Calories in a Tablespoon of Soybean, Palm, Corn Oil

By NYUS Inc. · Published 29 October 2026

Google autocomplete (hl=en gl=in, checked on 29 October 2026) suggests queries such as "soybean oil calories 1 tbsp", "palm oil calories 1 tbsp", "corn oil calories per tablespoon" and "refined oil calories 1 tbsp"; these are suggestions, not search volumes. Our other oil guides use different oils. This guide gives eleven USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy records for oils used every day for cooking: soybean (two records), palm, corn, canola, cottonseed, safflower (two), sunflower (two, linoleic under 60% and high oleic) and cold pressed flaxseed, per 100 g and in the teaspoon, tablespoon and cup that USDA's Measures lists print. Mustard, rice bran, sesame, peanut, sunflower (65% linoleic) and coconut oil, ghee and butter are in our teaspoon of ghee, oil, butter and sugar guide; the fatty acid shares of Indian oils are in our fatty acids in cooking oils guide; sauces and spreads by the tablespoon are in our salad dressing and sauces guide and peanut butter, mayonnaise and jam guide.

The short answer

By USDA SR Legacy, ten of the eleven oil records print 884 kcal per 100 g, and corn oil (171029) prints 900 kcal. Our reading: because every record is 100 g of fat, the tablespoon figure depends on what USDA says a tablespoon weighs: 13.6 g on eight records gives 120.2 kcal, the same 13.6 g of corn oil gives 122.4 kcal, and the 14 g USDA prints for canola (172336) and high oleic sunflower (172338) gives 123.8 kcal. A teaspoon is 4.5 g on ten records (cold pressed flaxseed lists none), 39.8 kcal (40.5 for corn oil). The one real difference between records is corn oil's 900 against 884 kcal per 100 g; the other tablespoon differences are the same fat at a slightly different printed spoon weight.

USDA SR Legacy: per 100 g

Figures are as the USDA record pages print them, read on 29 October 2026. Energy is USDA's kcal with the kJ it prints beside it; water, protein, total fat and carbohydrate (by difference) are in g, then fibre (g), total sugars (g) and sodium (mg), all per 100 g. These are US records on US samples, not Indian averages, and none is a brand.

The data-type label on each field, as the record shows it

USDA's record pages show a data-type label beside some fields and none beside others, and it differs from record to record. This table copies what each record shows for each field; "no label shown" means the record prints no label there, not that we left one out. We do not interpret the labels beyond printing them.

The household portions USDA prints

These are the entries in each record's Measures list, as printed, lightest first; the other entry on every record is 100 g. The kcal in the last column is ours: the printed kcal per 100 g times the grams, divided by 100, shown to 0.1 with half rounding up. USDA prints no millilitre measure, so we give no per 100 ml figure.

The portion sums: 171411 1 tsp (4.5 g): 884 × 4.5 / 100 = 39.78, so 39.8 kcal; 171411 1 tbsp (13.6 g): 884 × 13.6 / 100 = 120.22, so 120.2 kcal; 171411 1 cup (218 g): 884 × 218 / 100 = 1927.12, so 1927.1 kcal; 172370 1 teaspoon (4.5 g): 884 × 4.5 / 100 = 39.78, so 39.8 kcal; 172370 1 tablespoon (13.6 g): 884 × 13.6 / 100 = 120.22, so 120.2 kcal; 172370 1 cup (218 g): 884 × 218 / 100 = 1927.12, so 1927.1 kcal; 171015 1 tsp (4.5 g): 884 × 4.5 / 100 = 39.78, so 39.8 kcal; 171015 1 tbsp (13.6 g): 884 × 13.6 / 100 = 120.22, so 120.2 kcal; 171015 1 cup (216 g): 884 × 216 / 100 = 1909.44, so 1909.4 kcal; 171029 1 tsp (4.5 g): 900 × 4.5 / 100 = 40.50, so 40.5 kcal; 171029 1 tbsp (13.6 g): 900 × 13.6 / 100 = 122.40, so 122.4 kcal; 171029 1 cup (218 g): 900 × 218 / 100 = 1962.00, so 1962.0 kcal; 172336 1 tsp (4.5 g): 884 × 4.5 / 100 = 39.78, so 39.8 kcal; 172336 1 tbsp (14 g): 884 × 14 / 100 = 123.76, so 123.8 kcal; 172336 1 cup (218 g): 884 × 218 / 100 = 1927.12, so 1927.1 kcal; 171024 1 tsp (4.5 g): 884 × 4.5 / 100 = 39.78, so 39.8 kcal; 171024 1 tablespoon (13.6 g): 884 × 13.6 / 100 = 120.22, so 120.2 kcal; 171024 1 cup (218 g): 884 × 218 / 100 = 1927.12, so 1927.1 kcal; 171026 1 tsp (4.5 g): 884 × 4.5 / 100 = 39.78, so 39.8 kcal; 171026 1 tbsp (13.6 g): 884 × 13.6 / 100 = 120.22, so 120.2 kcal; 171026 1 cup (218 g): 884 × 218 / 100 = 1927.12, so 1927.1 kcal; 171027 1 tsp (4.5 g): 884 × 4.5 / 100 = 39.78, so 39.8 kcal; 171027 1 tablespoon (13.6 g): 884 × 13.6 / 100 = 120.22, so 120.2 kcal; 171027 1 cup (218 g): 884 × 218 / 100 = 1927.12, so 1927.1 kcal; 171017 1 tsp (4.5 g): 884 × 4.5 / 100 = 39.78, so 39.8 kcal; 171017 1 tbsp (13.6 g): 884 × 13.6 / 100 = 120.22, so 120.2 kcal; 171017 1 cup (218 g): 884 × 218 / 100 = 1927.12, so 1927.1 kcal; 172338 1 tsp (4.5 g): 884 × 4.5 / 100 = 39.78, so 39.8 kcal; 172338 1 tbsp (14 g): 884 × 14 / 100 = 123.76, so 123.8 kcal; 172338 1 cup (218 g): 884 × 218 / 100 = 1927.12, so 1927.1 kcal; 167702 1 tbsp (13.6 g): 884 × 13.6 / 100 = 120.22, so 120.2 kcal; 167702 1 cup (218 g): 884 × 218 / 100 = 1927.12, so 1927.1 kcal.

