The first phase of commercial oil extraction crushes and presses the seed to mechanically remove around 32-35% of the available oil. Inside crushing plants, the canola seed passes through rollers to flatten it into thin flakes. This increases the surface area of the flake to maximize oil extraction.
How is canola oil made?
Canola oil is made at a processing facility by slightly heating and then crushing the seed. Almost all commercial canola oil is then extracted using hexane solvent, which is recovered at the end of processing.
Which provinces produce the most canola?
The provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta in Canada account for around 20 percent of global canola production. Rapeseed oil has been used for thousands of years in ancient civilizations in Europe and Asia. But it had high amounts of erucic acid ¨C a fatty acid that can be toxic to humans in large doses.
What is canola oil?
Canola oil is a food-grade version derived from rapeseed cultivars specifically bred for low acid content.