Olive Oil vs. Vegetable Oil

Olive oil has gotten a well-deserved reputation for being healthy. It's a kitchen staple, but it's not the only oil worth using in your cooking. In this post, we'll cover the differences between olive oil and vegetable oil, including when you should use one rather than the other.

Olive Oil vs. Vegetable Oil: Smoke Point

Extra virgin olive oil has a relatively low smoke point of 320°F. It's even lower than butter, which has a smoke point of 350°F.

Vegetable oil has a higher smoke point; it differs depending on the plant(s) used. Canola oil has a smoke point of 400°F. Sunflower and safflower oils have a smoke point of 450°F.

Smoke point is important because when you heat oil above its smoke point, it can catch fire. It may also impart a bitter taste to whatever you're cooking in it. There are also concerns about the chemical effects of raising the temperature of oil above its smoke point.

Olive oil is great for pan sautéing vegetables at a burner temperature of medium or lower. In fact, some vegetable oils like sunflower and safflower are not recommended for lower temperatures. But if you want to pan sear meat or oven roast vegetables, go with vegetable oil. Likewise, olive oil cannot be used for deep-frying.

Olive Oil vs. Vegetable Oil: Taste

Olive oil has a distinctive taste that's perfect in salad dressings, drizzling over dishes, and for dipping bread. But that distinctive taste doesn't always complement baked goods. Where it comes to cakes and quick breads, vegetable oil can be a better choice due to its neutral flavor. That said, there are plenty of baking recipes that call for olive oil because of its flavor. In those cases, go ahead and use olive oil.

Olive Oil vs. Vegetable Oil: Cost

One final reason to use olive oil judiciously: it's more expensive than vegetable oil. If you don't want the flavor of olive oil to come through in your dish, we recommend saving a little money and using vegetable oil instead.

When you do want that olive oil flavor, go for quality. For the sake of comparison, think about the quality of vodka you'd use to make a martini versus a screwdriver.

Both olive oil and vegetable oil have their place in a well-stocked kitchen. Now you know exactly when to use each one!