The treatments include grinding, bleaching, deodorizing, treating with chemical solvents and refining at high heat. Choose a vegetable oil when you want a cleaner flavor and for high-heat cooking. [4]. Olive oils made from olives picked later in the season are smoother, more buttery, and less spicy. Extra virgin olive oil is packed with nutrients and heart-healthy fats. However, a few recent studies indicate that the corn oil is likely to reduce sugar as well as cholesterol levels. Vegetable oil also has virtually no taste, making it an excellent option when baking or cooking foods. Olive oil is commonly used if you are cooking at medium temperatures. Some home chefs insist instead on using vegetable oil for this purpose, citing its neutral flavor profile and high smoke point. However, lower smoke point aside, as vegetable oil lacks flavor, it is not recommended for finishing, salad dressings, dipping in bread, or drizzling over roasted veggies. That said, vegetable oil is a far cheaper alternative. While this might not be considered a high temperature compared to the somewhat low smoke point of extra virgin or virgin olive oil at 350º to 410ºF, refined olive oils (like regular olive oil and extra light olive oil) can reach a smoke point as high as 470ºF. If your reason for using olive oil in baking recipes is flavor, you may find success. Extra virgin olive oils made with olives that were picked early in the season are known for their intense, versatile, vibrant flavors. Vegetable oil, on the other hand, is so processed that few nutrients remain. Vegetable oil is more similar to extra light and regular olive oil, though even these are less processed than vegetable oil. While the different processes for making olive oil do affect the flavor and amount of bioactive compounds, in the oil, the nutritional label is always the same. In fact, the term “vegetable oil” does not refer to any one type of oil – or one type of vegetable, for that matter. The flavors are mild, but they still pack a healthy dose of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. Vegetable oil vs olive oil leads you to know certain aspects about both oil types. Here’s how the two differ. Recommended reading: Best Olive Oil Dispensers. We recently discussed the differences between canola oil and vegetable oil, and thought you might also like to know the differences between canola oil and olive oil.. A lot has been made about the nutritional benefits of both canola oil and olive oil. It’s called ‘vegetable’ so that the manufacturers can substitute whatever commodity oil they want—soy, corn, cottonseed, canola—without having to print a new label.”. Olive oil and vegetable oil aren’t processed to the same extent. Vegetable Oils are actually made from seeds, germs, and beans. Olive oil has more health benefits and is a more natural oil compared to vegetable oil. It is important, however, to understand the differences between the types of olive oil on the market. However, the main difference lies in the type of fats in the oil, which determines if it's a healthy oil or not. Here, we explore the differences between these two popular oils. | © North American Olive Oil Association. The truth is that, despite a a healthy-sounding name, vegetable oil is about as far from a vegetable as you can get. Well, olive oil is richer in monounsaturated fat due to which it is tempting to choose it as a healthier cooking oil than the corn oil. … Other commonly used plants include canola, corn and cottonseed. Proponents of vegetable oil will point to its higher smoke point, 460°F compared with extra virgin olive oil which can be as high as 410°F, as an advantage. Vegetable oil has a more significant smoke point than olive oil, making it a preferable option when cooking at too high temperatures. Vegetable oils show different percentages of poly saturated, mono saturated and saturated fat. The most common plant used in commercial vegetable oil production is actually soybeans, with both Crisco and Wesson listing it as the top ingredient. The North American Olive Oil Association is committed to supplying North American consumers with quality products in a fair and competitive environment; to fostering a clear understanding of the different grades of olive oil; and to expounding the benefits of olive oil in nutrition, health, and the culinary arts. There are differences between them in the fat and calorie composition. Upon first glance, the two labels look rather similar. But what do you know about vegetable oil? No carrot oil or broccoli oil… Here’s a brief introduction to how each is made. They are neutralized with alkalis and the end result is a flavorless, bland taste. Antioxidants and the like are not included on a typical nutrition label. Sunflower oil is made from a seed. Is It Safe to Cook with Extra Virgin Olive Oil? In general, one tablespoon of olive oil contains the following, according to the USDA: In general, a tablespoon of vegetable oil contains the following, according to the USDA: As shown above, high quality olive oil is lower in potentially harmful, inflammatory saturated fat content and higher in the good fats -- heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, making it the healthiest option not just of the two, but of a lot of other popular oils. Olive oil is well-known to