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Nowadays, we have a lot of oil options to choose from. From coconut oil to olive oil to sunflower oil to canola oil, each type has its own distinctive flavor and nutritional profile. However, choosing the right cooking oil for your dishes is not an easy task, since you should consider the smoke point and processing method, too.
To help you figure out which oil will best complement your foods, we searched the Internet and compiled a list of the 10 best cooking oils. Colavita's Extra Virgin Olive Oil is one of our favorites, as it has a great flavor and can be used for many cooking purposes. We also created a buying guide to give you some tips about choosing a suitable cooking oil, reviewed by an experienced chef.
Jim Quast (JQ) is a lifelong professional restaurant and corporate R&D chef who loves everything food-related and the tools, both big and small, to make those great food memories. He's a super huge BBQ, grill, and kitchen gadget fanatic. JQ has spent the last 30+ years trying to figure out what works to make your kitchen life easier and fun. If you can use it to slice it, dice it, cook it, smoke it, or store it, he's been there checking it out. Food = Life!
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
In this buying guide, we provide you with some tips that you may want to consider when making a purchase.
Each type of oil has its own smoke point, an important factor to consider when you cook so that you can avoid burning the oil. Burnt oil can give the food a bitter taste and release smoke and irritants that may be harmful to your body. Therefore, check the smoke point of a product to find out if it is suitable for your cooking purposes.
Oils that can withstand a heat of approximately 450 degrees Fahrenheit are often considered high-heat ones. They are great for deep-frying, stir-frying, sautéing, broiling, or baking.
Out of all types of oils, avocado oil has the highest smoke point of 520 degrees Fahrenheit, thus making it suitable for deep-frying or browning. However, avocado oil is relatively expensive, so for cheaper options, you can choose safflower oil, sunflower oil, or peanut oil instead.
Medium heat oils are perfect for slow cooking, sautéing, or making sauces and dressings. Typically, oils with a medium smoke point can tolerate heat ranging from 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Some medium heat oils that are frequently used include coconut oil, olive oil, and sesame oil. However, different types of olive oil can tolerate different levels of temperature.
For example, unrefined coconut oil has a smoke point of 350 degrees Fahrenheit, while the smoke point for olive oil ranges from 350 to 410 degrees Fahrenheit depending on how it's refined. Refined sesame oil can tolerate a temperature of up to 410 degrees Fahrenheit.
Oils with low heat tolerance are usually used as a finish or drizzle to add some extra flavor to the dish. They are great for making dips and sauces as well! You can use them to make bread dipping oil or hummus.
Typically, low heat oils can withstand a heat of up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Some common low-heat oils include flaxseed oil, unrefined coconut oil, pistachio oil, and hemp seed oil. Low-heat oils can be used in baked goods. Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and unrefined sesame oil also are excellent for drizzling or making dressings.
Based on the ingredients they are made from, different types of oils have their own distinctive flavors that can help you add an extra kick to foods.
Oils that are made from nuts such as walnuts or peanuts tend to have a nutty flavor that complements dishes such as stir-fried vegetables or pastas very well. Sesame oil is also a great addition to Asian dishes like fried rice or noodles.
If you want oils with strong, savory flavors, then coconut oil or hemp seed oil are some great options for you. You should keep in mind that oils with rich tastes are suitable for low to medium-heat cooking only. They shouldn't be used for high-heat cooking like deep frying.
However, if you don't want the taste of oil to interfere with the flavors of your ingredients, you should choose neutral oils such as avocado oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, or safflower oil. Neutral oils have light or no flavor and high smoke points, thus are suitable for frying or other high-heat cooking styles.
All oils have fat, but not all fats are equal! Here are some healthy fats you can keep an eye out for.
Not all fats are bad for you and in fact, unsaturated fats, which remain liquid at room temperature, are healthy fats that can reduce inflammation, support your blood cholesterol levels, and improve other aspects of your health.
Unsaturated fats are derived from plants, nuts, and seeds, and are the main components of typical cooking oils. There are two types of unsaturated fats: monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats.
Monounsaturated fats are found in avocado oil, olive oil, and canola oil, as well as other oils produced from nuts and seeds. They help reduce our bad cholesterol, improve heart health, and lower the risk of stroke. Meanwhile, polyunsaturated fats are highly concentrated in sunflower, safflower, walnut, canola, and soybean oil.
Similar to monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats can decrease the bad cholesterol levels in our body, but they also consist of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which play an important role in improving our brain function and cell growth.
According to the American Heart Association, we should consume foods that contain both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in our daily diets. However, you should only get around 25 to 30 percent of your daily calories from fat.
Saturated fats remain solid at room temperature, and are often found in animal sources. However, plant-based oils such as coconut oil that stay solid at room temperature also contain a high amount of saturated fats.
Even though saturated fat is not completely bad for you, a diet containing a high level of this fat can increase your total cholesterol and lead to the formation of blockages in arteries in the heart. Therefore, many nutritionists suggest reducing saturated fat to under 10 percent of our daily calories.
