Fry Cycles
90to 25% TPM
Smoke Point
216°C
OSI
9hours
Profile
A byproduct of the cotton industry with a long history in American frying — Crisco was originally cottonseed oil. The fatty acid profile (52% PUFA) is similar to soybean, yielding only 90 fry cycles to 25% TPM. Its continued use in foodservice is largely inertial. More common in the southern US where cotton processing infrastructure makes it locally available.
Fatty acid breakdown
Saturated (SAFA)
26%
Monounsaturated (MUFA)
18%
Polyunsaturated (PUFA)
52%
Health
High PUFA (52%) similar to soybean. Historically exempt from some food safety regulations because cotton was classified as a fiber crop, not a food crop. Gossypol (a toxic compound) removed during refining.
Sustainability
Byproduct of cotton fiber production. Very high water footprint from cotton irrigation. Heavy pesticide use in conventional cotton.