Knowing the source of cooking fats and oils is as important as knowing how they are made.
Saturated fats are mostly found in animal products such as butter, cheese, whole milk, ice cream, lard and fatty meats. They are also found in some vegetable products, such as coconut, palm and palm kernel oil.
Saturated fats are solid at room temperature. They can raise your cholesterol.
Unsaturated fats come from both animal and plant products. There are two types:
Trans fats are made when vegetable oils are processed (or hydrogenated) into shortening and stick margarine. Sources of trans fats include snack foods, baked goods and fried foods made with "partially hydrogenated vegetable oil" or "vegetable shortening."
Try to limit foods made with these ingredients. Trans fats can raise your cholesterol.
While some fats are healthier than others, limit added fats and oils to three to six teaspoons each day. Include fats used in cooking, baking, salads, and spreads on bread.
There are so many cooking fats and oils on the market—choosing which one to use can be difficult! Which ones are most healthful for you when used in moderation?
The following chart lists the amount of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in one tablespoon of various fats and oils. In general, the lower the saturated fat and the higher the monounsaturated fat content, the more healthful the fat or oil will be.
Fat or oil | Fat grams | Monounsaturated fat grams | Saturated fat grams | Polyunsaturated fat grams |
---|---|---|---|---|
Almond oil | 14 grams | 10 grams | 1 grams | 3 grams |
Olive oil | 14 grams | 10 grams | 2 grams | 2 grams |
Avocado oil | 14 grams | 10 grams | 2 grams | 2 grams |
Canola oil | 14 grams | 8 grams | 1 grams | 4 grams |
Peanut oil | 14 grams | 7 grams | 2 grams | 5 grams |
Lard (pork fat) | 13 grams | 6 grams | 5 grams | 2 grams |
Chicken fat | 13 grams | 6 grams | 4 grams | 3 grams |
Sesame oil | 14 grams | 6 grams | 2 grams | 6 grams |
Beef tallow | 13 grams | 5 grams | 7 grams | 1 grams |
Palm oil | 14 grams | 5 grams | 7 grams | 2 grams |
Cocoa butter | 14 grams | 5 grams | 8 grams | 1 grams |
Corn oil | 14 grams | 4 grams | 2 grams | 8 grams |
Butter | 13 grams | 4 grams | 8 grams | 1 grams |
Soybean oil | 14 grams | 4 grams | 2 grams | 8 grams |
Sunflower oil | 14 grams | 3 grams | 2 grams | 9 grams |
Flaxseed oil | 14 grams | 3 grams | 1 grams | 10 grams |
Cottonseed oil | 14 grams | 3 grams | 4 grams | 7 grams |
Walnut oil | 14 grams | 3 grams | 2 grams | 9 grams |
Grapeseed oil | 14 grams | 2 grams | 2 grams | 10 grams |
Safflower oil | 14 grams | 2 grams | 1 grams | 11 grams |
Palm kernel oil | 14 grams | 2 grams | 12 grams | 0 grams |
Coconut oil | 14 grams | 1 grams | 12 grams | 1 grams |
Sources: USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (Release 14), the National Sunflower Association and the Flax Council of Canada. Note: Numbers were rounded.
The more liquid the margarine is, the less hydrogenated it is with less trans fatty acids.
Margarine is a better choice than butter.
Soft margarines are better than hard ones. Buy trans fat-free margarines if possible.