Some brands add hydrogen in liquid oils to make them become more solid, which may result in the production of trans fat. Oils that contain trans fat often have a long shelf life, thick consistency, and high smoke point. Furthermore, they are cheap and frequently used in fast-food outlets.
However, trans fats can increase the bad (LDL) cholesterol and decrease the good (HDL) cholesterol levels in your body. Also, trans fat has been associated with increasing the possibility of heart disease and stroke as well as type-2 diabetes. Therefore, try to choose products containing zero grams of trans fat as a rule.
Oils can be produced using various methods, such as cold-pressing, expeller-pressing, or refining. However, some methods actually use chemicals that are harmful to your body during the process. So, you should pay attention to how the oil is produced to avoid products of poor quality.
Unrefined oils are produced from low-heat processes such as expeller-pressing or cold-pressing. Those processes involve no to low heat, so the raw flavor of the ingredients and their nutrients still remain.
Therefore, unrefined oils tend to have a stronger flavor and fragrance compared to refined oils. They are also more suited for low-heat sautéing or making dressings.
However, unrefined oils tend to have low smoke points and can be spoiled if they get in contact with sunlight. Therefore, you should store them in dark-colored bottles or in a cool place away from the sun.
Refined oils go through a distillation process, so they have neutral tastes and are a great choice if you're looking for a type of oil that doesn't interfere with your foods' flavors. They also have a long shelf life and a high smoke point that makes them great for frying.
Some refined oils are bleached or deodorized to remove any rancid smell. Some common refined, bleached, and deodorized (RBD) oils include soy, corn, canola, and palm oils.
Although RBD oils might have lower nutrients like essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins compared to refined oils, they are safe to consume and are much cheaper. RBD oils are usually used for deep-frying, when you need a large volume of oil.
Another factor to keep in mind is the packaging of the product. Oils can come in bottles, jars, tin cans, and sprays.
Bottles are the standard packaging for liquid oils. They can be made of either plastic or glass. Bottles allow you to pour out a large amount of oil at once and are great when you need a lot of oil for frying or deep-frying.
If you purchase unrefined cooking oil like extra virgin olive oil, make sure it is stored in an opaque bottle to filter out damaging UV rays and prevent oxidization. Refined oils have been processed and are less likely to be affected by oxygen exposure or light, so you might see them in clear bottles.
Oils that are in a solid form, such as coconut oil, are often packed in a jar. It's easy to control the amount of oil with this type of packaging since you can scoop out the exact amount you need.
Some oils are packed in tin cans. Tin cans have thick walls and help protect the oil from being exposed to light.
Cooking oil sprays are convenient for greasing your frying or baking pan to prevent sticking. And with a cooking oil spray, you'll be able to control the amount of oil used more easily, so you can cut calories if you use it correctly.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil | $27.99 High | Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil With an Acidity Level Under 0.4 Percent | ||
2 | Snappy Popcorn Peanut Oil | $29.99 High | Best for Making Popcorn or Deep-Fried Foods | ||
3 | BetterBody Foods Avocado Oil | $8.24 Mid | Best Avocado Oil With 10 Grams of Monounsaturated Fat Per Serving | ||
4 | Viva Naturals Extra Virgin Coconut Oil | $7.15 Low Mid | Best Certified Organic Coconut Oil | ||
5 | La Tourangelle Toasted Sesame Oil | $9.47 Mid | Best Toasted Flavor That's Great for Asian Dishes and Dressings | ||
6 | Pompeian Grapeseed Oil | $14.68 High Mid | Best for High-Heat Cooking Like Deep-Frying | ||
7 | Hollywood Safflower Oil | $9.99 Mid | Best Expeller-Pressed Safflower Oil Enriched With Vitamin E | ||
8 | Happy Belly Canola Oil | $10.17 Mid | Best for the Neutral Flavor and Smell | ||
9 | Pam Sunflower Oil | $3.57 Low | Best Cooking Oil Spray for Greasing Pans | ||
10 | La Tourangelle Roasted Walnut Oil | $10.28 Mid | Best Finishing Oil With a High Omega-3 Content |
Pros:
Cons:
Imported from Italy, Colavita's extra virgin olive oil has a balanced taste between fruit and spice that will add some extra flavor to your dishes. The oil is made from Arbequina, Picual, and Koroneiki olives and has an acidity level below 0.4 percent. It is produced using the cold-pressing method with olives from Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal.
Customers say that the flavor of the olive oil is rich and complements savory dishes such as roasted vegetables or meat. They mention that it's great for drizzling and dipping, too!
Pros:
Cons:
This peanut oil contains no added coloring and is free from trans fat as well as cholesterol. Additionally, it has a high smoke point, making it suitable for high-heat cooking such as deep-frying. Furthermore, the oil has a light nutty flavor that is not really overwhelming, so you can use this oil for a variety of dishes.
