who suffer from obesity, high blood pressure or are elderly. Refined oil does not develop any harmful substances during cooking and frying and can therefore be used in the kitchen without any problems.
However, cold-pressed maize germ oil is much tastier and more intense. It also still contains all the high-quality ingredients. However, if it is heated, these are also lost. Therefore, you should only use cold-pressed maize germ oil to refine cold dishes.
To ensure that you can use corn oil for cooking for a long time, you should protect it from light, heat and oxygen. Therefore, a dark and cool place to store it is ideal. Furthermore, you can use it for at least two months after opening and up to two years if it is unopened.
How do I use corn oil for cosmetic purposes?
Maize germ oil is often used in skin care products for oily facial skin, leaving the skin smooth, clear and supple. Care products with corn germ oil help to absorb excess oil and dirt. In combination with other oils, it is also a good option for moisturising dry skin.
Corn oil has been used by women since ancient times for hair and facial care. The polyunsaturated fatty acids resemble skin oils and work best when the oil is applied to damp skin. The oil forms an emulsion together with the water and can thus penetrate the skin much more easily, filling wrinkles and smoothing the skin.
In cold weather, a few drops of corn oil can help protect the facial skin. Another option is to use it as an exfoliant by mixing the oil with sea salt or brown sugar, rubbing it into the skin and washing it off after a short time.
For best results, use maize germ oil twice a day for skin and body care.
How do I use maize germ oil on animals?
Maize germ oil can be mixed in the feed at a daily rate of one tablespoon. However, it is important that cold-pressed maize germ oil is used and that it is not heated, as this is the only way to preserve the ingredients. The oil can promote muscle development in animals and also contributes to skin and coat care.
Massaged onto the skin and coat, maize germ oil can additionally repel fleas. The fleas choke on the oil and then simply fall off the animal.
To support this, the coat can of course be combed with a special flea comb to remove all small pests.
Image source: 123rf.com / Natallia Khlapushyna
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