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Best oils for cooking: the complete guide

Whether you’re frying an egg or searing a steak, we walk you through the best cooking oils to use whatever you’re making. Does smoke point matter? Is it better to cook with olive oil or sunflower oil? What even is walnut oil? We answer your questions.

Food Editor

Malou Herkes
guide to cooking oils

Best cooking oils: what to use when

When cooking a stir-fry, dressing a salad or making roast potatoes, most of us use some form of cooking oil in the process. But with so many different types of oils available, from olive to walnut, avocado to sunflower, how do we know what to use when? The temperature you're cooking at and the flavour you want to achieve are two places to start.

Types of cooking oils

Get inspired with M&S Recipes

Heading to the kitchen? Cook your next dinner with M&S Recipes, with hundreds of recipes to choose from. From midweek one pan dinners to family-friendly dishes to healthy salads, soups and sides, there’s plenty to inspire your weekly meals.

Published 2.20.2025