Confused over which cooking oils to use for what? Here’s our guide to help you decide

Two nutrition experts talk Nadia Vidinova through the science behind the bewildering array of cooking oils on the market and how best to use them.

Just a generation ago, the choice of what type of fat to cook with was simple. There was lard, butter or vegetable oil, and if you really wanted to push the boat out you could opt for the exotic-sounding olive oil.

These days supermarket shelves are creaking under a vast range of cooking oils, some sold cheaply in large plastic bottles while others sit in dinky artisan containers and come with a hefty price tag.