Abstract: The method of treating crude soybean oil to render it of food or commercial grade quality which comprises adding to the crude soybean oil water and a protein substance; subjecting the mixture to agitation until the mixture becomes visually homogeneous; and then permitting the agitated mixture to settle for such period of time as to permit the mixture to become stratified into four distinct, well defined layers. The supernatant or uppermost layer is the now food grade oil which is withdrawn by any suitable means.