Difference Between Canola Oil and Vegetable Oil
By Claire Miles - March 20, 2022

When you go to the grocery store, how do you pick which oil to buy? Do you know the difference between canola and vegetable oil? Do you know which one is better for high temperatures while cooking and which one has a higher ratio of monounsaturated fat to saturated fat? Well, then you have a lot to learn. These are the main differences between canola and vegetable oil.

Table Summary

Canola OilVegetable Oil
Processed from canola seedsProcessed oil derived from plant sources
Type of vegetable oilCan be made of canola, soybean, corn, sunflower or a blend of several vegetable oils
High smoking pointHigh smoking point
Young man in supermarket comparing bottles of oil

Getty Images / DigitalVision / Noel Hendrickson

Definitions

Canola oil is a type of vegetable oil. It is processed from canola seeds, resulting in a low-fat oil that is also low in erucic acid. Canola oil is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, has a neutral flavor and a high smoking point – which means it can be used to cook in high temperatures before it starts to smoke.

Vegetable oil refers to any processed oil derived from plant sources that remains liquid at room temperature. If you buy a bottle of vegetable oil, you could be getting canola oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, or even a blend of several types of vegetable oils. Vegetable oil has a high smoking point, making it a good option for numerous cooking methods including deep-frying, baking, sautéing, and grilling.

Canola Oil VS Vegetable Oil

While canola oil is necessarily vegetable oil, vegetable oil isn’t always canola oil. Vegetable oil is any processed oil derived from plant sources that will stay liquid at room temperature. This includes corn oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, and even canola oil. Canola oil, on the other hand, is specifically made of canola seeds. The main difference between canola oil and other types of vegetable oil is that canola oil generally has less saturated fats than most vegetable oils.