There is one ingredient you can rarely live without when you’re whipping up delicacies.
Whether pre-cooking to marinade ingredients, during to enhance the non-stick of pots and pans, or post to drizzle over, oil needs to be in easy reach at all stages of the process.
A chef tool belt staple, it is made by extracting oil from different plants, fruits, nuts and seeds. So whether you’re baking, roasting, grilling or frying, or mixing up sauces and marinades and topping bread, salads and vegetables, pick the right oil and you’ll take charge of the kitchen.
Just make sure you check out the smoke point for each oil – the temperature at which it starts to burn – to ensure you choose the best option to your dish. Also bare in mind that quality ingredients lead to quality meals so it’s worth splashing out on a pure, refined oil to enhance your dining experience.
What are the different types of cooking oils?
Olive Oil: The most common type of cooking oil. Olive oil is produced by pressing down fresh whole olives and retaining their natural oils. It is normally made in the Mediterranean, for example in Italy, Spain and Greece thanks to their ideal growing conditions, and therefore is a key component to the Mediterranean diet. Extra virgin and virgin types are both cold-pressed and low in acidity, providing natural oils to cook with.
Sunflower Oil: An alternative to olive oil, sunflower oil is created from pressed sunflower seeds. It has a high smoke point, making it a great all-rounder. It has a subtle flavour, ensuring it won’t overpower your dishes.
Rapeseed Oil: Rapeseed oil is a type of vegetable oil, extracted from the small seeds of the rapeseed plant. It is lighter than other oils, lower in saturated fat and contains omega three, six and nine – all helping to lower cholesterol and maintain cardiovascular health.
Coconut Oil: Deriving from the meat of the coconut fruit, coconut oil comes in a thicker white solid format and melts into liquid form at approximately 25°C. It has a fairly high saturated fat content and a coconut aroma.
Avocado Oil: Avocado oil is extracted from the avocado fruit. It is high in monounsaturated ‘good’ fat – which can help reduce bad cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease – and has a high smoke point. It has a slightly nutty flavour.
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Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Creating fine authentic Italian flavours since 1867, Filippo Berio’s olive oil is deliciously fresh, fragrant and perfect for everyday use. Drizzle in your pans, marinade with your ingredients and create lovely dishes with subtle notes of olive flavouring. The litre jar will provide up to 67 servings and the oil can be heated up to 160-170°C. Suitable for vegans and veggies.
Buy now £6.00, Amazon
Alziari Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Pop this vibrant bottle on your kitchen counter and mix into your cooking for soft and fruity flavouring, straight from the French olive groves.
Its natural buttery flavour with hints of almond will transform your dishes with a light taste, and is great drizzled over salads, pasta and bread for the ultimate pièce de resistance.
Buy now £18.00, Waitrose
Biona Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Put the joy back into your cooking with Biona’s premium olive oil that is made from the finest organic olives. Cold-pressed within three days of picking and with no added sugars, it makes a great option for adding a fruity aroma while frying, grilling, baking and roasting, or when used for dipping or drizzling over dishes.
Buy now £12.55, Planet Organic
Odysea Organic Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Ramp up your cooking with Odysea’s well-balanced olive oil that is rich in flavour from organically-grown Korneili olives and has subtle aromas of almond and pear.
Korneili olives are grown in the Chania region of northern Crete, and harvested by hand to preserve their delicate taste. Use in sauces, marinades and dressings to recreate the classic Mediterranean diet.
Buy now £6.18, Amazon
Mr Organic Sunflower Oil
Use this sunflower oil in your Instagram-worthy dishes to add flavour and depth to your meals. Gently cold-pressed from sunflower seeds using organic farming methods, the oil is pure and rich in omega six and nine. Add a splash when cooking or drizzle over salads and veggies for a light and refreshing finishing touch.
Buy now £5.99, Amazon
Clearspring Organic Sunflower Oil
Unrefined and cold-pressed, this sunflower oil will add a lovely light flavour to your cooking, without any nasties. Made from 100 per cent European sunflower seeds and rich in vitamin E, the high-quality ingredients will transform dishes and sauces into flavoursome masterpieces with a touch of nuttiness.
Buy now £2.68, Ocado
Farrington’s Mellow Yellow Rapeseed Oil
Stock up on this rapeseed oil and give your ever-growing repetoire of dishes a nutty taste. Grown on Farrington’s family farm, the seeds are then cold-pressed to produce a pure oil that is rich in omega three and super versatile for all types of cooking – whether roasting, baking, stir-frying or whipping up a homemade dressing. Prepare to delight your dinner party guests.
Buy now £3.90, Waitrose
Biona Rapeseed Oil
Enhance your homemade meals with natural goodness from Biona’s rapeseed oil which is brimming with vitamin E. Ethically and sustainably sourced, the oil has been cold-pressed to maintain its golden colour and light nutty flavour. It is ideal for enhancing WFH salad lunches as well as forming the basis of marinades and sauces.
Buy now £6.00, Planet Organic
Groovy Food Virgin Coconut Oil
Switch out your regular oil for this option from Groovy Food, and you’ll bring a subtle coconut aroma to your cooking. Made from the flesh of handpicked coconuts and cold-pressed immediately to preserve the flavour, the natural oil will bring a light fruity touch, without overpowering other ingredients. It comes in a solid texture and will melt down to a liquid when heated.
Buy now £4.40, Waitrose
Coconut Merchant Organic Coconut Oil
This oil has been extracted from ethically-sourced organic coconuts to produce a deliciously natural and fragrant ingredient for all your cooking needs. Melting at temperatures above 23°C, bake, roast and fry with Coconut Merchant’s multi-functional oil, and for every litre sold, £2 goes directly to the farmers.
Buy now £10.90, Amazon
Clearspring Avocado Oil
Get creative with your cooking by using avocado oil as your base. This addition will bring a nutty flavour that is smooth in texture and rich in vitamin E, omega three and omega six. Extracted from plump and creamy avocadoes grown in Chile, the oil is cold-pressed to conserve its flavour and nutrients and makes a great kitchen companion.
Buy now £10.80, Planet Organic
Mokhado Cold-Pressed Extra Virgin Avocado Oil
Drizzle, dip, fry or roast – Mokhado’s avocado oil is super versatile in the kitchen. Create one-pot wonders, fabulous baked dishes, and creamy sauces and dressings using the oil and make the most of the smooth, refined, and slightly nutty taste.
With a high smoke point and packed with vitamin E benefits (a natural antioxidant), grab a jar for your kitchen cupboard and you’ll guarantee top-quality cooking.
Buy now £6.64, Amazon
