Kachi Ghani vs. Ordinary Mustard Oil
As the most coveted cuisine around the globe, the rich aromatic Indian food holds a special place in the Western world because of its unique taste and plethora of flavours. Many people believe that spices like turmeric, cardamom, cayenne and tamarind are responsible for these flavours, but the truth is that only an authentic and top-quality cooking oil can bring these flavours together. Kachi Ghani Mustard oil is the oil you can find in almost every Indian kitchen. A must-have ingredient for passionate Indian home cooks. However, many people must be aware of the differences between cold-pressed and regular mustard oil. This article will discuss all these differences in detail so that you can make a conscious decision about buying the best mustard oil for your kitchen:
| Kachi Ghani Mustard Oil | Normal Mustard Oil |
|---|---|
| Cold Pressed | Hot Pressed (Chemical filtration) |
| Retains nutrient Value | Loses nutrient value |
| Black in colour | Yellow in colour |
| Commonly used in Asian countries | Commonly used in Western countries |
Cold-Pressed and Chemically Processed
No matter which oil you use in your kitchen, there are only two ways to produce it, i.e. Cold Press and Hot Press. The former involves extracting oil at room temperature using a wood press. The latter uses chemicals to extract the oil at high temperatures. The term' Kachi Ghani' translates as 'Cold Press'; in this process, the oil retains all its nutrient value without compromising on its taste, texture and colour. It is also called black mustard oil because of its dark colour. So, to identify an authentic cold-pressed oil, you must look for black mustard oil and not yellow mustard oil. Another interesting difference between the two is that both of these oils originated in different regions. The origin of black mustard oil can be traced back to the Middle East region, mainly the Asian countries. In contrast, yellow mustard oil originated in the East Mediterranean region, especially America.
Impact on Health
According to a study, bad eating habits are one of the main reasons for the onset of Non Communicable diseases like Hypertension, diabetes, and Obesity. Bad food consists of refined oils and trans fat, which often leads to nutrient scarcity in the body and triggers NCDs. Cold Pressed mustard oil is a healthy substitute for refined oils because it retains its nutrient value and has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It has some necessary fatty acids like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids that help in regularising cholesterol levels in the blood, thereby lowering the risks of heart diseases. So, if you want to utilise Kachi Ghani Mustard oil's health benefits, incorporate it into your daily cooking. If an oil is produced through high-temperature filtration, it neutralises the flavour and loses its aroma. These are the main reasons that such oils as ordinary or yellow mustard oil are commonly used in many street and fast foods. However, the worst part about this process is that it kills all the nutrients naturally in these oils and adds trans fat, which can cause many illnesses.
Usage in Different Dishes
Both of these oils are used in different dishes commonly. For example, cold-pressed mustard oil is commonly used in traditional recipes like dal, sabzi, curries, pickles and chutneys. In contrast, hot-pressed mustard oil is commonly used in fast food and Western recipes like mayonnaise, finger chips and salad dressings. The cold-pressed oil is comparatively better than the ordinary one because it has a high smoke point and can withstand high temperatures without losing its nutrient value.
Availability and Affordability
Many people can't get their hands on the natural Kachi ghani mustard oil because of its unavailability in the market, as regular mustard oil has a high demand and supply cycle. Moreover, the top quality cold pressed mustard oil is comparatively costlier than the normal one because of the authentic and time-consuming labour-intensive production process. However, some brands like Bail Kolhu make this oil easily accessible and affordable. So that you can get all the benefits and nutrients from your meals. To conclude, both these oils are made with mustard seeds, but what makes them different is the production process and the nutrient value. Both have favourable flavours and can make your dishes tasty, but if you want a healthy cooking oil substitute, you must buy a natural Kachi Ghani Mustard oil, also known as cold pressed and black mustard oil. It doesn't matter if you want to cook traditional or Western meals; this oil will only enhance your nutrition and taste.
