People who cook regularly
If you use oil regularly, compare 1 L to 3 L bottles with how quickly you get through it before deciding how much storage space to set aside.
Who is this choice for?
Occasional users with limited storage space
A smaller bottle is a practical choice for occasional cooking or dressing, and takes up less room in your kitchen.
People who care about origin and ingredients
If these matter to you, check the details on the specific bottle. Sunflower oil and a blend of oils are not the same product.
What should you look for?
First, decide whether you’re looking for something to spread on toast or oil for cooking. For cooking oil, the bottle size, label and storage instructions can help guide your choice.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| How much you use | Choose a bottle size to suit how often you cook, comparing a 1 L bottle with 2 L or 3 L options. | If I rarely cook with oil, I’d rather choose a size I can use up without keeping an open bottle for too long. Around 25% of consumers prioritise a size that suits how much they use. |
| Storage | Check the bottle’s storage instructions and make sure you have space to keep it away from heat and light. | In a small kitchen, I want to be able to put the bottle away and seal it easily after use. Storage would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and origin | Read the product name and ingredients to tell pure sunflower oil from a blend. Check any stated origin on the specific product. | If I’m looking for specific ingredients or a stated origin, I don’t want to rely on the name of the supermarket aisle alone. Around 25% of consumers put this information at the top of their list. |
| How you’ll use it | Check the uses listed for cooking, frying or dressing, and choose something separate to spread under your jam. | When preparing meals and toast, I need to distinguish cooking oil from something to spread. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise choosing a product that suits its intended use. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming a blend is pure sunflower oil
Carrefour lists its « Huile de tournesol & co » product as containing 51% sunflower oil and 49% rapeseed oil. So the word « sunflower » doesn’t tell you the whole story.
Read the product name and ingredients on the bottle you’re thinking of buying.
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Confusing cooking oil with a spread
Liquid oil doesn’t have the texture of something you can spread under jam. Manger Bouger suggests butter for breakfast toast.
Choose an oil to suit your cooking, then decide separately what you’d like to put on your bread.
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Assuming the same instructions apply to all frying
Auchan and Pouce oil product pages recommend a maximum frying temperature of 175 °C and say to replace the oil after five uses. These instructions apply to the products mentioned.
If you plan to fry, read and follow the instructions on the bottle you choose.
Brands to know
These brands offer useful points of comparison for bottle sizes, ingredients and suggested uses. Check the details for the specific product you choose.
Eco+ (E.Leclerc)
E.Leclerc offers Eco+ sunflower oil in 1 L, 2 L and 3 L bottles.
- A choice of bottle sizes makes it easier to match the amount to how often you use it.
- Bottle size alone doesn’t tell you about the taste or how to use each product.
SIMPL (Carrefour)
The SIMPL range includes sunflower oil in 1 L and 3 L bottles.
- The two sizes suit different rates of use.
- Before choosing the larger size, consider how often you use oil and where you’ll store it.
Carrefour Classic'
Carrefour offers several products featuring sunflower oil, including options with different ingredients.
- Product names and ingredients help you compare the specific options.
- Don’t assume that every bottle labelled « sunflower » has the same ingredients.
Auchan / Pouce
The product pages for these sunflower oils list uses for both hot and cold dishes.
- Auchan and Pouce product pages include frying instructions.
- Check the instructions for the bottle you buy before using it this way.
Lesieur Cœur de Tournesol
Lesieur describes its 2 L product as 100% sunflower oil of French origin, suitable for uses including dressing and cooking.
- The stated ingredients and origin may suit specific preferences.
- These details for the 2 L product don’t automatically apply to all other Lesieur oils.
Sunflower oils available on Joybuy
These sunflower oils are intended for cooking and come in 900 ml, 1 L and 2 L sizes. For jam on toast, choose a separate product to spread.
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Lu Hua Pressed Sunflower Oil 900 ml
The 900 ml size may suit you if you don’t use much oil for cooking.
The product name identifies this as pressed sunflower oil. Check the uses and storage instructions on the bottle.
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Lesieur Cœur de Tournesol Oil 1 L
Consider this 1 L bottle if you’re looking for cooking oil but don’t need a larger container.
Check the ingredients and suggested uses for this product before buying.
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Lesieur Sunflower Kernel Oil 2 L
The 2 L size is worth considering if you use oil regularly and have suitable storage space.
Check the product name and storage instructions for this variety before choosing it.
Frequently asked questions
Can you pour sunflower oil onto toast with jam?
Sunflower oil is liquid and doesn’t work like a spread. Manger Bouger suggests butter for breakfast toast; choose your cooking oil separately from what you’d like to put on your bread.
Can sunflower oil be used for cooking and dressing?
Some products list both uses, including the oils featured on the Auchan and Pouce product pages. Still, check the instructions for the specific bottle, especially if you plan to fry with it.
How should you store a bottle of sunflower oil?
Keep the bottle closed and away from heat and light, following the instructions listed for Lesieur and Auchan products. Always follow the guidance on your own bottle first.
How can you tell if an oil is a blend?
Read the product name and ingredients for the specific product. For example, Carrefour lists its « Huile de tournesol & co » as containing 51% sunflower oil and 49% rapeseed oil. The word « sunflower » in the name doesn’t mean the bottle contains only sunflower oil.