Home » Rapeseed Oil FAQs
- Why should I choose rapeseed oil?
- Why is rapeseed oil a healthy option?
- What does rapeseed oil taste like, and how can I use it in the kitchen?
- How are Mr Hugh’s and Mr Hugh’s Gourmet different?
- Why is Mr Hugh’s rapeseed oil ‘extra virgin’?
- Will Mr Hugh’s give me allergies?
- Is Mr Hugh’s non GM?
- What is cold pressing?
1. Why should I choose rapeseed oil?
Cold pressed rapeseed oil is rapidly becoming recognised as one of the healthiest oils available. Our Mr Hugh’s range of extra virgin, cold pressed rapeseed oils are 100% British, versatile in the kitchen and packed with natural goodness.
2. Why is rapeseed oil a healthy option?
The Mr Hugh’s range of extra virgin, cold pressed rapeseed oils are naturally rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9, and Vitamin E. Omega 3 and 6 are essential fatty acids, it is very important to have both in our diets, yet we cannot produce them ourselves and they are not found in many foods. Omega 9 is a fatty acid which helps to prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. It is also known to reduce hardening of the arteries and to improve immune function.
3. What does rapeseed oil taste like, and how can I use it in the kitchen?
Mr Hugh’s Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil has a very subtle, nutty and natural flavour. During the cooking process, its mild taste allows the flavours of ingredients to come through, producing a lighter and tastier meal. It is extremely versatile in the kitchen and can be used in a variety of ways. This delicious oil can be used in salad dressings, dips and as an alternative to butter in bread, cakes, puddings and mashed potato. With a high smoke point, Mr Hugh’s Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil is also ideal for roasting potatoes, vegetables and producing the perfect stir-fry. Take a look at our recipes.
Mr Hugh’s Gourmet is an exclusive single variety rapeseed oil which features a unique nutritional profile to create a distinctive light taste. Versatile in the kitchen and with a smooth and subtle flavour, Mr Hugh’s Gourmet is perfect for creative cuisine, dipping and dressings.
Adding sophistication and luxury to any dish, Mr Hugh’s Gourmet allows the delicate flavours of the finest ingredients to shine through and is the ideal culinary companion for the most discerning food connoisseurs.
4. How are Mr Hugh’s and Mr Hugh’s Gourmet different?
Mr Hugh’s Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil is ideal for many uses in the kitchen. This oil can be used for roasting, sautéing, drizzling and as a substitute for butter in bread, cakes and mashed potato. Mr Hugh’s Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil is also incredibly nutritious and contains half the saturated fat found in olive oil and ten times the amount of Omega 3.
Unlike Mr Hugh’s Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil, Mr Hugh’s Gourmet is produced from a single variety seed, creating a distinctive light flavour. With a smooth and subtle taste, Mr Hugh’s Gourmet is delicious when used in its raw state, and is perfect for dipping, dressings and creative cuisine. Mr Hugh’s Gourmet contains less than half the saturated fat found in olive oil and is incredibly rich in Omega 9, a fatty acid which helps to prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. Omega 9 is also known to reduce hardening of the arteries and to improve immune function.
Incredibly versatile in the kitchen, Mr Hugh’s Gourmet has a smoke point of over 245⁰ C, the highest of all popular culinary oils, meaning it can be heated to extremely high temperatures without degrading or losing any of its anti-oxidants, flavour and colour.
5. Why is Mr Hugh’s rapeseed oil ‘extra virgin’?
The term ‘extra virgin’ is commonly reserved for olive oil, which has a maximum acidity of 1g/100g. This is measured as oleic acid and is commonly known as Omega 9. The Mr Hugh’s range has the same maximum acidity as olive oil and is grown, harvested, pressed and bottled at our farm in Norfolk. Our oils meet the same high standards of quality as any single estate, extra virgin olive oil. We feel confident about our products and want our customers to know that Mr Hugh’s oils are delicious, healthy, and of the highest quality.
6. Will Mr Hugh’s give me allergies?
Many people often associate the yellow fields of flowering rapeseed with allergies and hay fever. However, scientists have found that rapeseed very rarely triggers an allergic response.
Researchers have said that many people mistakenly blame hay fever symptoms on pollen from the rapeseed plant. The rapeseed crop has very dense and sticky pollen which is more likely to be carried by insects rather than the wind, meaning it is unlikely to be a cause of hay fever. Grass pollen is by far the most potent cause of hay fever in Britain.
If you do have an allergy to rapeseed pollen, this does not necessarily mean that you will be allergic to a product derived from the rapeseed crop.
Consumers who suffer from nut allergies can also feel free to enjoy our delicious oils without any risk. The Mr Hugh’s range is not associated with, or derived from nuts.
7. Is Mr Hugh’s non GM?
Grown, harvested, pressed and bottled at Hall Farm in Norfolk, the Mr Hugh’s range of extra virgin, cold pressed rapeseed oils are fully traceable, single estate culinary oils. In addition to being low on food miles and sustainably produced, our oils are also non GM. In Britain, there are no commercially grown GM rapeseed crops and therefore no GM rapeseed oils are produced in the UK. The Mr Hugh’s range is not chemically processed, contains no additives and is 100% natural.
8. What is cold pressing?
Cold pressing means that we produce our oil without the application of high temperatures, chemical solutions, solvents or anti-frothing agents. Cold pressing is the traditional way to produce oil and simply consists of gently squeezing the seed to release the oil.
Visit our cold pressing section for more information.