Most of us have a bottle of cooking oil on the shelf, but have you ever thought about what is cooking oil made of and why some types work better than others? That usually leads to another question people ask: what are the best cooking oils to use? Oils are usually pressed from plants or seeds and made up of different fats. Those fats affect flavour and how well the oil handles heat.
Understanding this makes it easier to choose oils that are better for your health and the environment. And once those oils have been used, Environmental Oils helps close the loop by supporting responsible cooking oil recycling.
So, What is Cooking Oil Made Of?
Cooking oil may look simple in the bottle, but it’s made up of different fats that give it unique qualities in the kitchen. These fats influence flavour, texture and how the oil behaves under heat.
The three main types are:
- Saturated fats – Usually solid at room temperature and more stable for frying.
- Monounsaturated fats – Liquid at room temperature, stable for cooking, and linked to better health outcomes.
- Polyunsaturated fats – Lighter oils that are more sensitive to heat but valued for their nutritional qualities.
These fats come from several types of cooking oil, including:
- Sunflower oil – A lighter oil often used for frying and baking.
- Canola oil – Mild in flavour with a high smoke point, suited to general cooking.
- Olive oil – Rich in monounsaturated fats, widely used for both cooking and dressings.
- Palm oil – Common in large-scale food production for its stability and texture.
The way oil is processed also changes its qualities. Refined oils are treated to last longer and cope with high-heat cooking. Cold-pressed oils are less processed, which keeps more of their natural flavour and nutrients intact, though they’re usually better for lower-heat cooking or dressings.
Knowing how oils are made and what goes into them helps with healthier and more sustainable choices. It also makes it easier to decide what are the best cooking oils for different uses, such as frying or baking. Once the oil has done its job, Environmental Oils helps keep it out of landfills by collecting used cooking oil and recycling it responsibly.
What Are the Best Cooking Oils?
Choosing the right oil depends on how it will be used, its health profile, and its impact on the environment. So, what are the best cooking oils for different purposes?
Healthier choices
These are cooking oils rich in unsaturated fats, like olive and canola, which are linked with better heart health compared to those higher in saturated fats. They work well for everyday cooking while supporting a balanced diet.
Cooking with high heat
Sunflower and canola oils are well-suited to frying and roasting because they have higher smoke points. This means they stay stable at higher temperatures without breaking down as quickly.
Adding flavour
Olive oil is usually used to finish a dish or dress a salad because it brings a distinct, rich taste. Neutral oils, on the other hand, let the other ingredients shine without changing the flavour.
Thinking sustainably
Palm oil is highly efficient to produce, but it also contributes to deforestation and environmental pressure. Opting for sustainable sources and making use of oil recycling helps lower the impact.
At the end of the day, picking the best cooking oil is about how you cook and the flavour you’re chasing, while also considering the footprint it leaves behind. Once you understand what is cooking oil made of, it’s easier to match the right one to the job and make choices that are better for you and the planet.
How Cooking Oil Affects More Than Just Your Cooking
Once the oil has done its job in the kitchen, what happens next matters just as much. Many people focus on what is cooking oil made of, but the real challenge starts after it’s been used. Pouring it down the sink might seem harmless, but it can cause big problems in your home and in the environment.
When oil is disposed of the wrong way, it can:
- Block pipes and damage household plumbing
- Put extra strain on wastewater ecosystems
- Pollute rivers and oceans, harming aquatic life
- Create foul odours and attract pests when dumped in bins
- Waste a resource that could otherwise be recycled into biofuels or other products
That’s why it’s important to know how to dispose of oil at home without harming pipes or waterways. Proper disposal helps prevent these issues and cuts down on the environmental load that used oil can carry. Knowing what to do with used cooking oil makes it easier to manage it responsibly and recycle it into something useful instead of creating waste.
How Environmental Oils Turns Waste Oil into a Resource
Once oil has been used, it still holds value. Environmental Oils collects and recycles used cooking oil, giving it a second life as biodiesel and other sustainable products. Understanding what is cooking oil made of is one thing, but seeing how it can be repurposed shows the bigger picture of sustainability. By handling disposal the right way, we cut pollution and reduce waste while creating something useful in return.
Here’s how Environmental Oils makes that happen:
- Free collection service – We provide a free collection service for homes and businesses, covering household cooking oil to large-scale canola oil disposal. Every litre collected is diverted from drains and waterways and put to better use.
- Recycling into biodiesel – Once collected, waste oil is processed and repurposed into biodiesel and other sustainable products. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels and supports cleaner energy alternatives.
- Protecting the environment – Used cooking oil that’s dumped can cause plumbing issues, clog drains, and damage ecosystems. Recycling prevents these problems and helps protect waterways and aquatic life.
- Supporting a circular economy – By recycling used cooking oil, Environmental Oils keeps resources in use for longer. Instead of becoming waste, oil is turned back into something useful that benefits communities and industries alike.
Do Your Part with Smarter Oil Disposal
Cooking oils are made up of different fats, and choosing what are the best cooking oils often comes down to health and how they hold up in the kitchen. Of course, sustainability plays a role too. After cooking, used oils need to be handled properly to avoid damage to plumbing and to protect waterways.
Environmental Oils makes recycling simple and worthwhile. Instead of discarding used cooking oil, you can use our free collection service and be confident it will be repurposed into sustainable products. Take this small step and help reduce waste, protect waterways and support a cleaner future.
