Is Olive Oil Expeller Pressed?

The term expeller pressed is becoming more popular in the natural foods industry.  Many oils are now described as expeller pressed and consumers are seeking out these natural options.  

It's not often that olive oil is described as expeller pressed though. But, technically, is it?

We'd like to first clarify what expeller pressed means, how that fits in with olive oil and, then again, how it doesn't.

What Does Expeller Pressed Mean?

The term expeller pressed refers to an oil that is pressed using mechanical means only.  The oil is pressed out of it's source using an Expeller Press-- a machine that quite literally squeezes it out.  An expeller pressed oil does not use any chemicals or solvents to aid the extraction process.

What Expeller Pressed Normally Refers To

This term has gained popularity in recent years, often referring to oils that are naturally obtained vs. the industry standard of solvent extraction.  

Canola oil is a great example.  Most canola oil is expelled using solvents (this would be your regular canola oil or canola salad oil).  Expeller pressed canola oil describes is an alternative to this norm; the oil has been expelled using mechanical means only and no chemicals are used.  This process usually has a lower yeild compared to solvent extraction, and therefore the oil is more expensive.

Why Consumers Love Expeller Pressed Oils

The whole point of expeller pressed oils (and why they've gained such popularity) is because they use a natural extraction process with no chemicals.  Keep in mind as we continue this discussion, your customers ultimately love expeller pressing because it's healthy for them, and they're keeping unnecessary chemicals out of their food.

Is Olive Oil Expeller Pressed?

Does expeller pressed olive oil exist? Yes and no.  Remember that expeller pressing is a process that quite literally squeezes the oil out of it's source.  For many thousands of years (and even still today, on a smaller scale), Extra Virgin was extracted using a process just like this.  In fact, it looks like this:

But, Centrifuge Extraction Is Now The Norm

In most modern facilities now (especially in the bulk world, where mass volumes are required), a different method of extraction is used.  Instead of squeezing the oil out, it is now extracted using a centrifuge.  This machine spins the olive pulp very fast, and seperates the flesh from the oil from the water.  This process is known as centrifuge extraction, and is actually preferred by most mills because it produces both a higher quality oil and more volume.

Here is a photo of a common centrifuge:

Of course, a number of small farms still use the old-world pressing technique.  You can often get it at a retail level, but at a bulk level, it is much less common and more expensive.

So back to our original question: Is olive oil expeller pressed?

• Yes, some Extra Virgin Olive Oil is technically expeller pressed still
• No, most bulk Extra Virgin Olive Oil is centrifuge extracted

But more importantly, do they both have the same purpose and end goal?  Yes.  They both succeed in obtaining Extra Virgin Olive Oil without any chemical means, only through mechanical extraction.  It's just about whether it it squeezed or spun.

The Answer Also Depends On The Grade Of Olive Oil That You Buy

That's right-- now that we've answered the centrifuge vs. expeller pressed question, we now need to focus on what grade you're getting.  Some grades of olive oil are mechanically extracted and some are not.  After the extraction process, some oils are refined and some are not-- though the two processes are technically unrelated.  For easy comparison, we've created the chart below.  

Therefore, if you buy Olive Pomace Oil you will never be able to find an "expeller pressed" version.  

Most Use The Term First, Cold Pressed Instead Of Expeller Pressed

The most common term used to describe Extra Virgin Olive Oil is first, cold pressed-- not expeller pressed.  This means that the oil comes from the first press out of the olive paste, and no heat is used in the extraction process.  Expeller pressed most often refers to canola, safflower and other fry oils.

Image sources: Expeller pressing and centrifuge