Palm kernel oil facts for kids
Palm kernel oil is a type of plant oil that comes from the inner part, called the kernel, of the oil palm tree. Its scientific name is Elaeis guineensis. This oil is related to two other common oils: palm oil, which is made from the fleshy part of the oil palm fruit, and coconut oil, which comes from the kernel of the coconut.
Palm kernel oil, palm oil, and coconut oil are special because they are some of the few saturated plant oils. This means they contain a lot of a certain type of fat molecule. They even give their name to a specific saturated fat called palmitic acid.
At normal room temperature, palm kernel oil is usually semi-solid. It has more saturated fats than palm oil and is quite similar to coconut oil in its fat content.
History of Palm Kernel Oil
People in West Africa have known about and used oil from the African oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) for a very long time. European traders who visited West Africa sometimes bought palm oil to take back to Europe. However, palm kernel oil was not very common outside West Africa for a long time.
What's Inside Palm Kernel Oil?
Palm kernel oil, just like coconut oil, has a lot of saturated fats. It has more saturated fats than palm oil. A big part of palm kernel oil is something called lauric acid. Studies have shown that lauric acid can increase cholesterol levels in the blood. It raises both "good" cholesterol (HDL-C) and "bad" cholesterol (LDL-C), but it tends to raise the good kind more.
It's important to know that palm kernel oil itself does not contain any cholesterol or trans fats.
This oil is often used in cooking by companies because it costs less than some other oils. It also stays good for a long time and can handle high cooking temperatures without breaking down.
Here's a look at the different types of fats found in palm kernel oil:
| Fatty acid content of palm kernel oil | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of fatty acid | Fraction | |||
| Lauric saturated C12 | 48.2% | |||
| Myristic saturated C14 | 16.2% | |||
| Palmitic saturated C16 | 8.4% | |||
| Capric saturated C10 | 3.4% | |||
| Caprylic saturated C8 | 3.3% | |||
| Stearic saturated C18 | 2.5% | |||
| Oleic monounsaturated C18:1 | 15.3% | |||
| Linoleic polyunsaturated C18:2 | 2.3% | |||
| Other/Unknown | 0.4% | |||
| red: saturated orange: monounsaturated blue: polyunsaturated |
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How Palm Kernel Oil is Used
When oils and fats are broken down, they create fatty acids and a substance called glycerin. These fatty acids are a mix of different types, depending on the original oil or fat.
During World War II, some substances made from palmitic acid (a fat found in palm kernel oil) were used with naphtha to create a material called napalm. This was used in certain types of weapons.
