Is Olive or Vegetable Oil Healthier and Tastier to Cook With? The Answer May Surprise You

When it comes to cooking, many of us typically use olive oil or another type of vegetable oil. Maybe you have a preference for one over the other, or maybe you mix things up from time to time. But is there a huge difference between the two when it comes to health benefits or taste — and is one better than the other?

Is olive oil or vegetable oil healthier?

There’s quite a lot of debate around the best and worst oils out there, but olive oil has historically reigned supreme. This is due to its plethora of healthy fats that can help lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and protect against heart disease, amongst many other benefits. While olive oil still has the most health benefits since it’s often free of any additional refinement techniques, there are plenty of other vegetable-based oils that have their own health advantages when used in moderation. For example, sunflower oil may actually be more effective at decreasing cholesterol than olive oil. Plus, oils from coconuts and avocados, though they might not technically be vegetables, are wonderful additions to your diet that may aid in heart health and fat loss.

While all of these oils can give you a health boost, it’s important to regulate how much you consume, as too much oil in general can outweigh some of the benefits and even contribute to the health problems you’re trying to prevent. That means not drowning your food in oil or using an excessive amount in your daily cooking.

Which one tastes better?

In terms of taste, a better route than using a single oil may be to create a mixture of both olive oil and another vegetable oil. According to cook and recipe creator Amiel Stanek, mixing up your own concoctions that contain different parts of both oils can provide a more subtle flavor to foods so the intense fruitiness of olive oil doesn’t overpower your dishes. He says that a combo of one part olive oil and one part vegetable oil is great for roasted vegetables, poached fish, caramelized onions, or fried eggs. There’s also an added bonus when you blend your oils together: Olive oil tends to be more expensive than vegetable oil, so in using less, you could save on that grocery bill over time.

And once you get the hang of the flavoring you like, you can mess around with how much of each oil you mix together. Talk about a super easy way to seem fancy in the kitchen!