Rice bran oil
Rice bran oil is the oil extracted from the hard outer brown layer of rice called chaff. It is known for its high smoke point of and mild flavor, making it suitable for high-temperature cooking methods such as stir frying and deep frying. It is popular as a cooking oil in several South and East Asian countries, including Bangladesh, India, Japan, and China.Uses
Rice bran oil is an edible oil which is used in various forms of food preparation. It is also the basis of some vegetable “ghee”. Rice bran wax, obtained from rice bran oil and palpanese extract, is used as a substitute for carnauba wax in cosmetics, confectionery, shoe creams, and polishing compounds.
Isolated γ-oryzanol from rice bran oil is available in China as an over-the-counter drug, and in other countries as a dietary supplement.Composition
Rice bran oil has a composition similar to that of peanut oil, with 38% monounsaturated, 37% polyunsaturated, and 25% saturated fatty acids.
A component of rice bran oil is the antioxidant γ-oryzanol, at around 2% of crude oil content. Thought to be a single compound when initially isolated, it is now known to be a mixture of steryl and other triterpenyl esters of ferulic acids. Also present are tocopherols and tocotrienols and phytosterols.
The fatty acid composition is:
Physical properties of crude and refined rice bran oil
| Property | Crude rice bran oil | Refined oil |
| Moisture | 0.5-1.0% | 0.1-0.15% |
| Density | 0.913-0.920 | 0.913-0.920 |
| Refractive index | 1.4672 | 1.4672 |
| Iodine value | 85-100 | 95-104 |
| Saponification value | 187 | 187 |
| Unsaponifiable matter | 4.5-5.5 | 1.8-2.5 |
| Free fatty acids | 5-15% | 0.15-0.2% |
| oryzanol | 2.0 | 1.5-1.8 |
| Tocopherol | 0.15 | 0.05 |
| Color | 20Y+2.8R | 10Y+1.0R |