Some reviewers complain that the peanut flavor is too mild. Nevertheless, most like its high smoke point and further comment that it is great for making popcorn. Many buyers also say that frying with this peanut oil produces foods with a nice crispy crunch, and they love using it to make dishes such as fried chicken and French fries.
Pros:
Cons:
BetterBody Foods' avocado oil has a high smoke point of 500 degrees Fahrenheit, making it great for frying, sautéing, and other cooking methods. Each serving provides 10 grams of monounsaturated fat, which can lower the bad cholesterol levels in your blood.
Some reviewers note that the lid doesn't seal properly, and that it's hard to remove the safety seal. Nevertheless, many love the buttery mouthfeel of this avocado oil. Furthermore, according to various reviewers, the oil has a neutral taste that's great for almost all recipes.
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Cons:
Made from fresh organic coconuts using the cold-pressing method, Viva Natural's extra virgin coconut oil is rich in nutrients and has a slightly sweet fragrance. With a high smoke point of 350 degrees Fahrenheit, this oil is great for baking, frying or sautéing. You can also make your salad dressings with this oil or use it as a substitute for butter.
Although some reviewers find the texture a bit gritty, many others praise that the coconut oil had a great fragrance and mild coconut taste. They say that the oil works especially well as a substitute for butter in baked goods and store-bought mixes like brownie and cake mixes.
Pros:
La Tourangelle's toasted sesame oil is made from sesame seeds that are lightly toasted to release a nutty flavor and aroma. They later go through an expeller-pressing method that doesn't involve any chemicals. Therefore, the resulting oil is rich in omega-9 and can add extra flavor to your stir-fry, noodle dishes, vegetables or fried rice.
Some reviewers say the flavor isn't as bold as they expected. Nevertheless, many customers love the toasted flavor that goes well with Asian dishes. They say this oil could be used as a drizzle, marinade, or in salad dressings. The tin packaging is another plus for many buyers, as it helps preserve the freshness of the oil and has a nice pour spout.
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Cons:
Made with grapes imported from France, Pompeian's grapeseed oil has a high vitamin E, fatty acid, and omega-6 content. It's also low in saturated fat, giving you only 1.5 grams per serving. It has a high smoke point, thus is suitable for deep-frying, sautéing, or stir-frying.
Surprisingly, many complaints involved it not having a cap upon arrival, so you may want to make sure you have an old one you can use just in case! Meanwhile, most reviewers love the health benefits and heat tolerance of this oil. They also like that the oil's flavor is mild and does not overpower the taste of their food.
Pros:
Made using an expeller-pressing method, Hollywood's safflower oil is light in flavor and rich in healthy monounsaturated fat. The oil also contains only one gram of saturated fat and is fortified with vitamin E, a well-known antioxidant. It can be used for baking or stir-frying.
A few buyers say the oil has a thick viscosity and cannot be used as a spray. Still, the majority like that it's tasteless and could be used for various dishes. They also appreciate that it can tolerate high temperatures and works well for high-heat cooking. Some use this oil to season their cast-iron cookware, too!
Pros:
Cons:
Happy Belly's canola oil contains no cholesterol or trans fat and has only one gram of saturated fat per serving. It can withstand high temperatures and can be used for high-heat cooking like frying. The flavor is light, so you can use this oil for a variety of dishes without worrying that the flavor of the oil will affect the taste of your food.
Some buyers noticed that the oil had a watery texture and bubbled up while cooking. Even so, many reviewers like that it doesn't really have a flavor or odor and can be used for all cooking purposes, including frying, grilling, and baking.
Pros:
Cons:
This cooking spray is a blend of canola oil, coconut oil, and palm oil and is free from artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors. On top of that, each serving has zero calories, so it's great for those who are trying to control their calorie intake.
Some reviewers say that this cooking spray has a low smoke point and isn't suitable for frying. On another note, many others confirm that it prevents foods from sticking to their cookware very well and is a great choice for greasing baking pans. Buyers also like that it doesn't add extra calories to their foods.
Pros:
Cons:
Made from 100 percent California walnuts, La Tourangelle's roasted walnut oil is expeller-pressed and features a bold, nutty flavor that will add some kick to your dishes. With a medium-high cooking temperature, this oil is great for sautéing, baking, drizzling, or making dressings.
A couple of buyers warn against using this oil for high-heat cooking as it has a low smoke point. Yet, the majority love the health benefits that the oil provides. They also praise its nutty, delicate taste. Many suggest using this oil as a finish on chicken, fish fillets, roasted veggies or as a drizzle on salad for some extra flavor.
If you are looking for more oils to elevate your dishes or get healthy fats into your diet, look no further! Check out the links below for our suggestions.
Still haven't found a good pick for yourself? Check out Amazon's best-selling cooking and baking oils!
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Colavita|Extra Virgin Olive Oil
No. 2: Snappy Popcorn|Peanut Oil
No. 3: BetterBody Foods|Avocado Oil
No. 4: Viva Naturals |Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
No. 5: La Tourangelle |Toasted Sesame Oil
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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