People have been cooking with plant oils for thousands of years. Olive oil is thought to be the first plant-based oil used for cooking as long ago as 6,000 BC based on archaeological evidence found in Israel. Palm oil usage in Africa dates back to 3,000 BC. Native Americans in the Southwest were making sunflower oil around the same time. Soybean oil was being produced in ancient China and Japan as early as 2,000 BC. Algae cooking oil first hit US store shelves in 2015.
The idea of extracting oil from algae was first proposed in 1942 by German scientists who were looking for alternative food and fuel sources during World War II. The high demand for fuel subsided greatly after the war ended but research into using algae oil as a food source continued.
However, it was not until the mid-1980s when NASA formed research partnerships to search for high-nutrient foods that could be used during long-duration space flights that algae oil was developed. There are multiple companies manufacturing algae oil supplements as of 2025. At least two companies, Thrive™ and Algae Cooking Club, produce algae cooking oil.
Thrive Algae Oil states that 1 tbsp of their algae cooking oil has the same amount of omega-9 fatty acids as one avocado, a salmon filet or 60 almonds.
Algae cooking oil is produced from chlorella algae, which is a genus of about 13 single-celled organisms classified as microalgae. These organisms are fed sugar and metabolize it into a monounsaturated fatty oil which is primarily composed of omega-9 fatty acids. Thrive Algae Oil states that 1 tbsp of their algae cooking oil has the same amount of omega-9 fatty acids as one avocado, a salmon filet or 60 almonds.
Algae Cooking Club says their algae cooking oil has 25% more heart-healthy omega-9 fatty acids and 75% less saturated fat than olive and avocado oils. Omega-9 fatty acids potentially lower “bad” cholesterol, reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease and contribute to better brain function, as well as numerous other health benefits.
Producing algae oil is more sustainable than other cooking oils. Basically, microalgae are fed sugar, fermented in stainless steel tanks, and then the oil gets expeller pressed—physically pressed out of the algae with no chemicals. The process requires a fraction of the water, land and resources that plant crops use for making cooking oils. Algae oil can also be produced on land not suitable for traditional farming.
The oil only produces about half the carbon emissions of olive, avocado and canola oils. Microalgae grow faster with a harvesting cycle as short as 10 days, instead of the annual harvest of many conventional cooking oil crops.
Thrive algae oil has an added sustainability loop in which the microalgae used to produce their cooking oil is only fed responsibly-grown cane sugar. The leftover biomass after sugar is extracted is used to generate energy that powers both a sugar mill and an algae oil production facility. Much of the nutrient-rich water derived from the production of the algae oil is diverted to the primarily rain-irrigated sugarcane fields, further closing the loop.
Algae cooking oil has numerous culinary benefits. The smoke point of cooking oil is the temperature at which it begins to smoke and potentially produce undesirable flavors. Pure algae oil has the highest smoke point of all cooking oils, at over 500 F. The high temperature can create a perfect crust or caramelization texture and unlock delicious flavors. Algae oil has a neutral to slightly buttery flavor that enhances delicate flavors rather than overpowering them like other oils might.
Pure algae oil has the highest smoke point of all cooking oils, at over 500 F.
Algae oil is also versatile. It can be used for frying, sauteing, roasting, baking, grilling, searing and in dressings, dips, marinades and almost any other culinary application. The one thing it is not used for because of its neutral flavor, is as a finishing oil which is usually rich in flavor, and used as a final touch to enhance a dish.
Algae cooking oil is still a relatively new commodity and not found in every grocery store. Sprouts Farmers Market locations throughout the Bay area stock Algae Cooking Club algae oil. It can also be purchased from their website, algaecookingclub.com. Thrive ‘Culinary Algae Oils’ can be ordered from thriveculinary.com or walmart.com. Both Thrive and Algae Cooking Club websites offer more detailed information about the health benefits and production of algae oil, as well as recipes, testimonials and discounts.
The creation of plant-based oils in ancient times played a large role in advancing human civilization. Today, sustainable commodities such as algae cooking oil will not only help to further human civilization but may also help to save it.
Daniel O’Donnell is the co-owner and operator of an organic landscape design/build company in Fremont: Chrysalis-Gardens.com