be a nutrient-packed superfood, healthy and delicious on salads, soups, and stir-fries. As Lisa Howard, author of The Big Book of Healthy Cooking Oils, told Time, “Vegetable oil is guaranteed to be highly processed. Canola oil is one example of vegetable oil, but so is olive oil. Vegetable oil is used for cooking with relatively higher temperature. Extra virgin olive oil is known for its unique, rich, peppery flavor, while processed olive oils are more neutral. The use of light oils is recommended when cooking at high temperatures. The study compared ten of the most commonly used oils and found that extra virgin olive oil is the most stable cooking oil. Vegetable oil has similar heart-friendly benefits as olive oil since the oil is a blend of heart-friendly oils, such as olive oil and canola. This causes a difference in the oils' smoke point (the temperature at which the oil starts to smoke at). Oil chosen for healthy cooking is the one with less fat and cholesterol. When it comes to fats, the levels of potentially harmful polyunsaturated ones in vegetable oil are enough to give you pause: a serving of vegetable oil contains 61% polyunsaturated fats, compared to olive oil's 9%. Olive oil and vegetable oil are both rich in poly- and monounsaturated fats, have their own benefits for health, their own taste. Olive oil is extracted from only pressed olives, with extra virgin olive oil being the least processed version. Olive oil, especially extra virgin olive oil, is least processed, which means extra virgin olive oil is extracted by manually crushing and processing olives, thus retaining most of the nutrients compared to refined olive oil that undergoes minimal processing . Vegetable oil contains mostly omega-6 polyunsaturated fats. Actually, to be precise, olives are fruits, not vegetables. When choosing an olive oil for a particular dish or preparation, consider three factors: Flavor: In general, a lighter, more neutral oil is best for cooking, and a richer oil is best for sauces and finishing, when you can taste the depth of flavor. Every a tablespoon of the oil has 120 calories. What’s more, it’s typically difficult to know what a vegetable oil is actually made of. It goes deeper than that. When it comes to taste, olive oil--especially extra virgin olive oil--has a much richer flavor profile than vegetable oil, and can enhance the flavor of everything you cook. What are the health benefits of olive oil? Manufacturers make vegetable oil from oilseeds, legumes, nuts, or the flesh of some fruits. It’s important to note that light, air and storage temperature can also affect the stability of olive oil. The term is a catch-all for any oil made from plant sources. What is it made of? Proponents of vegetable oil will point to its higher smoke point, 460°F compared with extra virgin olive oil which can be as high as 410°F, as an advantage. Olive Oil Compared to Vegetable Oil. And remember, whether you choose extra virgin or light tasting olive oil, olive oil can take the heat! Sorry, avocado oil, but olive oil and vegetable oil can actually take the heat, and your high smoke point services aren't needed for this round comparing different oils! A vegetable oil blend may include olive oil, but most of it is likely to be soybean or canola oil. ; Oleic Acid In Olive Oil:Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid, which is known to suppress oncogene in the body. Corn oil is made from a germ, because corn is a grain. About Olive Oil, Season's Eatings! While this process does create a neutral flavor, it also removes healthful antioxidants. Overall, both corn oil and olive oil have demonstrated some major health benefits. It’s far simpler to tell how olive oil is made, particularly virgin olive oils. The term "vegetable" may conjure up images of leafy greens, but you will not find celery or broccoli in a bottle of vegetable oil. Unlike other vegetable oils, you can consume olive oil that has been freshly pressed from the fruit with no further processing. Technically, this makes olive oil a fruit oil. If you’re deep-frying something – which should be done sparingly, of course – vegetable oil would be a fine choice. As Liz Weinandy, a registered dietitian at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Time, “Generally I tell people to use olive oil whenever you can instead of a corn or a soybean oil.” While she notes that they aren’t necessarily bad for you, “you can get so much more benefit from olive oil.”. Olive oil type contains saturated fat (14%) and mono saturated fat (73%) that makes it considered as the healthiest oil to use in cooking. Virgin olive oil, as compared to the extra virgin variety, has a slightly higher smoke point and is a good alternative for cooking. If you have only two oils sitting in your pantry, we’re willing to guess they’re an olive oil and a vegetable oil (though we also know there's a few of you with canola oil and coconut oil instead). As detailed above, vegetable oil is more highly processed than olive oil, particularly virgin and extra virgin olive oil. That being said, your kitchen should have both, olive oil and vegetable oil on hand so you can use the appropriate kind each time. In summary, use olive oil when you want its flavor in a dish and for moderate-heat cooking. [3]. Comparing to the olive oil, which is