Peanut oil
Vegetable oil derived from peanuts
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Through Vegetable oil, Rationing and World War II
History
Due to war shortages of other oils, the use of readily available peanut oil increased in the United States during World War II.
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Production
In 2023, world production of peanut oil (reported as groundnut oil) was 6.4 million tonnes, led by India and China with 64% of the total when combined (table). Nigeria and Myanmar were secondary producers.
Uses
Unrefined peanut oil is used as a flavorant for dishes akin to sesame oil. Refined peanut oil is commonly used for frying volume batches of foods like French fries and has a smoke point of 450 °F/232 °C.
Unrefined peanut oil is commonly used for cooking due to its natural flavor and nutritional benefits. It's also used in skincare products for its moisturizing properties.
Unrefined peanut oil is often used in salad dressings and marinades for its rich, nutty taste.
Biodiesel
At the 1900 Paris Exhibition, the Otto Company, at the request of the French Government, demonstrated that peanut oil could be used as a source of fuel for the diesel engine; this was one of the earliest demonstrations of biodiesel technology.
Crude peanut oil can be filtered and placed in a reaction tank with methanol and sodium hydroxide to yield methyl ester - the Biodiesel fuel.
Other uses
Peanut oil, as with other vegetable oils, can be used to make soap by the process of saponification. Peanut oil is safe for use as a massage oil.
Fat composition and nutrition
Peanut oil is 16% saturated fat, 57% monounsaturated fat, and 20% polyunsaturated fat. In a reference amount of 100 g (3.5 oz) (as ml), peanut oil supplies 884 calories of food energy. It is a rich source of vitamin E, with no other micronutrients in significant amounts, and contains no protein or carbohydrates.
Health issues
Toxins
If quality control is neglected, peanuts that contain the mold that produces highly toxic aflatoxin can end up contaminating the oil derived from them.
Allergens
Those allergic to peanuts can consume highly refined peanut oil, but should avoid first-press, organic oil. Most highly refined peanut oils remove the peanut allergens and have been shown to be safe for "the vast majority of peanut-allergic individuals". However, cold-pressed peanut oils may not remove the allergens and thus could be highly dangerous to people with peanut allergy.
Since the degree of processing for any particular product is often unclear, many believe that "avoidance is prudent".