What Is The Difference Between Olive Oil And Vegetable Oil? 6 Key Differences

by Jane Stowe March 7, 2021

What is the difference between olive oil and vegetable oil? Are you wondering why some recipes would particularly request olive oils and others for vegetable oil?

If so, here is a brief overview of the difference between the two oils above. Some would say that the two oils are just the same. However, they do differ in many ways.

Hopefully, this will help you distinguish and choose one for cooking the meal of the day.

6 Key Differences Between Olive and Vegetable Oils

So, what is the difference between olive oil and vegetable oil?

Let us look at the list of comparisons below:

Difference #1. Uses

Olive oil serves several purposes, particularly in cooking. It has some intrinsic benefits that make it suitable for your skin.

Besides that, olive oil is also used in medication, such as preparing other medicines or as a laxative.

It is even utilized as a healing symbol by some religions such as Judaism and Christianity.

On the other hand, people can use vegetable oil for industrial, cosmetics, and medicinal purposes.

It can also be used as fuel, and of course for cooking.

Difference #2. Source and producers

Olive oil is produced by pressing olives that is one of the ancient crops of the Mediterranean regions.

Prominent olive oil producers are Near East, North Africa, and other countries from Southern Europe.

Olive oil production is widely popularized in Europe. The most common countries that mostly produce it include Greece, Portugal, Italy, and Spain.

Vegetable oil sources vary depending on the crop or the type of soil. Some of the most common sources include nuts and seeds of fruits.

Difference #3. Types

There are three types of olive oil: pure, virgin, and extra virgin olive oil. Among the three, the latter is the priciest one. please read here what does virgin olive oil mean.

Extra virgin olive oil is produced during the first cold pressing process. Its acidity level is relatively lower than the two other types at about 1% only.

The colour, taste, and aroma of the extra virgin are balanced correctly. That is why people commonly used it as a dressing. But some would also serve it with bread.

Its aroma and taste are particularly distinctive to the region where it is produced.

Just like extra virgin olive oil, virgin also comes from the first press of olives. However, its acidity level is a bit higher than an extra virgin at about 3.3%.

Consequently, pure olive oil is the name used for the mixture of refined and virgin olive oil.

Given that this type is blended, you can purchase it at a relatively lower price than the other two types.

It is often the one that is used in cooking, especially at high temperatures.

Lite and refined olive oil like this are made with processes including chemicals. But despite that, it is equally healthy.

When we talk about vegetable oils, the most common ones would include argan oil, sesame oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, and corn oil.

Some others are palm oil, canola oil, soybean oil, rice bran oil, grape seed oil, pumpkin seed oil, and sunflower oil.

Vegetable oil can further be categorized into oils from seeds such as sunflower seed oil, nut oils, including hazelnut oil and cashew oil, and other sources.

Difference #4. Properties

The temperature at which the oil begins to burn is called the smoke point. High-temperature cooking demands the use of light oils only.

If you compare the smoke point of the two, olive oil has a smoke point ranging from 215 up to 242 degrees Fahrenheit, which is lower than vegetable oil. Learn here how to make vegetable olive oil bake.

Among the different types of olive oils, the extra virgin has the lowest smoke point.

Vegetable oil's smoke points also vary. Canola oil has 242 degrees Fahrenheit smoke point, and safflower oil has a smoke point of 265 degrees Fahrenheit.

As you can see, the smoke point of vegetable oil is higher than olive oil; that is why it is the one usually used for frying and cooking.

Difference #5. Health benefits

Since olive oil is extracted through a non-chemical method, it contains more minerals and vitamins.

Much more, it decreases the risk of heart illnesses since it contains high monosaturated fat acids like oleic acid.

Such fatty acids aid in raising HDL levels and lowering LDL levels; besides that, it also increases the elasticity of arterial walls.

Olive oils also contain an antioxidant called polyphenols, which help in lowering the blood's cholesterol level.

On the flip side, vegetable oils have lower saturated fat content. That is why its types like canola oil are more affordable as compare to olive oil.

Coconut and sesame seed oils are common used for unique dishes to add rich flavour.

Difference #6. Storage

Any oil is ideally stored in a cool, dry place. It would be best if you did not leave it in areas where sunlight can reach it. Learn more here how to dry pasta.

In storing oils, you must know if for how long is the particular type of oil is supposed to last too.

Some oils should not be used anymore six months after it has been opened. But other types of oils such as olive oil can last for up to three years.

But this depends on the types of olive oil, some would only last for nine months, but others can be used within years.

So, you must store sesame oil and other unrefined oils in cold storage. But saturated oils such as palm and coconut oil would fine at room temperature.