nutty and fruity, the vegetable oil tastes like, well, nothing. So, then which of the two is better? As they aren’t labeled as such, consumers aren’t able to make that choice on their own. There’s not a vegetable in the group. Linoleic Acid In Sunflower Oil:Sunflower oil contains almost 65% linoleic acid while olive oil contains just 10% of it.It also contains omega 3 fatty acids and omega 6 fatty acids, which enhance neurological functions and reduce inflammation. Vegetable oil is made from plant sources like seeds and nuts, while olive oil is made from the olive fruit. Free radicals are inflammatory compounds that can damage health by promoting oxidative stress. The smoke point of oil is the temperature at which it starts burning. Additionally, some of the oils used, such as palm oil, are less environmentally friendly. (As a general rule, all olive oil is healthy, but the more flavor, the more potential health benefits.) (Would you like to experience the vast array of flavors? [1] Lisa Howard, a culinary industry pro and author of The Big Book of Healthy Cooking Oils, describes the confusion this way: "It’s called ‘vegetable’ so that the manufacturers can substitute whatever commodity oil they want—soy, corn, cottonseed, canola—without having to print a new label" [2]. According to Time, most vegetables are a blend of canola, corn, safflower, soybean, palm, and sunflower oils. Posted in: As detailed above, vegetable oil is more highly processed than olive oil, particularly virgin and extra virgin olive oil. Let’s try to compare vegetable oil vs olive oil. What exactly is vegetable oil? Nonetheless, this does not stop anyone from calling it a “vegetable oil.” As Howard explains, processed oils often become rancid in the processing, as they’re treated past their natural heat tolerance. [4] There is some evidence that vegetable oil has been produced from various plants for at least 4,000-5,000 years. A vegetable oil is simply any cooking oil which is then extracted from one or more vegetables. This process also strips nutrients away and takes away flavor. Exactly which vegetables were used – and how they were grown – does not appear on the label in most instances. Using olive oil instead of other vegetable oils won’t affect the caloric content. And of course, soybean oil comes from a bean. Both have been promoted to the public as healthy alternatives to other oils on the market. [5] However a study published by ACTA Scientific Nutritional Health found that refined oils higher in polyunsaturated fats proved to be less stable under high temperatures and oxidized much more quickly than oils lower in PUFA. Corn oil Vs. Olive oil. Please check your inbox and click the link to confirm your subscription. Most vegetable oils on the market are a blend of canola, corn, soybean, safflower, palm and sunflower oils. As such, vegetable oil has a neutral, generic taste. And with the added flavor comes additional potential health benefits, derived from the unique olive antioxidants and polyphenols. Whenever possible, it’s best to choose olive oil over vegetable oil. Here are a few of the many benefits. No matter what’s in it, a vegetable oil is sure to be refined and heavily processed. While both olive and vegetable oils contain unsaturated fatty acids, olive oil contains higher amounts of monounsaturated fats. [4]. In order to create oil from these plants, the seeds must undergo extensive processing. The main difference between olive oil vs. vegetable oil is that olive oil is higher in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats like oleic acid, which is thought to reduce levels of inflammation. Why? Thanks to the relatively higher smoke points, both vegetable oil and olive oil can be used for many types of cooking, like sautéing, baking, roasting, and stir-frying. Vegetable oil, however, is made to have a neutral flavor. Convert Vegetable or Canola Oil to Olive Oil. Vegetable oil has a higher smoke point than olive oil, … Celebrate with Olive Oil, Olive Oil at the Center of Home Cooking Boom. An error occurred, please try again later. However, if due to your cooking or baking requirements, or individual taste preferences, you prefer to use a neutral flavored cooking oil, choose a bottle labeled "pure" or "light tasting" rather than extra virgin. [5] Keep olive oil in a room-temperature cupboard, and use within six months of opening. Olive oil also contains vitamin E, squalene, omega-3, chlorophyll, and carotenoids like lutein. Vegetable oil is more similar to extra light and regular olive oil, though even these are less processed than vegetable oil. While olive oil is extracted from olive fruits using a machine, the vegetable oil is extracted from plants and seeds. If your recipe calls for vegetable or canola oil, you should definitely substitute those oils with gourmet extra virgin olive oil. The best solution might be to follow a reduced-saturated-fat diet like the one used in the corn oil vs olive oil study, and to consume 2 tablespoons of each of these flavorful plant oils as part of … Researchers agree. In addition, all vegetable oils, including olive oil, are pure fat and contain about 120 calories per tablespoon. When we choose cooking oil we should consider its health benefits and its flavor. 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