They also play in important role in food preparation by enhancing food flavor, adding mouth-feel, making baked products tender, and conducting heat during cooking. Not All Fats and Oils Are Created Equally Fats and oils are made up of basic units called fatty acids. Each type of fat or oil is a mixture of different fatty acids. Fatty Acids are found chiefly in animal sources such as meat and poultry, whole or reduced-fat milk, and butter. Some vegetable oils like coconut, palm kernel oil, and palm oil are saturated.
Saturated fats are usually solid at room temperature.
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids are found mainly in vegetable oils such as canola, olive, and peanut oils. They are liquid at room temperature. Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids are found mainly in vegetable oils such as safflower, sunflower, corn, flaxseed, and canola oils. Polyunsaturated fats are also the main fats found in seafood. They are liquid or soft at room temperature.