Brio Oils Safflower Oil Vs. Canola Oil: What’s The Difference?

Jul 14

Written By Cagry

Brio Oils, Safflower Oil, and canola oil are commonly employed in the natural food industry. These oils share similarities with their light color and flavor, making them ideal for baked goods, snacks, granolas, bars, and frying applications. Despite their commonalities, each oil brings unique aspects to the table. Today, we delve into the similarities and differences between Brio Oils, Safflower Oil, and canola oil.

Similarities Between Brio Oils Safflower Oil & Canola Oil

These oils share several common features, given their similar processing and characteristics.

Refinement

Both Brio Oils, Safflower Oil, and canola oil are refined. This process yields a light-colored, neutral-flavored, and consistent oil across different batches and over time. It typically involves a high-heat, steam-injection process, earthen bleaching clay to remove pigments, and filtering (or double filtering) to produce a near-clear oil.

Light Color & Mild Flavor

The refinement process gives Brio Oils Safflower Oil a light, almost clear, soft yellow color and a delicate, mild flavor that subtly resembles a light olive oil flavor with hints of nut. These qualities mean Safflower oils won’t overwhelm your food products' taste profiles. Canola Oils also present a taste-neutral addition to your recipes.

Differences Between Brio Oils Safflower Oil & Canola Oil Despite their similarities, Brio Oils Safflower Oil and canola oil come from different plants and have other unique attributes.

Plant Sources

Brio Oils Safflower Oil comes from the safflower plant, characterized by its knee-high, stalky structure, spiky appearance, and brightly colored flower that holds the seeds used to make the oil. Canola oil, on the other hand, comes from the canola plant (a cousin of the original plant, rapeseed), whose small black-brown seeds are used for oil production.

Non-GMO Vs. GMO Brio Oils Safflower Oil is naturally non-GMO, meaning there's no genetically modified version of safflower oil available in the market. This makes it a low-risk ingredient for those seeking Non-GMO Project Verified products. Canola oil, however, is available in both GMO and non-GMO versions, with about 90% of canola oil in the market being GMO.

High Linoleic and Oleic Versions Available

Brio Oils Safflower Oils are available in high oleic and high linoleic versions, which are high in monounsaturated fats (healthy fats). These oils have a higher heat tolerance and smoke point, making them ideal for frying or baking. However, high oleic non-GMO Brio Oils, Safflower Oil is a more prevalent option today than their Canola counterparts.

Expeller Pressed

Brio Oils, Safflower Oil are expeller pressed, versus most Canola oils are available in solvent expelled. While both options develop edible oils, Brio Oils Safflower Oil is rich in taste and nutrients as an expeller pressed form and highly sought-after in natural food.

Supply Chain Availability

Compared to the massive production volumes of canola oil, Brio Oils, Safflower Oil production is smaller in scale, where volumes support select premium food providers serving the natural and organic market.