re: cottonseed oil vs. peanut oil

There are differences. Peanut Oil is superior to just about any other commodity oil as a frying medium... It's more stable chemically so it lasts longer. Canola Oil is low in saturated fat. Soybean oil is cheap for those who want that. Cottonseed is pretty stable and has the color benefit that I discussed above. Corn, Sunflower, etc... all have their place.

There's also consumer demand. Peanut Oil really made it's bones a long time ago before thermostats were reliable. The higher smoke point performed really well in restaurants, and it's also very popular in the south where peanuts are grown. The flavor is mainly a perception thing. It's a great oil though.

We also do things with crop genetics, chemistry and blending that can make Soybean, Canola, Corn etc... perform like peanut oil or better.