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Oil vs Oil · Soybean Oil vs Olive Oil

Soybean Oil vs Olive Oil

Olive Oil wins on seed oil PUFA: about 12% of its fat versus roughly 60% for Soybean Oil, around 5x less per spoonful.

Per tablespoon that is an estimated 1.6g of PUFA against 8.2g. The shares are the ones our estimates use (how we estimate).

Soybean Oil Olive Oil
PUFA share of fat~60%~12%
Est. PUFA per tablespoon~8.2g~1.6g
Typeseed oilfruit oil
Seed oil?yesno

Quick answers

Is soybean oil a seed oil? Yes.

Is olive oil a seed oil? No.

Soybean Oil

The default American restaurant oil at roughly 60% PUFA, also labeled soya oil. Cheapest per gallon and what the big distributors stock by default.

The distributor standard; assume it when nothing is disclosed. See chains using soybean oil.

Olive Oil

Pressed from olives (a fruit, not a seed), about 12% PUFA and mostly the stable monounsaturated fat that high-oleic seed oils try to imitate.

Named by some Italian and Mediterranean kitchens for finishing. See chains cooking in butter or olive oil.

Restaurants that cook with soybean oil

452 restaurant chains we track name soybean oil in their cooking oil information.

See the full list

Restaurants that cook with olive oil

58 restaurant chains we track name olive oil in their cooking oil information.

See the full list

Frequently asked

Which has less PUFA, soybean oil or olive oil?

Olive Oil carries less polyunsaturated fat: an estimated 12% of its fat versus about 60% for soybean oil, by the shares our estimates use.

How much PUFA is in a tablespoon of soybean oil?

Roughly 8.2g of PUFA per tablespoon, since a tablespoon of oil carries about 14g of fat and soybean oil runs about 60% PUFA.

Which is more stable for frying, soybean oil or olive oil?

Olive Oil is more stable: about 12% of its fat is polyunsaturated, against about 60% for soybean oil, and polyunsaturated fat is the part that breaks down fastest under heat.

Is soybean oil or olive oil a seed oil?

Soybean Oil is a seed oil. Olive Oil is not a seed oil.

More matchups

Or work out any amount with the PUFA calculator.

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