How Do We Get Oil From Seeds And Nuts?

As a business owner looking to enter the edible oil market, you need to understand the fundamental process of how to extract oil from seeds and nuts. This process is the core of your entire operation. There are two primary industrial methods to do this, and the one you choose will define your business model, your investment, and your final product. We are Fude Machinery, a B2B manufacturer of oil processing equipment. We build the machines that turn raw seeds into profit. This guide will clearly explain the main oil extraction methods to help you make the best decision for your business.

Table of Contents

• What Are the Two Main Ways to Extract Oil?
• Oil yield of different seeds
• 2026Trend: Hybrid Extraction Systems

What Are the Two Main Ways to Extract Oil?

There are two main industrial methods for extracting oil from seeds: screw pressing and hydraulic pressing. From a small local farm to a large multinational corporation, every oil processing enterprise uses one of these two technologies. The choice between them depends entirely on your business scale and target market.

Types of oil presses

Spiral oil press: an edible oil processing equipment that operates on the principle of hydraulic full automation. It uses a spiral shaft to rotate and push the raw material, achieving continuous and efficient oil pressing. Its core advantages lie in its compact structure, easy operation, and high oil yield. It is widely used in individual businesses, small oil workshops, and agricultural cooperatives, supporting the pressing of more than 30 oil crops such as peanuts, soybeans, rapeseed, and sunflower.

Cold Press vs. Hot Press: What’s the Difference for Your Business?

Within mechanical pressing, you have two options: cold pressing and hot pressing. The only difference is whether you heat the seeds before you press them. This choice affects both your oil quality and your oil yield.

A roasting machine  is used to heat the seeds before they enter the press. This is called hot pressing. The heat makes the oil less thick, so it flows out more easily. This results in a higher oil yield. Cold pressing means you press the seeds at room temperature without any pre-heating. This produces a higher quality, more natural-tasting oil, but you get less of it.

Hydraulic oil press: designed based on Pascal’s principle (hydraulic principle). In a closed container, any pressure change at any point in the balanced liquid will be transmitted in all directions with the same magnitude of pressure. By generating a large pressure through the hydraulic system, it acts on the oil, causing the grease in the oil to be squeezed out.
High oil yield: The principle of multi-stage progressive pressurization is adopted to rapidly increase the pressure in the squeezing chamber, allowing the oil to undergo one-time fission and separation. At the same time, the infrared temperature control system is used to automatically control the pressing temperature and moisture, allowing the oil to soften and activate the oil molecules directly. The pressing is stable, and it can be squeezed out in one go, greatly improving the oil yield. Compared to older equipment, the normal oil output rate can be 2 to 3 percentage points higher.
Multi purpose: It can widely press various oil crops, such as peanuts, soybeans, rapeseed, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, camellia seeds, cottonseeds, Sichuan pepper seeds, walnut kernels, tung seeds, castor beans, almonds, and more than 20 or even 30 other oil crops.

Oil yield of different seeds

• Soybeans: The oil yield is about 12% -18%, and the pressed soybean cake can be used as feed or protein raw material.
• Rapeseed: With an oil yield of 30% -45%, it is the main source of rapeseed oil.
• Peanuts: Oil yield of 40% -50%, rich aroma of peanut oil, high market value.
• Sunflower seeds (oil sunflower): Oil yield 25% -40%, sunflower seed oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids.
• Sesame oil: with an oil yield of 45% -55%, sesame oil (sesame oil) has a unique flavor and is suitable for cold pressing.
• Flaxseed: Oil yield of 30% -40%, flaxseed oil is rich in alpha linolenic acid and suitable for healthy consumption.
• Su seed (purple Su seed): Oil yield of 35% -45%, Su seed oil has medicinal value.
• Safflower seed: Oil yield of 20% -30%, safflower seed oil is rich in vitamin E.
• Walnut kernels: Oil yield of 60% -70%, walnut oil is nutritious and suitable for infants and young children to consume.
• Almonds: Oil yield of 40% -50%, almond oil can be used in food or cosmetics.
• Palm fruit: Oil yield of 20% -30%, palm oil is a vegetable oil with a high oil yield.
• Rice bran: Oil yield of 10% -15%, rice bran oil is rich in vitamin A, suitable for healthy edible oil.
• Corn germ: Oil yield of 25% -30%, corn germ oil is one of the high-end edible oils.
• Wheat germ: Oil yield is 8% -12%. Wheat germ oil is rich in vitamin E and is used in health products.

2026Trend: Hybrid Extraction Systems

The latest trend in high-efficiency oil processing is the use of hybrid systems. This is especially relevant for seeds with very high oil content, like sunflower seeds. In a hybrid system, the seeds are first pressed using a screw oil press. This removes about 70-80% of the oil quickly and efficiently. Then, the leftover oil cake, which still contains a good amount of oil, is sent to a small solvent extraction unit. This second step extracts the remaining oil. This two-stage process combines the simplicity of pressing with the high efficiency of solvent extraction. It offers the absolute maximum oil yield and is becoming the new standard for modern, large-scale oil mill plants.

Summary and Recommendation

The process from raw seeds to valuable oil mainly relies on two methods: screw pressing and hydraulic pressing. For entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises, using a screw press for mechanical pressing is an obvious choice. This is an economically efficient, chemical free, and reliable method.
Your business success depends on choosing the right methods and equipment for your scale. They are important investments for maximizing profits. By understanding these core processes, you will have the ability to establish a successful and profitable petroleum processing business.

Are you ready to turn raw seeds into a stream of profit?
Contact our expert team at Fude Machinery today. We can provide a professional consultation and a detailed quotation to help you select the perfect oil extraction solution for your business goals.