Also Known as
Peanut Oil

Description
Filtered groundnut/ peanut oil have been used in India since generations. Refining of oil was introduced in the 1950s. The first refined groundnut oil was called "Sipahi" but it gained popularity under the brand name "Postman". Peanut oil is an organic oil derived from peanuts, noted to have the slight aroma and taste of its parent legume. Peanut oil is appreciated for its high smoke point relative to many other cooking oils. Its major component fatty acids are palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid. The oil also contains some 6-8% (total) of arachidic acid, arachidonic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid and other fatty acids.

Peanut oil is most commonly used when frying foods, particularly French fries and other preparations. They are presumably less filtered, retaining some peanut proteins for the sake of flavor and nutrition.

How to Select
It is easily available at grocery. Check out the various brands, read the labels and then purchase. Confirm on the packaging - should be sealed properly and avoid if any kind of leakages. It usually lacks colour and flavour, but have a higher smoke point and longer shelf life than oils obtained through cold extraction

Culinary Uses
· This oil is suitable for all types of cooking -- frying, grilling, sauting, seasoning, tempering.
· Groundnut oil is predominantly accepted in Chinese cookery.
· It has a neutral flavour and is a very stable cooking medium.
· Due to its stability, it is used for deep frying, sautéing and also to make dressing.
· It is generally used for it for its 'nutty' flavor and taste.
· It is considered to be the finest all-round oil for cooking and frying. It is extremely robust and produces fewer flavour defects with long term use as compared with many other oils

How to Store
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

Health Benefits
· They contain heart-friendly MUFA that lower the levels of bad cholesterol in our body without lowering the levels of good cholesterol.
· Regular consumption of these nuts actually reduces heart disease. It also provides protection against cancer, obesity and Type II diabetes.
· Groundnut (peanut) oil being high in mono-unsaturated, is more stable and usually does not require artificial additives
· Groundnut oil also contains natural antioxidants like tocopherol and tocotrionols as well as sterols, which are of nutritional importance.