Moisture Adjustment of Tiger Nuts (Cyperus esculentus L.): A Green Strategy to Enhance Crude Oil Oxidative Stability by Increasing Phospholipid and Phenolic Contents

Tiger nut ( Cyperus esculentus L.) is a promising oilseed for its high‐oleic oil with superior oxidative stability. However, the oxidative stability of crude tiger nut oil varies significantly between extraction batches, a phenomenon hypothesized to correlate with the raw material's moisture content. In this study, tiger nut oil (labeled as TO‐4, TO‐8, TO‐12, TO‐16, and TO‐20) was obtained by solvent extraction from tiger nuts with varying moisture contents (4%–20%). All oils exhibited no obvious difference in the major triacylglycerol and fatty acids, with low acid values (1.30–1.35 mg/g) and peroxide values (0.14–0.15 mmol/kg). Phospholipids (0.71–8.61 mg/g) and phenolic compounds (24.34–70.83 mg/kg) exhibited significant inter‐sample variations, whereas tocopherols, carotenoids, and sterols showed no significant differences. Notably, phospholipids and phenolic compounds demonstrated a significant positive correlation with oxidative stability as measured by induction period (21.9–105.2 h), with TO‐12 displaying the longest induction period (105.2 h). Centrifugation of oils confirmed phospholipid and phenolic removal decreased induction periods. Therefore, targeted moisture adjustment for tiger nuts enhanced the oxidative stability of solvent‐extracted oil through elevated levels of phospholipids and phenolic compounds in the oil. This work provides a green strategy for improving oil quality of tiger nut. Practical Applications : In this study, how the moisture content of tiger nuts influences the oxidative stability of tiger nut oil was explored, offering guidance for selecting the optimal moisture parameters during oil processing. Employing tiger nuts with 12% moisture content during oil extraction produces crude oil exhibiting optimal oxidative stability. This moisture adjustment strategy not only enhances oil quality through an environmentally benign process but also reduces production and refining expenditures.