In this article (6 sections)
Olive oil has about 884 kcal per 100 g and salted butter 717 kcal per 100 g in the generic USDA examples used here. At the same 14 g weight, that is about 124 versus 100 kcal. The difference comes partly from butter's water content, not from a different calorie value for its fat.
Calories per teaspoon, tablespoon and gram
These are rounded USDA reference values; see the specific records for olive oil, salted butter and coconut oil. The weights are explicit examples, not a claim that every measuring spoon contains the same mass.
| Ingredient | Per 100 g | Per gram | 5 g example | 14 g example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olive oil | 884 kcal | 8.84 kcal | 44 kcal | 124 kcal |
| Coconut oil | 892 kcal | 8.92 kcal | 45 kcal | 125 kcal |
| Salted butter | 717 kcal | 7.17 kcal | 36 kcal | 100 kcal |
A US tablespoon is 3 teaspoons by volume, but a tablespoon of butter and a tablespoon of oil need not weigh the same. Use the package's gram equivalent or weigh the amount. A 5 g butter pat is an example portion; a pat has no universal weight.
Is olive oil lower in calories than butter?
For equal weights in these entries, olive oil is higher. At 10 g, the examples give about 88 kcal of oil and 72 kcal of butter. That comparison does not rank their overall nutritional value.
Most pure cooking oils have similar energy density, but reduced-fat spreads, sprays and oil blends are different products. Read the stated serving size and amount used. A tiny labeled spray serving is not the same as a long spray across a pan.
How do you calculate cooking oil per serving?
For a recipe, calculate the amount added, then divide using the portion of the finished recipe eaten. For example:
- Add 20 g olive oil at 884 kcal/100 g: 20 x 884 / 100 = 176.8 kcal.
- If all that oil is consumed in four equal portions, the oil contributes about 44 kcal per portion.
- If food or oil is discarded, that all-consumed assumption may overstate the amount eaten.
For an unevenly divided dish, weighing the finished recipe and the portion can improve the allocation. See how to calculate a recipe's calories.
Should you count oil left in the pan?
The target is the amount consumed, not automatically every gram poured. Absorption and leftovers vary with the food, method and draining. A photograph cannot reliably reveal them.
If the remainder cannot be measured, counting all added oil is one transparent recipe assumption, but it can overcount; label it as an estimate. Do not claim a fixed retention rate or a guaranteed small error. For deep-fried foods, a suitable prepared-food record or tested recipe may be more useful than dividing the entire fryer oil across portions.
Which additions are easy to miss?
Check butter melted into vegetables, oil in marinades and dressings, mayonnaise, pesto and cream in sauces. Include their actual product and amount rather than assuming all foods with a similar name have the same fat content.
When using Calorie.one, review the suggested fat ingredient as well as the main food. Additions may need to be supplied explicitly. The photo-counting guide explains why hidden oil limits visual estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How many calories are in a tablespoon of olive oil?
The linked USDA olive oil record lists a tablespoon as 13.5 g, about 119 kcal. A measured 14 g portion contains about 124 kcal at 884 kcal/100 g. Use your measured weight or the package serving when it differs.
How many calories are in a teaspoon of butter?
Use the gram amount. At 717 kcal/100 g, 5 g butter is about 36 kcal. A teaspoon is a volume measure, so do not treat 5 g as a universal spoon weight.
Does cooking remove oil calories?
Heating does not make the added fat calorie-free. The consumed amount depends on what remains in the meal and what is left behind or discarded. Record the assumption when it cannot be measured.