The key difference between hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oil is that hydrogenated oil is oil that has all of the C=C bonds reduced, whereas partially hydrogenated oil is oil that has some of the C=C bonds changed and some C=C bonds unchanged.
The terms hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils fall under the topic of fat hydrogenation. Fat hydrogenation is the process of combining fats such as vegetable oil with hydrogen, which makes it more saturated. Typically, this process is carried out at high-pressure conditions and requires a nickel catalyst. Hydrogenation reduces all the carbon-carbon double bonds. But if the reaction is partial, it will reduce only some of the carbon-carbon double bonds while other carbon-carbon bonds remain unchanged.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Hydrogenated Oil
3. What is Partially Hydrogenated Oil
4. Hydrogenated vs Partially Hydrogenated Oil in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Hydrogenated vs Partially Hydrogenated Oil
What is Hydrogenated Oil?
Hydrogenated oil is oil that has all the C=C bonds reduced. Hydrogenated oil is a form of fat that is used by some food manufacturers to keep food fresh for a long time. This process involves the addition of hydrogen to a liquid fat such as vegetable oil. It turns the oil into solid fat at room temperature. We can categorize hydrogenated oil as partially hydrogenated oil and fully hydrogenated oil. However, the term hydrogenated oil generally refers to fully hydrogenated oil.
In fully hydrogenated oil, liquid fat has been converted into solid at room temperature. In this type of oil, almost all the C=C bonds are reduced due to the addition of hydrogen. It reduces the trans-fat in the final product. Fully hydrogenated oils are still in use in contrast to partially hydrogenated oil.
Hydrogenated oils can be safe to consume. However, it does not mean that this oil is necessarily good for our health. This is because food items that consist of hydrogenated oil are often processed with added sugar and salt.
What is Partially Hydrogenated Oil?
Partially hydrogenated oil is a form of hydrogenated oil where some of the C=C bonds are reduced while other C=C bonds remain unchanged. In the past, manufacturers used this type of oil during food manufacturing, but it is not used now according to the FDA regulations. This type of oil is known as trans fat. Food items consisting of large amounts of trans fat include baked goods, stick margarine, frosting, coffee creamers, and snacks.
Generally, partially hydrogenated oils or trans fat are not safe in food items. Therefore, manufacturers had to phase it out by 2018 according to the rules of the FDA. Some food items still contain trans fats; in food items including animal meat like cow’s meat, trans fat naturally occurs.
What is the Difference Between Hydrogenated and Partially Hydrogenated Oil?
The key difference between hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oil is that hydrogenated oil is oil that has all of the C=C bonds reduced, whereas partially hydrogenated oil is oil that has some of the C=C bonds changed and some C=C bonds unchanged. Moreover, hydrogenated oil has a low or no trans fat content, while partially hydrogenated oil has a very high trans fat content.
The below infographic presents the differences between hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oil in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Hydrogenated vs Partially Hydrogenated Oil
Hydrogenated oils are oils having C=C bonds reduced. There are two types of hydrogenated oils as fully hydrogenated oils and partially hydrogenated oils. The key difference between hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oil is that hydrogenated oil is oil that has all of the C=C bonds reduced, whereas partially hydrogenated oil is oil that has some of the C=C bonds changed and some C=C bonds unchanged.
Reference:
1. “Hydrogenated Oil: What Is It? Is It Bad? Learn More Here.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.
Image Courtesy:
1. “H2forMargerin” By Smokefoot – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia