How to make Sunflower Oil at Home for Hair, Cooking and Skin

How to make sunflower oil
Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil is a healthy vegetable oil made from sunflower seeds, it can be extracted at home. Making sunflower oil is very easy, as the process requires crushing and pressing the seeds of sunflower to expel the oil. This oil is a non-volatile oil therefore, it is low in cholesterol and contains low saturated fats. However, it is high in polyunsaturated fats which is good for you.

One of the benefits of sunflower oil is that it is highly absorbent, it is often used as a carrier oil for cosmetic purposes. It has low cholesterol and is mostly used in cooking healthy and delicious meals.

Some of the benefits of the oil for skin, and hair and hair health include relieving the pain of arthritis, preventing itchy scalp, stops hair from breaking, and it is a great source of vitamin E for the skin.

See Youtube video below on how to make sunflower oil

Table of Contents

Uses of the oil

This oil has a high smoke point of about 440 degrees Fahrenheit which is ideal for deep-frying, pan-frying, roasting, grilling, baking, and salad dressing. It has the same taste as cashew nut oil and is also used for making mayonnaise and for soap making.

Please note that some people react to the use of sunflower oil and therefore is bad for them to use it. Before you use this oil do a patch test first. Rub a drop of the oil on your skin and observe for a day. If you observe skin reactions, then it is not good for you to use it. It means you are allergic to it. You can substitute it for other oil like olive oil.

sunflower oil Nutrition

It is high in vitamin E and every tablespoon used provides 5.6 mg of vitamin E.

Benefits of sunflower oil and side effects

  • Because of its emollient properties, it keeps the skin moist.
  • Used on hair to maintain the natural length of hair and thus, prevents the hair from breaking.
  • It is used for preventing dandruff and itchy scalp.
  • Other benefits of sunflower oil depend on the type of oil: the one that is high in oleic acid is good for your cooking while the one high in linoleic acid is good for hair because it stimulates hair natural hair growth.
  • When used on your skin, it can help to protect the skin from acne, inflammation, redness, or irritation.

How is sunflower oil made?

The process of making sunflower oil at home is quite simple. It is an easy DIY extraction process that uses the expeller pressed method whereby the seeds of sunflower are crushed and then pressed while adding little amount of water to expel the oil in the crushed or ground sunflower seeds. This is a cold-pressed process of making sunflower oil without having to heat the oil and the nutrients being preserved. It is the same method I used to extract other home cooking or seed oils such as sesame oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil, ginger oil and carrot oil

If you are making this oil at home, make sure to use the organic sunflower seeds; you will also end up with the unrefined sunflower oil with many nutrients preserved but some impurities could lower the smoke point. You can buy the unpeeled seeds and do the peeling yourself. See here how to peel sunflower seeds at home.

For a more intense flavor, you can choose to roast or toast the seeds first on a low flame before blending; this gives the oil an earthy roast aroma. The refined sunflower oil has fewer nutrients but with a higher smoke point.

How to store sunflower seed oil

You can extend the shelf life of your homemade sunflower oil by straining the oil using a sieve to remove impurities, and then heating it up over low heat to get rid of any trace of water in it; then storing it in an airtight container.

Read down to discover the simple and easy DIY process of extracting sunflower oil using the expeller pressed method.

What you need for making the oil

  • Peeled sunflower seeds 2 to 3 cups
  • Blender
  • Bowls
  • Strainer
  • Spoon
  • Storge bottle
  • small water

Sunflower oil Making Process at home

  1. Before you start making the oil make sure the sunflower seeds are peeled, clean, and freed from impurities.
  2. Place the seeds in a blender and blend into a smooth paste; just before the seed turns into a thick paste, you will notice some traces of oil mixed with the paste.
  3. Add 2 tablespoons of water to it and keep blending. At some point, you will have to stop and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to the paste and keep blending. When you have noticed more oil and it has formed a thick paste but not sticky, stop blending. Please don’t add too much of water to the paste as it will ruin the paste makes it sticky, just add as needed
  4. Transfer the paste into a wider bowl and begin massaging it with your hands until the oil flows out effortlessly.
  5. Cut out a little portion of the paste, just enough for your hand to handle.
  6. Collect the oil into another bowl by squeezing the paste firmly with your hands until the oil begins to flow out.
  7. You will have to repeat the process until you are done extracting the oil from the whole paste. The paste can be used to make soup just like this sesame seed soup or groundnut soup.
  8. Once you are done extracting the oil from the paste, sieve it to get rid of impurities. You can heat the oil minimally to get a clearer oil if you prefer a clear oil.
  9. Your sunflower oil is ready to use, transfer into an airtight container and store in the fridge.