My diet:

Rice bran oil

No E-numberFats & oilsOrigin: Plant
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Every diet

VeganYes

Pressed from the rice grain.

Gluten-freeYes
HalalYes
KosherYes
KetoYes

A fat with no carbohydrate to count.

Low-FODMAPYes
The short answer
Rice bran oil is pressed from the layer that is milled off the rice grain, so it keeps more of the grain's antioxidants than the polished rice does. It is a sound everyday oil, and its oryzanol fraction is the part researchers keep coming back to.
Generally safe

Fine for most people at normal amounts.

E-numberNone
Comes fromPlant
What it doesFats & oils
Glycemic index—
Daily limitNot set
Also calledRice bran oil, Rice oil

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDANot evaluated as an additive
🇪🇺 European UnionNot evaluated as an additive
🇨🇦 Health CanadaNot evaluated as an additive
CaliforniaNo extra rules

Rice bran oil is a food without an E-number, so no regulator has evaluated it as an additive. The reason it appears in nutrition research is oryzanol, the antioxidant fraction that concentrates in the rice bran layer.

Daily limit: Experts haven’t set a number because normal food amounts are far below any level of concern.

What is it?

The fat is roughly 40% monounsaturated, 40% polyunsaturated and 20% saturated, and it retains tocotrienols and tocopherols from the germ layer that polished white rice no longer has. It is also where oryzanol comes from, a mixture of ferulate esters that has been studied for cholesterol.

Where it comes from: Pressed from the brown outer layer of the rice grain, the part that is milled away when white rice is polished. The oil therefore carries compounds that are removed from the rice people eat.

Why it’s in food

  • Frying
  • Stir-frying
  • Salad dressings
  • Rice bran oil spreads
  • Baking

Often found in

Fried snacksRice dishesMargarineCookiesSalad dressings

Also listed as: Rice bran oil, Rice oil, Rice germ oil, Rice bran vegetable oil

Health & gut impact

Gamma-oryzanolBenefit

Rice bran oil carries oryzanol, which has been studied for lowering cholesterol. Trials are mixed and the effect in an ordinary diet is small, but it is the reason the oil is worth noticing.

Cochrane review, plant sterols and stanols for cholesterol (2013)

Vitamin E and tocotrienolsBenefit

Because it comes from the germ layer, the oil keeps tocopherols and tocotrienols that are largely removed when the bran is polished away for white rice.

USDA FoodData Central, rice bran oil

Frying stabilityBenefit

Compared with soybean oil, rice bran oil holds up better under repeated heating because of its higher smoke point and its natural antioxidant content, which slows oxidation.

FAO/WHO Codex standard for vegetable oils

What can I use instead?

Rapeseed oil

Ratio: Use the same volume; it has a neutral taste

Best for: Everyday cooking

Sunflower oil

Ratio: Use the same volume for a lighter oil

Best for: Baking and light frying

Related

More fats & oils:

Algal oilAlgal oil is omega-3 from microalgae grown in a tank, and it is the plant-based stand-in for fish oil. It is safe, vegan and gluten-free, and it supplies the DHA that most plant omega-3 sources do not.Generally safeAvocado oilAvocado oil is usually pressed from the avocado pit, so it tastes neutral rather than like avocado. It is safe, high in monounsaturated fat, and its high smoke point makes it one of the better oils for hot cooking.Generally safeBeef tallowBeef tallow is cattle fat. It is not vegan. It is gluten-free and used for high-heat frying. Halal and kosher versions exist only when the animal and the plant are certified.Use in moderationButterButter is a dairy fat. It is not vegan. It is gluten-free, and a normal pat is low enough in lactose that many low-FODMAP plans allow it. Peanut butter and cocoa butter are not this food.Use in moderation

Common questions

Is rice bran oil better for you?

It is a good oil and nothing in it is a concern. It keeps more of the grain's vitamin E and antioxidants than white rice does, and the oryzanol content is interesting though the effect on cholesterol in real diets is small.

Where does rice bran oil come from if rice is white?

The bran is the brown layer under the hull. Milling it off is what makes the rice white, and a part of that layer is pressed for oil, which is why the oil exists as a separate product rather than as a by-product of white rice milling.

Is rice bran oil gluten-free?

Yes. It is pressed from the grain rather than from a wheat product, and gluten is not something that carries into the oil. The rice grain itself is naturally gluten-free, and the small trace of gluten in the bran does not survive into the pressed oil in any meaningful amount.

Is Rice bran oil safe?

Generally safe (87/100). Rice bran oil is a food without an E-number, so no regulator has evaluated it as an additive. The reason it appears in nutrition research is oryzanol, the antioxidant fraction that concentrates in the rice bran layer.

Is Rice bran oil vegan?

Yes. Pressed from the rice grain.

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Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • Cochrane review, plant sterols and stanols for cholesterol (2013)
  • USDA FoodData Central, rice bran oil
  • FAO/WHO Codex standard for vegetable oils