Should You Use Rapeseed Oil? Everything You Need to Know

The rapeseed plant usually blooms in the summer and is famous for its golden-yellow flowers.

Belonging to the cabbage family, it’s closely related to turnip and mustard.

Its oil — known both as rapeseed and canola oil — is widely used for cooking, baking, and food processing.

This article reviews the nutritional content, benefits, and potential downsides of rapeseed oil.

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Canada is the largest producer of rapeseed oil, with Germany coming in a close second. In fact, the name “canola” comes from a pairing of the words “Canada” and “oil” (1).

Originally, culinary rapeseed oil was developed via traditional crossbreeding. However, most varieties available in the United States are genetically modified (GM) to be pest-resistant. Thus, these products are classified as genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Rapeseed oil vs. canola oil

It’s important to distinguish between the two main types of rapeseed oil: industrial and culinary. The culinary version is also known as canola (1).

Industrial rapeseed oil is used in the automotive and chemical industries, while the culinary version is used for cooking. The two varieties are notably different due to their genetic makeup and content of erucic acid, which is harmful to your health in high amounts (1).

In fact, to be called canola oil, it must contain an erucic acid level of 2% or less and meet internationally regulated standards. Otherwise, it will be labeled as “rapeseed oil.” However, most varieties in grocery stores are canola oil (1).

Summary

Rapeseed oil is used for industrial and culinary purposes. To be called canola oil, it must have a lower erucic acid content and meet international standards. It was named canola oil after Canada, its largest producer.

Rapeseed oil is pure oil, so it contains no protein or carbohydrates. However, it’s a good source of healthy fats and fat-soluble vitamins.

One tablespoon (15 ml) of canola oil provides (2):

• Calories: 124
• Total fat: 14 grams
• Saturated fat: 1 gram
• Monounsaturated fat: 9 grams
• Polyunsaturated fat: 4 grams
• Vitamin E: 16% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Vitamin K: 8% of the DV

It’s a great source of vitamin E, a potent antioxidant that supports skin and eye health (3, 4).

Furthermore, it’s naturally low in saturated fat and high in unsaturated fat, which is linked to better heart health (1, 5).

In particular, it’s a good source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fat. ALA is an essential fat that’s converted into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the body. A diet high in these fats is linked to heart health benefits (6).

Rapeseed oil is also high in omega-6 fats, which support overall health when consumed in moderate amounts. However, most people get too much omega-6 fat in their diet, which can lead to inflammation (7).

Fortunately, rapeseed oil has an omega-3 to omega-6 ratio of 1:2, which is considered a healthy balance of the two fats. Most experts agree that a 1:4 ratio or less is ideal for good health, making rapeseed oil a good option (7).

Research on the effects of this oil on blood cholesterol is mixed. However, a recent analysis of studies found that regularly consuming canola oil led to lower levels of LDL (bad) and total cholesterol, which can help prevent heart disease (8).

Summary

Rapeseed oil is high in unsaturated fats and vitamins E and K. It contains a beneficial ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats, which can positively influence heart health.

Although there is some controversy surrounding rapeseed oil, its use is associated with many benefits.

High-heat cooking temperature

Rapeseed oil can be cooked to high temperatures because of its high smoke point, meaning it won’t burn until around 400ºF (204ºC), at which point it will start to smoke. At this temperature, fat molecules begin to break down and create harmful compounds (9).

Smoke point is an important factor to consider when you’re choosing a healthy cooking oil. One factor that determines this is how refined an oil is. The more refined, the higher the smoke point.

Since rapeseed oil is highly refined, meaning that many of its impurities and free fatty acids have been removed, it has a higher smoke point than other oils, such as olive oil (10, 11).

The stability of an oil is another important factor to consider when you’re choosing healthy cooking oil. In general, oils with more polyunsaturated fatty acids are less stable under high heat, and oils with more monounsaturated or saturated fatty acids are more stable in the same environment. Because rapeseed oil is only 28% PUFA, it is relatively stable and therefore a good choice for sautéing, pan-frying, baking, deep-frying, and other high-heat cooking methods.

It’s flavorless and versatile

Rapeseed oil has a very mild flavor, allowing it to be used for a variety of culinary applications.

It works well in salad dressings, dips, and baking and can be used for pan-frying or deep-frying without adding any additional flavor to your dish.

Affordable

Rapeseed oil is very affordable and accessible because of its worldwide production (12).

Depending on where you live, you can usually buy 1 gallon (4 liters) for less than half the price of the same volume of olive oil.

Higher quality oils, such as extra virgin olive oil, cost more due to their more delicate processing techniques and shorter shelf life (12).

Summary

Rapeseed oil is inexpensive, flavorless, and can be cooked to high temperatures, making it a very versatile and affordable cooking oil.

While there are many benefits to using rapeseed oil, there is some controversy regarding its use.

Here are some potential downsides to consuming rapeseed oil.

Genetically modified

Most rapeseed oil found in grocery stores and food products in the US is genetically modified (GM).

By modifying the genes of the rape plant to become pest-resistant, growers are able to produce larger yields, resulting in a more affordable product with less waste (13).

While this may be perceived as a benefit, there are some concerns about GM foods and their effects on health, particularly allergies, antibiotic resistance, and cancer (13, 14).

Furthermore, some cultures and religions avoid GM products, as they are viewed as an unnatural form of food.

However, most research suggests that GM foods are safe for consumption and lead to no adverse health effects. Since GM foods are created using relatively new technology, more long-term research is needed (13, 14).

Nonetheless, if you choose to avoid GM foods, be sure to purchase rapeseed oil that is certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or labeled as GMO-free.

Highly processed

Most oils used in the food industry are highly processed, and rapeseed oil is no exception.

A chemical solvent known as hexane is added to “clean” the oil. Then, a water filtration process removes free fatty acids, gums, and unappealing colors (15).

While this is considered a safe process, it leads to a lower vitamin E and free fatty acid content, which may decrease the oil’s health benefits. Processed oils also tend to be higher in omega-6 fats, and consuming a high ratio of these may contribute to inflammation (15, 16).

If you’re looking for an alternative to highly processed rapeseed oil, you can try the cold-pressed version. This processing method allows the oil to retain the majority of its nutrients. However, it’s difficult to find in most grocery stores and usually can only be found online (15).

Summary

Most rapeseed oil in the US is genetically modified (GM). While GM foods are considered safe to eat, many people choose to avoid them. Furthermore, this oil is usually highly processed, which may lead to lower nutritional quality and negative health effects.

Rapeseed oil is widely used around the world. It’s popular for its affordability and versatility as a cooking oil and is commonly found in salad dressings, baked goods, and fried foods.

It’s a good source of healthy fats but tends to be highly processed, which may lower its nutritional value and alter its health effects.

When possible, try to select cold-pressed or minimally refined rapeseed oil, both of which retain most of this oil’s original nutrients and benefits.