How Is Canola Oil Different From Vegetable Oil?

Distinguishing between canola oil and vegetable oil is challenging, as the oils share a yellow color and similar price. However, there is a notable difference between the two.

Canola plants were developed a few decades ago by a group of plant breeders, who crossbred several rapeseed varieties to reduce the erucic acid content to less than 2%.

The term vegetable oil refers to all plant-based oils, whether it's soybean, sunflower, avocado, or a mix containing a little bit of everything. Most are based on soybean oil.

Both canola oil and vegetable oil are neutral cooking oils that have a smoke point of around 450 degrees Fahrenheit, making them great for frying and high heat cooking.

The main difference between the two is their fat content. A tablespoon of vegetable oil adds almost 2 grams of saturated fat, nearly twice as much as a tablespoon of canola oil.