Unrefined Sesame Oil has nutty, earthy, sometimes green aroma taste and flavor.
Sesame oil is a popular carrier oil for topical applications to the skin and hair due to its nourishing and moisturizing properties. It’s used in massage oils, hair care products, and as a base for lip balms, body scrubs, and hair masks.
Sesame seed oil is a versatile ingredient used in various culinary applications. Here's a breakdown of its culinary uses:
• Drizzle: Add a nutty punch to stir-fries, noodles, soups, salads, vegetables, or even desserts.
• Stir-frying: Use it for quick stir-frying at medium heat due to its low smoke point. It imparts a warm, savory note to vegetables, meat, and tofu.
• Marinades: Infuse marinades for chicken, beef, fish, tofu, or tempeh with a nutty depth, enhancing their savory character.
• Sauces and Dips: Sesame oil is a key player in Asian sauces like peanut sauce, tahini, hummus, and dipping sauces for dumplings. It adds richness and complexity.
• Baking: Substitute butter or oil with sesame oil in cookies, crackers, or banana bread for a subtle nutty-toasty twist.
• Nutritional Boost: Sesame oil is rich in healthy fats, antioxidants, and vitamins. Drizzle it over cooked grains like quinoa or rice for added nutrients.
Safety Notes:
Sesame oil is not listed by FDA nor FEMA as a food ingredient, even though it is sold in countries all over the world as such. This may be because it has been so used for centuries as a food ingredient that FDA and FEMA do not see a reason to devote their resources to prove it is generally safe to be ingested.
HOWEVER, in 2023, FDA did add sesame seeds to its list of potential food allergens. This implies that FDA does recognize sesame seeds as a food ingredient, but warns that some people may be allergic to them. Although FDA now lists the sesame seeds as potential allegens, there is some debate to whether the oil (rather than the seeds) is allergenic. Nonetheless, users who intend to include sesame oil in their food formulations should do their own research as to what FDA labeling regulations are required to warn users of potential allergenic reactions.