Major Oilseeds — Processing Guide
| Oilseed | Oil content (indicative) |
|---|---|
| Sunflower Seed | ~38–48% (oilseed type) |
| Soybean | ~18–20% (low for an oilseed) |
| Groundnut (Peanut) | ~44–50% (shelled kernel) |
| Rapeseed / Canola | ~38–44% |
| Sesame Seed | ~48–55% (very high) |
| Castor Seed | ~45–50% |
| Coconut (Copra) | ~60–68% (very high) |
| Corn (Maize Germ) | — |
| Cottonseed | ~15–20% (whole seed) |
| Hemp Seed | ~30–35% |
| Linseed / Flaxseed | ~35–42% |
| Mustard Seed | ~33–40% |
| Oil Palm (Palm Fruit) | — |
| Olives | — |
| Rice Bran | ~15–22% |
| Walnut | ~60–65% (very high) |
| Safflower Seed | ~30–45% |
| Grapeseed | ~10–20% (low) |
| Avocado (Fruit Oil) | fruit flesh |
| Pumpkin Seed | ~40–50% |
| Niger Seed | ~30–40% |
Sunflower Seed
Sunflower is one of the world's major oilseeds, prized for a light, neutral oil and a high-protein cake when dehulled. O…
Soybean
Soybean is the world's dominant oilseed by volume, but unusually it is processed as much for protein meal as for oil. It…
Groundnut (Peanut)
Groundnut (peanut) is a high-oil, high-value oilseed carrying roughly 44–50% oil in the shelled kernel. It presses readi…
Rapeseed / Canola
Rapeseed (and its low-erucic-acid variety canola) is a major oilseed carrying roughly 38–44% oil in a small, thin-coated…
Sesame Seed
Sesame is a small, very high-oil seed (roughly 48–55% oil) whose oil is among the most flavor-driven and valuable in the…
Castor Seed
Castor seed is oil-rich (~45–50%) and yields castor oil, a valuable industrial (non-food) oil unique for its ricinoleic-…
Coconut (Copra)
Coconut oil is made either by the dry route — pressing dried coconut kernel (copra), which carries a very high 60–68% oi…
Corn (Maize Germ)
Corn oil is extracted from the germ of the maize kernel, not the whole grain — the germ is separated during corn milling…
Cottonseed
Cottonseed is a by-product of the cotton crop, carrying moderate oil (~15–20% of whole seed) plus valuable protein. It m…
Hemp Seed
Hemp seed carries roughly 30–35% oil and is cold-pressed into a distinctive green, nutty edible oil positioned on its ba…
Linseed / Flaxseed
Linseed (flaxseed) carries roughly 35–42% oil and is pressed whole. The same seed yields edible flaxseed oil — cold-pres…
Mustard Seed
Mustard seed carries roughly 33–40% oil and is pressed whole into a pungent, sharp cooking oil that is a staple in South…
Oil Palm (Palm Fruit)
Oil palm is unusual: it yields two oils — palm oil from the fleshy fruit mesocarp and palm kernel oil from the seed insi…
Olives
Olive oil is a fruit oil made by mechanically extracting oil from whole crushed olives — traditionally by press, today m…
Rice Bran
Rice bran oil is extracted from rice bran, the nutrient-rich outer layer removed when rice is milled. Fresh bran carries…
Walnut
Walnut is a very oil-rich nut (~60–65% oil in the kernel) pressed into a premium, delicate culinary oil. It is almost al…
Safflower Seed
Safflower is a thistle-like oilseed carrying roughly 30–45% oil in the seed. Its oil is light and neutral, and the crop …
Grapeseed
Grapeseed oil is a by-product of winemaking: the seeds separated from grape pomace are dried and processed for oil. Grap…
Avocado (Fruit Oil)
Avocado oil is a fruit oil, extracted from the flesh (pulp) of the avocado rather than from a seed — much like olive oil…
Pumpkin Seed
Pumpkin seed oil is a specialty, flavour-driven oil pressed from pumpkin seeds, which are fairly high in oil…
Niger Seed
Niger seed (Guizotia abyssinica) is a small oilseed grown mainly in Ethiopia and India, carrying roughly 30–40% oil…