Canola oil is a neutral-tasting vegetable oil made from specially bred rapeseed and is widely used for sauteing, roasting, frying, and baking. It is sold as regular liquid oil, spray oil, and blended oils. It is also used in some processed foods and complete pet diets as a fat source, often listed as canola or rapeseed oil.
In home cooking, canola oil appears in dressings, marinades, baked goods, pan-fried foods, and mayonnaise-style sauces. Refined versions have a higher smoke point and lighter flavor than cold-pressed oils. Spray oils are easy to overapply because thin coatings are hard to measure by eye.
Oil is calorie-dense, so extra pours can add a lot of energy quickly. Greasy drippings, pans, and used paper towels are common exposure points in kitchens. Rancid oil can smell stale or paint-like and should be discarded. If used for pets, keep amounts small and avoid adding extra fat on top of a complete diet.
