The sunflower is a type of flower that is quite useful in many different ways. Sunflower farmers and growers have used the sunflower extensively to produce some of the most useful products for the kitchen today. The main products that are derived from the sunflower include sunflower seeds and sunflower oil.

Sunflower seeds are actually achenes, which are the fruit of a flower. As soon as the sunflower achene is dehulled, or the shell is removed, all that is left is the immediately edible and nutritious sunflower seed. Sunflower seeds have a variety of uses, making it quite the commodity for many consumers’ shopping lists.

Sunflower seeds are a healthy snack, and can be eaten on its own or as a part of one’s breakfast. Sunflower seeds are also used for cooking, with a variety of lamb, fish, and beef dishes using it to add flavor and texture. Sunflower seeds are also bought by many consumers to use as a nutritious feed for their pet birds, as sunflowers seeds are very much preferred by parrots and parakeets everywhere.

Sunflower oil is another great product derived from the sunflower. Containing palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid, sunflower oil is a non-volatile oil. Commonly used in kitchens as a frying oil, sunflower oil is also used in many cosmetic products as an emollient.