Oils

[Daisy]

Does any one here make their own oil for cooking or other things?

Canola grows where I am and I wonder how much of it takes to make cooking oil. I also have some beautiful Jasmine in full flower right now and am interested in making that into some sort of aromatic oil for use for the lovely fragrance.

 

[Britesea]

Sunflowers are an easy oil project- no special processing required- just press the seeds. I understand that rape seed (what canola comes from) is toxic until processed and I have no idea what special processing is needed. I bought this from Lehman's years ago, but so far I haven't had the time to actually use it. https://www.lehmans.com/product/hand-cranked-oil-press

 

[Daisy]

Sunflower oil came into my mind after I posted this That would be a much easier thing to grow in limited space. Probably all round a more versatile plant.

I found a few infused oil ideas for the jasmine but I think I have already tried many of them with no luck so maybe I will just enjoy the flowers while they are around. I grab a new bunch to bring inside every morning. Drying has never worked for me with them either, its still humid at this time of year and everything molds.

 

[Hinotori]

I haven't throught of making my own oil. I do follow the principle that if I couldn't conceivably make it at home, I shouldn't injest it.

I do use butter, animal fats which I render myself, or saved bacon grease. Only oil I ever buy and use regularly is olive which definitely won't grow where I am.

I prefer sweet almond oil for most herbal oil infusions. It has a neutral scent and is the traditional carrier oil for massage because of that.

If you have a nut tree you could press those for oil as well. I tried hazelnut bushes but they died. I've been meaning to try a different spot in a raised bed. Too much water over winter tends to be a killer here.

 

[baymule]

I render pork fat for lard. Never tried making vegetable oil. I buy olive oil.

 

[Daisy]

I didn't think of animal fat! Good thinking. My drakes are very, very fat animals. I'd only use them in a dire situation, but its good to have that info.

I'm not sure which nuts would grow here. Its a battle to keep the birds off fruit so it could be challenging. I had olives at my last place but I am not sure about where I am now. Less rainfall and more extreme temps.

I use more butter in cooking than any oil too, but with the fields of bright yellow canola right now, it sparked my interest.

 

[Britesea]

I know almonds will grow in our area, so they would grow almost everywhere, lol. You could use the same oil press as I pictured for that too. I read that about 40# of BOSS will yield a gallon of oil, which is a normal year's supply for most families. Not sure how many plants that would come out too, but... they grow fast.

 

[Daisy]

The biggest issue with nuts for me is to keep birds off them. I have enough trouble with the apples and pears! I lose at least 30% to the little buggers.

I really like this -

https://www.lehmans.com/product/hand-cranked-oil-press
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Im going to keep an eye out for something like that in the secondhand and stock stores. It looks like fun!

Thanks all