Is vegetable oil a seed oil?
Yes. Vegetable oil is a seed oil. A label name, not a plant. Almost always soybean, canola, or a blend of both.
Quick facts
A label term, not a plant: in the US "vegetable oil" is usually soybean oil or a soybean blend, around 58% PUFA.
| Seed oil? | Yes |
| Type | seed oil blend |
| PUFA share | About 58% of its fat |
| PUFA per tablespoon | About 7.9 g |
| On a label | A label term, not a plant. In the US it is almost always soybean oil, canola oil, or a blend of the two. There are no vegetables in it. |
Figures are the shares our estimates use (how we estimate).
Where you'll find it eating out
452 restaurant chains we track name soybean oil in their cooking oil information.
Restaurants that do not name their oil almost always fry in a soybean blend sold as vegetable oil.
Compared head to head
Lower PUFA fats to use instead
- Coconut oil, about 2% PUFA
- Beef tallow, about 5% PUFA
- Butter, about 5% PUFA
- Olive oil, about 12% PUFA
- Avocado oil, about 16% PUFA
More answers
Yes, it is a seed oil
Borderline
No, it is not a seed oil
Frequently asked
Is vegetable oil a seed oil?
Yes. Vegetable oil is a seed oil. A label name, not a plant. Almost always soybean, canola, or a blend of both.
How much polyunsaturated fat is in vegetable oil?
About 58% of the fat in vegetable oil is polyunsaturated, roughly 7.9 g in a tablespoon.
What does vegetable oil mean on an ingredient label?
A label term, not a plant. In the US it is almost always soybean oil, canola oil, or a blend of the two. There are no vegetables in it.
Do restaurants cook with vegetable oil?
452 restaurant chains we track name soybean oil in their cooking oil information. Restaurants that do not name their oil almost always fry in a soybean blend sold as vegetable oil.