Buying
There are quite dramatic colour variations in sesame oil, depending on its source.

• Cold-pressed sesame oil is almost colourless;
• sesame oil from an Indian store (probably labelled gingelly or til oil) is golden and has a deliciously nutty nuance;
• and sesame oil from a Chinese shop is dark, almost red-brown and has a much stronger flavor and fragrance.
• Cold pressed sesame oil, however healthy, has none of the flavour of oriental sesame oil since it is pressed from raw, not roasted seeds, and will therefore not produce an authentic result if used in an Asian recipe.

Storing
Store in cool dark place, but not in the refrigerator where it will turn cloudy.

Using
It's excellent for everything from salad dressings to sautéing. It is used mainly as a flavoring in many Asian dishes at the end of cooking in small quantities as a flavour highlight and is not recommended for frying.

Dark sesame oil, one of the intriguing flavours of the orient, is the one to use when a recipe from China, Japan or Korea calls for sesame oil.

Oriental sesame oil is popular in Japan as a flavouring oil for tempura (deep frying) blended with peanut, rapeseed (canola) or soybean oil in a ratio which varies according to personal taste.