| Oil seeds are usually pressed individually to extract the oil. In this study, blends of black cumin seed (BS) with sunflower seed (SS) were used to extract oil by cold pressing and the changes in physicochemical properties of the extracted oil were evaluated. Blending altered the fatty acid profile of the blends; with linoleic and oleic acids being the main fatty acids. As BS was increased in the blends, a significant increase (p < .05) in total pigments and phenolic contents in the extracted oils was observed. Also, the oil extracted from blends had higher acid and peroxide values compared with SS oil. Blending caused an increase in oxidative stability which increased from 6.78 to 9.69 hr. Based on the results obtained, it was advisable to use blending of oil seeds prior to cold press as a novel method to improve the quality and oxidative stability of oils. |