Apricot Kernel Oil

Apricot kernel oil is a pale yellow vegetable oil pressed from the seeds found inside the pit of the apricot (Prunus armeniaca). It is used both as a food oil, mainly in Central Asian and Mediterranean cooking, and as a carrier oil in cosmetics because of its light texture. The oil is high in monounsaturated fatty acids, particularly oleic acid, giving it a composition similar to almond oil. Sweet apricot kernels, low in the bitter compound amygdalin, are the source generally used for cold pressing into food grade oil, since bitter kernels release cyanide forming compounds and are pressed instead for non food uses or processed to remove the toxin.