Vegetable oil is a group of fats that are derived from seeds, nuts, cereals grains, and fruits. The most commonly consumed vegetable oils include olive, sunflower, palm, canola, coconut, soybean, and corn oils. Vegetable oil is usually made by extracting the oil from the plant material through mechanical pressing or chemical solvent extraction. The resulting oil is then refined and processed to remove impurities and contaminants that could affect the flavor, color, and aroma of the oil.

Vegetable oils are used in a variety of ways, including as an ingredient in many manufactured products, such as soaps, skin products, candles, perfumes, and other personal care and cosmetic products. Some vegetable oils are particularly suitable as drying oils and are used in making paints and other wood treatment products. Vegetable oil is also used as a fuel, and some vegetable oil blends are used in unmodified vehicles, but straight vegetable oil, also known as pure plant oil, needs specially prepared vehicles that have a method of heating the oil to reduce its viscosity.

It is important to note that vegetable oils are refined and processed, which means they lack flavor and nutrients. Some processes used to produce vegetable oil could negatively affect its nutritional value, such as depriving it of essential nutrients and compounds, such as polyphenols, vitamins, tocopherols, and phytosterols, originally found in the plant. Therefore, it is recommended to use vegetable oils in moderation and opt for healthier alternatives, such as olive oil, whenever possible.