10 Best Chilli Oils UK 2022 | Filippo Berio, The Woolf's Kitchen and More

To get an idea of the heat rating, look at the packaging, which will usually be marked mild, medium or strong. The heat rating can also be illustrated using a chilli scale, and it's recommended that you only opt for the strong oils if you're confident your spice tolerance is high enough. If you enjoy spicy foods, they may be worth a try, but strong chilli oils can be quite intense, so be careful not to overdo it.

If you're trying chilli oil for the first time or just want to add a hint of spice to your dishes without overwhelming the palate, mild or medium heat should be sufficient. To make your search easier, we've marked the heat rating of each of our products in the specification table, but if you're still not sure, it might be worth opting for a multipack so you can sample each heat rating to see which is right for you. 

Liven up your dishes with our Best Hot Sauces!

When choosing a chilli oil, it's important to check the variety of base oil used in the recipe. To ensure you enjoy the flavour, it may be wise to choose an oil you're already used to, but here are the key features of each to help you decide. 

• Olive Oil is characterised by a blend of fresh herb and fruit flavours. Extra virgin olive oil may sometimes taste slightly bitter, but this is just a testament to its quality, as it indicates the olives used were ripe and healthy. 
  

• Rapeseed Oil, also known as canola oil, has a neutral taste. To the especially sensitive palate, it may have hints of a nutty flavour, but it's comparatively tasteless compared with other varieties. This makes it a great neutral base for chilli and won't detract from the flavours of your food. 
  

• Soybean Oil is less common than other varieties, but it still contains many of the same health benefits. It also has a relatively neutral taste, but there may be hints of fresh green beans in less refined batches. 
  

• Sesame Oil has an earthy and nutty flavour similar to raw sesame seeds. With a balanced ratio of omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9, it's an ideal replacement for fish oils if you follow a vegan or plant-based diet.

Keep things simple with our Best Cooking Oils!

Another consideration that will also help you streamline your cooking experience is picking the right container. When choosing between a jar, screw-top, or spray bottle, you should think about the convenience of each product and how to best avoid potential waste.

• Jars are usually used for thicker oils and are perfect for getting precise measurements as you can add oil by the spoonful instead of pouring and risking spillages. If you want a lightly infused oil, though, jars won't be suitable as they tend to be heavily packed with chilli flakes. 
  

• Screw-Top bottles are the most versatile as they can be drizzled over dishes or measured for specific recipes. They can also be easily stored alongside your other oils and spices.

• Spray bottles are the least common, yet they serve their function well. The spray bottle is specifically designed for pan cooking, allowing you to coat the base of the pan evenly without using too much oil. Cooking with less oil can also be great for your health and help you save money. 
  

Try our Best Coconut Oils for a healthier option!