This disclosure concerns methods for producing a high purity stearin comprising, for example, providing a sunflower oil comprising no more than about 4% total saturated fat and hydrogenating the sunflower oil. By way of further example, a method for producing a high purity tristearin may comprise providing sunflower oil comprising at least about 88% oleic acid and hydrogenating the sunflower oil. High purity stearin produced by methods, such as the foregoing, are also disclosed.