Toasted Sesame Oil

The flavor and quality of toasted sesame oils can vary widely by brand. So we tested premium and conventional versions to determine a favorite. Sesame oils can range from light to dark, depending on how deeply the sesame seeds used to produce the oil were toasted. Generally, the darker the oil, the richer the flavor.

When choosing a toasted sesame oil, consider how you will use it. The milder flavor of lightly toasted oils makes them best for dressings and lightly seasoned dishes. Darker oils are better suited to stand up to more robust dishes and sauces. Also consider how the oil is processed. Premium oils often are cold-pressed, which better preserves the sesame’s flavor and nutrients.

Our top choice overall was from Wadaman, an artisanal producer from Japan. Though labeled as a dark sesame oil, it straddled the line between dark and light. We found it to have a smooth, nutty, rich flavor and pleasant aroma that was less assertive than that of other dark oils. This made it a versatile choice we found worked well in all uses.

Among supermarket brands, Kadoya sesame oil impressed tasters with its rich color, deep flavor and subtle smokiness (though some noted a slight bitterness). Meanwhile, Ka-Me sesame oil was the biggest letdown. Though richly dark-colored, with a slight nuttiness and a hint of brown sugar aroma, tasters found it to be one-dimensional and noted an offputting, rancid quality.