Monday, February 3, 2014

Wondering about Wesson Oil.

There are a lot of different salad and cooking oils to choose from in the grocery stores, so to try to narrow the broad range down some, I am only going to talk about Wesson Oil.  But first a little history.  I am going to say that the invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney back in 1794 was what got the industry started when they found out that seeds left over after the gin removed all the cotton fibers, could be crushed into oil.  Cottonseed oil was first bottled in the U.S. in 1882.  Since then it has come a long way.  It has been deodorized, clarified, crystallized (Crisco), etc. and then along came the war and in 1944 the production of soybean oil beat out cottonseed oil.  Now, on to corn oil.

Now, to get back to Wesson, which started in business selling corn oil, which, by the way, is obtained from the germ of the kernel.  It was in 1900 that Dr. David Wesson started a refinery in Savannah to produce Wesson oil for the retail market.  He later developed the "hogless lard", Crisco.  In 1960, the company merged with Hunt Foods & Industries.

Wesson Oil has many uses other than for culinary delights.  It can be used to moisturize skin or to make bubble bath.  It can prevent cat hair balls, treat ear mites in cats, and add a shine to you dog's coat.  It can condition your hair and remove oil-based paint from your skin.  It can remove rust spots and season a cast iron skillet. It can remove paper stuck to wooden surfaces or price tags from appliances.  And the one that I hope I will never need, is to keep snow from sticking to your snow shovel.  (That last one is only for my northern readers or the ones at high elevations)  There a lot of other uses, just use your imagination.  Now, don't get too oiled and have a great day, you hear?

18 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Yep, had to be carful when writing it, my fingers kept slipping off the keys. . .

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  2. I rarely use corn oil any more. I just don't want anything to do with GMO corn.

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    1. My wife and I always avoid anything made from corn or peanuts. Both are universally contaminated with mold.

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  3. I've used instead of diesel when changing fuel filters.

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  4. Seems like you'd have to milk alot of corn or cotton to get a bucket of oil. Sounds like Wesson oil was the WD-40 of it's day,but they got tired of all the flies licking it off the rusty hinges on the kitchen door.

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    1. Used to have to hand milk them but now they got machines (grin). I guess you have to add some insecticide to it for hinges and the like.

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  5. i use only canola or olive. Good thing my son told me about oil releasing glues, had to use it one time to get one of those sticky thingys off my cat's foot.

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    1. Yep, it is suppose to get stuff like gum and glue out of hair and fur. I can not guarantee it, and don't want to get gum or glue in my hear or beard to try it out.

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  6. Did not know that about Wesson Oil. Thanks for the lesson.

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    1. I have this great book called "Magic Brands" by Joey Green. It tells about 1185 brand-New uses for brand name products. I have used it before to get ideas for my blog and will use it again, I am sure.

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  7. Beautiful information about the oils. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Replies
    1. Vinegar can be used for a lot of things and in many ways.

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  9. there.. now I learned a lot from your blog today! thanks for all the information and we hope to not have to shovel that snow too much longer! (we usually spray a bit on the plastic shovel with a can of Amour-All car cleaner.....)

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    Karen and Steve
    (Blog) RVing: The USA Is Our Big Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com
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    1. Any trick to keep the snow from sticking is good. My trick was to move south.

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