Comparing cooking oils at Australian supermarkets: value, use and when to switch

Cooking oil is a pantry staple worth comparing carefully

Oil is used in almost every household every day, making it a consistent weekly expense. The range of options at Australian supermarkets — from cheap vegetable oil to premium extra virgin olive oil — spans a wide price range, and the right choice depends on how you are cooking and what you are spending overall.

This guide covers price comparison and practical use. For dietary questions about specific oils, speak with a health professional.

The main oil types and their typical uses

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Best used for dressings, dipping, low-to-medium heat cooking and finishing dishes. It has a lower smoke point than refined oils, meaning it breaks down at high temperatures. Premium Australian or imported EVOO is expensive per litre; store-brand EVOO is significantly cheaper and adequate for most cooking uses.

Light or pure olive oil. Refined olive oil with a higher smoke point than EVOO, suitable for pan frying and roasting. Cheaper per litre than EVOO and more versatile for high-heat cooking.

Vegetable oil and canola oil. Neutral flavour, high smoke point, and the cheapest cooking oils per litre at Australian supermarkets. Well suited to frying, baking and any dish where you do not want the oil to add flavour. Store-brand versions are comparable to name brands for all practical cooking purposes.

Rice bran oil. A step up in price from canola, with a high smoke point and neutral flavour. Popular for stir-frying and deep frying.

Coconut oil. Solid at room temperature, adds a coconut flavour to food, and is significantly more expensive per litre than other cooking oils. For most cooking purposes, cheaper neutral oils perform equally well.

Spray oils. Convenient for coating pans with a thin layer. Expensive per millilitre compared with bottled oil applied with a brush or measured spoon. For regular cooking, a small oil mister filled from a bulk bottle is more cost-effective.

Comparing price per litre

The unit price per litre is the right comparison basis for cooking oils, since bottles range from 250 ml to 4 litres. A 4-litre bulk canola oil has a much lower per-litre cost than a 500 ml bottle — if you have the storage space and will use it within a reasonable time.

For EVOO specifically, the price gap between store-brand and premium branded is large and worth evaluating — store-brand EVOO from Australian or Mediterranean sources is adequate for the majority of cooking uses.

When to buy on special and stock up

Cooking oils have long shelf lives (typically twelve to twenty-four months) and stock up well when on promotion. Both olive oil and vegetable oil appear on half-price specials regularly at Woolworths and Coles. Buying an extra bottle during a promotion at the price per litre you are comfortable with is a straightforward recurring saving.

Comparing oil prices across chains

Oils in consistent bottle sizes are easy to compare across retailers. Run a search on TrolleyChecker for the specific type and size you use before a restock, and check whether your usual chain is competitive this week.