What stands out in the numbers

• One number for almost every oil: 884 kcal and 3700 kJ per 100 g on ten records, 100 g total fat and 0 g carbohydrate on all eleven.
• Corn oil is the exception: 900 kcal (3770 kJ) per 100 g, which is 122.4 kcal for USDA's 13.6 g tablespoon against 120.2 kcal for the others.
• The spoon weight moves the tablespoon: canola and high oleic sunflower list 14 g for a tablespoon, so 123.8 kcal, with the same 884 kcal per 100 g.
• Flaxseed is the only record with water or protein: cold pressed flaxseed (167702) prints 0.12 g water and 0.11 g protein per 100 g; the other ten print 0 for both.

Why these are reference rows, not your bottle

• Names are USDA's. A bottle sold in India as refined, vegetable or cooking oil may be a blend of these; we do not say which record it matches, and we do not know which oil a particular brand uses.
• Spoons differ. A level, heaped or poured tablespoon from a bottle is not USDA's 13.6 g; weigh the oil when the number matters.
• US data. SR Legacy records are US samples, not Indian averages.
• Labels are printed, not judged. Calculated, Analytical and the longer labels are USDA's words on the record; we print them and draw no conclusion from them.
• No branded or industrial rows. Industrial, partially hydrogenated, spread, lecithin and any maker's label records are not covered.

How to log it so the numbers hold

• Weigh the oil if you can. 10 g of soybean oil (our example weight) on SR Legacy 171411 is 884 × 10 / 100 = 88.4, so 88.4 kcal; USDA's 13.6 g tablespoon is 120.2 kcal by our arithmetic.
• Log the oil that is absorbed or left in the pan as what you used. This page gives the oil as poured; it does not say how much stays in food or the pan.
• Pick one record and keep it. The records differ by at most 16 kcal per 100 g (884 against 900), so choosing between them matters less than weighing the pour.

Where NYUS fits (our app)

We make NYUS, so read this as ours. NYUS is an AI fitness and nutrition coach in early access on Android, with no ads and no data selling. You log foods yourself by searching 8,900+ Indian and global foods or by barcode, and a weekly check-in adjusts your calories, macros and step goal once enough is logged. Barcode coverage of Indian packaged foods is not complete, so search by name when a scan finds nothing.

What this page leaves out

• A calorie target, and any claim about what an oil does to your body, including fat type, cholesterol, heart or weight questions: we have not looked up any for any person, so we give none. If you have a medical condition or are pregnant, ask your doctor or dietitian.
• Mustard, rice bran, sesame, peanut, sunflower (65% linoleic) and coconut oil, ghee and butter: on our teaspoon guide with other SR Legacy records, not repeated here.
• Palm kernel oil, lard, shortening and margarine and other spreads: other SR Legacy records, not used here.
• Industrial, partially hydrogenated and high stability oil records, lecithin, blends and foods fried in oil: not used here.
• A per 100 ml figure: USDA prints no millilitre measure for these records, so we give none.
• Foundation foods records, which we did not search.
• Nutrients beyond energy, water, protein, fat, carbohydrate, fibre, total sugars and sodium: not covered here.

