Highoil CORN |
Uses of High-Oil Corn
Most commonly corn oil is used as salad oil, cooking oil and in margarine. Main reason for higher acceptance of corn
oil over other vegetable oils like soybean oil, cottonseed oil etc. is due to its flavour and stability during storage
and cooking, without addition of synthetic antioxidants. Corn oil contains on an average 14.3% tocopherols. These act
as natural antioxi-dants by protecting double chemical bonds from oxidation. Tocopherols along with low levels of
linoleic acid (18:3) are responsible for stability of corn oil flavour. Its bland flavour and high smoke point are
mainly responsible for its popularity. Refined corn oil has very high smoking point at below 232°C as compared to
other cooking oils (Table 3). Another reason for popularity of corn oil is its high content of unsaturated fatty
acids, which reduces blood cholesterol levels. |
A recent research conducted at Washington University School of Medicine,St Louis, USA has found that commercial
corn oil can significantly reduce the amount of cholesterol
absorbed from food. Phytosterol in corn oil is responsible for lower cholesterol absorption in the body from
cholesterol containing food materials and it increases the percentage of high density lipids (HDL) in blood.
Large number of cosmetic products like moisturizer, hair conditioner and stain remover have been released in
the market which are principally based on corn oil. Crude corn oil may also be used as surfactant. There are
reports in which corn oil has been used to increase the efficiencies of fungal bio-control agents. Besides these
corn oil may also be used for various purposes like removal of rust from iron skillet, prevention of car doors
from freezing, glue and stain remover, cleaning of home appliances etc. However, these uses are not very common
and regular in nature. |