Commonalities And Differences Between Linseed Oil And Grapeseed Oil
With the constant efforts of using better ingredients for cooking, linseed oil, and grapeseed oil have gained popularity all over the world. Obtained from completely different sources, there are some points of similarities between these two oils. At the same time, some significant differences make them useful in individual ways.
Linseed or flaxseed oil is obtained from the flax plant seeds that are first dried on ripening. Grapeseed or grape oil is obtained by pressing the seeds and skin of grapes. Apart from cooking, there are many additional uses for each of these. Here is a detailed discussion about the relationship that these two oils share.
Points of Similarity:
To begin with, both are classified as polyunsaturated fats. As a result, the health benefits offered by them are quite similar. Another common aspect of flaxseed and grapeseed oil is that their calorific value is almost the same for any given quantity. Going further, the nutritional profiles of both oils are similar, though the contents of different components may differ.
For example, both linseed and grape oil contains linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, palmitoleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid. Each of these is undergoing research to understand their potential health benefits.
How Do They Differ:
When it comes to the content of omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed appears as a winner over grapeseed oil. Considering the importance of omega-3 fatty acids for the body, flaxseed oil is considered healthier than grape. Moreover, the content of alpha-linoleic acid in flaxseed oil is significantly higher than that present in grape oil.
In terms of smoke point, grape oil has a much higher value (216°C) as compared to linseed oil (107°C). As a result, grape oil can be used for many cooking practices like stir-frying, deep frying, and sautéing. The low smoke point of linseed or flaxseed oil restricts its use in practices like dressing salads.
Grape oil is well-known for its light taste that helps other ingredients of a dish retain their taste. Flaxseed oil on the other hand has a strong flavor and odor that restricts its use in very small quantities while cooking. The nutty flavor of this oil may overpower the tastes of other ingredients if used in excess.
Other uses of grapeseed oil include cosmetics, as it is used as an ingredient for skin moisturizers and shaving lubricants. The oil is being studied for containing certain complexes that may prove to be capable of lowering bad cholesterol. Flaxseed oil is used for several purposes. For example, it is used as a painting medium because of its ability to bind oil. Putties and wood finishing solutions are also prepared using the oil.
Linseed oil is also useful for the maintenance of bicycle parts and also for treating leather. Several animal care products and industrial lubricants are also prepared using this oil as an ingredient. Both linseed and grape oil have their respective advantages that make them popular around the world.