Sources

• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 171411 (Oil, soybean, salad or cooking): Energy 884 kcal (3700 kJ), protein 0 g, total fat 100 g, carbohydrate by difference 0 g, sodium 0 mg per 100 g; portions used: 1 tsp (4.5 g); 1 tbsp (13.6 g); 1 cup (218 g); data-type labels per field are in the label table above (read 29 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 172370 (Oil, vegetable, soybean, refined): Energy 884 kcal (3700 kJ), protein 0 g, total fat 100 g, carbohydrate by difference 0 g, sodium 0 mg per 100 g; portions used: 1 teaspoon (4.5 g); 1 tablespoon (13.6 g); 1 cup (218 g); data-type labels per field are in the label table above (read 29 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 171015 (Oil, palm): Energy 884 kcal (3700 kJ), protein 0 g, total fat 100 g, carbohydrate by difference 0 g, sodium 0 mg per 100 g; portions used: 1 tsp (4.5 g); 1 tbsp (13.6 g); 1 cup (216 g); data-type labels per field are in the label table above (read 29 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 171029 (Oil, corn, industrial and retail, all purpose salad or cooking): Energy 900 kcal (3770 kJ), protein 0 g, total fat 100 g, carbohydrate by difference 0 g, sodium 0 mg per 100 g; portions used: 1 tsp (4.5 g); 1 tbsp (13.6 g); 1 cup (218 g); data-type labels per field are in the label table above (read 29 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 172336 (Oil, canola): Energy 884 kcal (3700 kJ), protein 0 g, total fat 100 g, carbohydrate by difference 0 g, sodium 0 mg per 100 g; portions used: 1 tsp (4.5 g); 1 tbsp (14 g); 1 cup (218 g); data-type labels per field are in the label table above (read 29 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 171024 (Oil, cottonseed, salad or cooking): Energy 884 kcal (3700 kJ), protein 0 g, total fat 100 g, carbohydrate by difference 0 g, sodium 0 mg per 100 g; portions used: 1 tsp (4.5 g); 1 tablespoon (13.6 g); 1 cup (218 g); data-type labels per field are in the label table above (read 29 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 171026 (Oil, safflower, salad or cooking, linoleic, (over 70%)): Energy 884 kcal (3700 kJ), protein 0 g, total fat 100 g, carbohydrate by difference 0 g, sodium 0 mg per 100 g; portions used: 1 tsp (4.5 g); 1 tbsp (13.6 g); 1 cup (218 g); data-type labels per field are in the label table above (read 29 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 171027 (Oil, safflower, salad or cooking, high oleic (primary safflower oil of commerce)): Energy 884 kcal (3700 kJ), protein 0 g, total fat 100 g, carbohydrate by difference 0 g, sodium 0 mg per 100 g; portions used: 1 tsp (4.5 g); 1 tablespoon (13.6 g); 1 cup (218 g); data-type labels per field are in the label table above (read 29 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 171017 (Oil, sunflower, linoleic (less than 60%)): Energy 884 kcal (3700 kJ), protein 0 g, total fat 100 g, carbohydrate by difference 0 g, sodium 0 mg per 100 g; portions used: 1 tsp (4.5 g); 1 tbsp (13.6 g); 1 cup (218 g); data-type labels per field are in the label table above (read 29 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 172338 (Oil, sunflower, high oleic (70% and over)): Energy 884 kcal (3700 kJ), protein 0 g, total fat 100 g, carbohydrate by difference 0 g, sodium 0 mg per 100 g; portions used: 1 tsp (4.5 g); 1 tbsp (14 g); 1 cup (218 g); data-type labels per field are in the label table above (read 29 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 167702 (Oil, flaxseed, cold pressed): Energy 884 kcal (3700 kJ), protein 0.11 g, total fat 100 g, carbohydrate by difference 0 g, sodium 0 mg per 100 g; portions used: 1 tbsp (13.6 g); 1 cup (218 g); data-type labels per field are in the label table above (read 29 Oct 2026).
• ICMR-NIN, Indian Food Composition Tables 2017 (IFCT 2017): not used on this page; its fatty acid rows for Indian oils are on our fatty acids in cooking oils guide.
• nyus.in, the NYUS landing page, read on 29 Oct 2026 for the app statements in the NYUS section and the CTA.

The portion kcal, the sums, the rounding, the comparisons and every sentence starting "Our reading" are NYUS's own arithmetic or opinion, not from USDA. The energy, water, protein, fat, carbohydrate, fibre, sugars and sodium values, the data-type labels and the Measures-list portions are exactly as shown on the USDA record pages. The names in the first column are USDA's own record names.

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