Almond Oil

Almond oil, technically oleum amygdalae, is a fixed oil extracted from dried almond kernels, made from either sweet or bitter almonds, with about half the almond kernel's dry mass consisting of fat. It is a glyceryl oleate with a slight odor and nutty taste, almost insoluble in alcohol but readily soluble in chloroform or ether; sweet almond oil is used in aromatherapy and cosmetics as a carrier oil, while bitter almond oil contains benzaldehyde and is used as a food flavoring and in perfume. Per 100 grams it provides 884 calories and is made up mostly of monounsaturated oleic acid, about 70 grams, with smaller amounts of polyunsaturated linoleic acid, about 17 grams, and saturated fat, about 8 grams, and it contains no linolenic acid. Alongside almond milk and almond butter, it is used as a versatile ingredient in both sweet and savory dishes.