What’s the Difference between Canola Oil and Vegetable Oil?

You’re staring at the bottles wondering, “what’s the difference between canola oil and vegetable oil?”. Find the answer here in this cooking basics article.

Have you ever been in the middle of whipping up a new recipe only to realize that you’re missing one key ingredient?

Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Things can get particularly confusing in terms of substitutions when it comes to cooking oils.

Can canola oil be swapped out for vegetable oil? What’s the difference between these two oils?

Read on to learn everything you need to know about the difference between canola oil and vegetable oil. 

What’s the Difference Between Canola Oil and Vegetable Oil? 

So, what’s the difference between these two oils?

Vegetable oil is actually an umbrella term to describe all different types of oils, with canola being one of them. When you see the label “vegetable oil” in the supermarket, what’s inside can vary. 

It could be referring to corn oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, and in some cases, canola oil. However, more often than not, vegetable oil is made from soybeans. 

Which Oil Should You Use for Cooking? 

When it comes to choosing between canola and vegetable oil, most recipes will specify which one you need to use. 

If you don’t want your oil to add any flavor to your dish, then vegetable oil is a great option, as it has a very neutral taste. It’s particularly good for roasting veggies and pan-frying. 

In general, though, canola oil is best for sauteing, grilling, and stir-frying because it has a high smoke point (ie, the point at which an oil begins to emit toxic fumes). If you plan to crank the heat up when cooking, canola oil is usually your best option. 

However, depending on the blend you choose, vegetable oil may not be the best choice when you’re cooking at a high temperature. It is, however, a great addition to room temperature dishes, such as salads. 

Which is Healthier? 

When you look at the nutrition labels for canola oil and vegetable oil, you’ll realize that they stack up pretty evenly in terms of calories (about 120 each per tablespoon) and fat (around 14 grams total each). 

Also, neither canola oil nor vegetable oil provides a significant source of sodium, fiber, protein, or sugar. 

The plus side to canola oil is that it’s much lower in saturated fats than vegetable oil. In high doses, this type of fat can lead to heart disease. 

However, the drawback to canola oil is that it doesn’t come from a natural plant. Instead, it comes from genetically modified plants (aka, GMOs). 

Luckily, canola oil and vegetable oil aren’t the only options you have when cooking. There are other healthier oils that you can also use, such as avocado oil, coconut oil, and extra virgin olive oil. 

You can click here to buy olive oil online. 

Canola Oil vs Vegetable Oil: Which Will You Choose? 

Now that you know the difference between canola oil and vegetable oil, it’s time to choose which one is right for your dish. We hope whichever one you choose helps your meal turn out delicious!

Be sure to check back in with our blog for more cooking-related tips and tricks.