How to make hemp seed oil on your own?

Last update: February 21st, 2024

min. reading

Healthy fats are a very important part of our diet, which has an impact on brain function, proper cholesterol levels or heart function. Hemp seed oil is an excellent example of a vegetable oil with exceptional health-promoting qualities. It can be purchased in many stores or markets, but it is still possible to make it at home. What are the advantages of homemade hemp seed oil? What is needed to make such oil at home? The answers to these questions can be found in the rest of the article.

Why should you consume hemp seed oil?

First of all, hemp seed oil is extremely rich in healthy fats. Essential fatty acids make up as much as 80% of its composition. It is one of the few vegetable oils that has these acids in balance – the ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 is 3:1. In addition, the oil is rich in minerals such as magnesium, potassium, phosphorus or iron, as well as vitamins: A, E and those of the B group. Regular consumption of hemp seed oil supports cardiovascular health, lowers cholesterol levels, regulates blood sugar, benefits the nervous system, memory and concentration, and improves immunity and bone health. Due to its content of amino acids, vitamins, micro and macroelements, it is recommended for people who are weakened, stressed, suffering from various diseases, or with reduced immunity. It can also be used externally on the skin – solo or as an additive to creams, as it has exceptional skin care, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Homemade hemp seed oil is all about the satisfaction of making something yourself! Such homemade oil does not need to be transported. Thanks to this, it retains a lot of its health-promoting properties, because many of the compounds in it, such as omega acids or vitamins A and E, are temperature-sensitive. The taste of homemade oil will also be slightly different, but still deliciously sunflower-nutty. It all depends on how you prepare it.

What do you need to prepare hemp oil at home?

To prepare homemade oil you need a homemade oil press and a good quality raw material – that is, hemp seeds. The press is an expense of about 1.5 to 3 thousand zlotys, which is not little, but the equipment will enable us to frequently press smaller amounts of oil – adequately to our needs. So there is no question of wasting oil and, most importantly, we turn quantity into quality. When choosing an oil press, it is worth paying attention to the function of cold pressing, that is, below 40°C. Only then we are guaranteed that the fatty acids in the hemp seeds will not oxidize, as well as other properties of the oil will be maintained.

On the other hand, when choosing hemp seeds to press our oil, we should first of all pay attention to their origin and certifications. The place of cultivation matters because of the different quality of the soil and transportation, during which the recommended temperatures for the seeds may be exceeded and some of the compounds may be oxidized. It is safest to buy hemp seeds from a domestic producer, which does not have to travel thousands of kilometers, as is sometimes the case with seeds from other countries. Another important indicator is certifications, especially those for organic farming and testing for heavy metals. Hemp has the ability to absorb contaminants like heavy metals and chemicals from the ground. This causes the final product, hemp seeds, to be contaminated with what was in the soil. That’s why it’s important to buy seeds from a reliable source. It’s best to choose products from companies that are certified and offer only products that have been tested for heavy metals and microorganisms.

Home recipe for hemp oil

The most important benefit of pressing oil at home is that we have fresh oil in a quantity that allows us to use it when it has the most value. Vegetable oils have the property that their components degrade on their own, even if we keep them in the refrigerator (then, of course, the degradation is slower). After prolonged storage, these compounds become less and less. Freshly pressed oils have the most pronounced flavor and are the richest in nutrients and valuable properties for the body. In addition, we also control the quality of the raw material – we use the highest quality hemp seeds from a trusted source. In addition, our oil does not contain any additives to prolong its shelf life. Finally, it is worth mentioning that pressing hemp seed oil at home is a zero waste process – we can grind the remaining pulp and use it in baked goods as flour, in smoothies as protein or add it to a scrub or face mask.

Homemade hemp seed oil

Ingredients:

– 1 kg of unshelled (brown) hemp seed.

Equipment needed: homemade oil press, dark glass bottle.

Put the seeds into the container in the press intended for seeds (usually a place in the top of the machine). Set the program – if the press lacks the option to press hemp seeds, choose either sunflower or rapeseed. After starting the program, the press gradually converts the seeds into oil and “spits out” the dark pulp. Transfer the oil in the grease drawer or container to a dark glass bottle and store in the refrigerator. The oil should be consumed for up to 2-3 weeks.