How Refined Sunflower Oil Is Made?
Refined sunflower oil production stages.
Sunflower oil enjoys global popularity thanks to its mild taste, naturally high smoke-point and heart-friendly balance of unsaturated fats. Each bottle results from a carefully engineered chain of modern mechanical, thermal, and chemical processes designed to ensure purity, stability, and superior performance. The following is a step-by-step overview of sunflower oil production.
Oil Production Stages
Harvesting and initial seed preparation. Sunflower oil production begins with carefully sourced, high-quality sunflower seeds — grown in Ukraine, known for its rich black soil and ideal climate. Once in the plant, seeds are cleaned to remove stems, stones and dust, then de-hulled or lightly cracked so the kernel is accessible. Proper cleaning protects the press from wear and improves extraction efficiency. Seeds are also often gently heated to 60–70 °C to boost oil yield during pressing.
Mechanical pressing and/or solvent extraction. Seeds are gently pressed using modern screw presses, extracting approximately two-thirds of the oil content. To maximise yield, the pressed cake may undergo solvent extraction using food-grade hexane in fully sealed systems, followed by complete solvent removal under high vacuum conditions. Large factories often combine both methods, while cold-pressed brands rely solely on mechanical force for a more aromatic but lower-volume output.
Degumming – removing phospholipids and gums. Unrefined oil contains natural phospholipids (gums) that cause cloudiness during storage. These are removed by mixing the oil with hot water or diluted acid, initiating hydration. Centrifuges then pull the gums away, leaving clearer oil for the next stage.
Neutralisation – eliminating free fatty acids. A measured dose of caustic soda reacts with free fatty acids, producing soapstock that is skimmed off. This stabilises flavour and extends shelf life. Automated control systems regulate pH and temperature to maximise yield and minimise neutral oil loss, ensuring both quality and efficiency.
Bleaching – clarifying colour and adsorbing impurities. Neutralised oil is mixed with natural bleaching earth or activated carbon inside vacuum bleachers. Pigments, residual soaps and trace metals bind to the clay and are filtered out, giving the oil a pale golden hue.
Winterisation (De-waxing) – securing cold stability. Because sunflower oil contains waxes, producers chill the bleached oil to about 0 °C and keep it there long enough for wax crystals to form. The slurry is filtered, preventing future cloudiness in refrigerated shelves.
Deodorisation – polishing flavour and aroma. The final refining step uses clean steam passed through the oil at 180–240 °C under high vacuum, a process called steam-stripping. Volatile compounds responsible for odours and off-tastes are stripped away, creating the neutral, high-smoke-point profile that makes refined sunflower oil so popular for frying.
Final Filtration, Storage and Packaging. After deodorisation, the oil cools and flows through polishing filters before being transferred into stainless-steel tanks. From there, it is bottled, filled into jerrycans, or loaded into bulk tankers. Each batch undergoes final quality checks in on-site laboratories to meet international standards (e.g. ISO 22000, HACCP).
Why Partner with QP Foods?
QP Foods offers seed-to-shelf control: vertically integrated sunflower oil production in Ukraine paired with a UK logistics hub, enabling faster deliveries and full product traceability.
Seed-to-bottle expertise. Multiple plants in Ukraine carry out pressing, refining and bottling under one corporate roof, tightening quality control.
Broad product family. QP Foods also manufactures a full range of cooking products including refined sunflower, rapeseed, and soybean oils, deep-frying oils, mayonnaise, mustard, and more — ideal for buyers consolidating supply chains.
Full-package services. High product quality is paired with marketing support, an experienced sales team, private-label options, dedicated logistics coordination and 24/7 customer assistance.
Tailored, innovation-driven partnership. QP Foods promotes bespoke solutions and continuous improvement, positioning itself as a reliable, forward-thinking collaborator.
Conclusion
The sunflower oil process is a sophisticated and carefully monitored mechanical, thermal, and chemical sequence. Each step tightens quality and enhances stability, producing clear, neutral-tasting oil on supermarket shelves worldwide. Partnering with an integrated producer such as QP Foods delivers a high-grade product, logistical convenience, and collaborative support. Whether you're a food manufacturer, retailer, or brand owner, our vertically integrated approach ensures consistency, transparency, and trust — from farm to final product.