The best avocado oil substitutes to use in your homemade marinades, salad dressings, or seafood dishes. From peanut oil to coconut oil, these are the best alternatives to use today.
Avocado oil should definitely be a staple in your kitchen due to its distinctive taste, health benefits, and numerous applications. Avocado oil for cooking dependable oil to reach for no matter the recipe!
Naturally, since this oil is a must in any recipe, you can easily run out of it. Luckily, though, there are many replacements for avocado oil that can help you make equally appetizing dishes.
You can go for a nutty-tasting oil, such as sesame oil or peanut oil, or you can try a rich oil that pairs with any recipe, like sunflower oil or ghee!
In this article, we listed our top avocado oil substitutes and when to use each one of them. Let’s dive in!
Sesame Oil
Sesame oil is the best place to start with choosing an alternative to avocado oil, thanks to its relatively neutral flavor and high smoke point (albeit with more vitamins and antioxidants). In fact, these similarities are what likewise make avocado oil a great substitute for sesame oil.
Sesame oil has a high smoke point of about 410°F, much like avocado oil. This makes it perfect for stir-frying and pan-searing, which gives it an even richer, nuttier flavor.
There are two types of sesame oil: toasted and regular.
You should use toasted sesame oil by drizzling it on any dish for an extra kick. For this reason, it’s an incredibly popular ingredient in cold noodles.
As for regular sesame oil, it has a neutral flavor that goes with many dishes. It’s best as a base for sauces and salad dressings, but you can also use it for grilling and frying.
That said, sesame oil doesn’t really work in cakes, cookies, or bread due to its overpowering flavor, especially toasted sesame oil.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Olive oil is a favorite among cooks for plenty of reasons. You can use it in almost anything, but if your recipe includes avocado oil, extra-virgin olive oil can work just as well.
While you can’t expect olives and avocados to taste similar, both oils have a mild flavor that pairs great with many dishes.
To add, olive oil and avocado oil have almost identical nutritional benefits. They have the same saturated and unsaturated fat content and have antioxidant properties due to the presence of vitamin E.
If that wasn’t enough, the health benefits of avocado and olive oil are extremely similar. This includes anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to improve cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
The only difference between the two oils is the smoke point. Olive oil can only heat to about 400°F before it starts to oxidize.
You’re probably used to adding olive oil to your salad dressing or sauteing vegetables with it. Yet, it might surprise you to know that it can also be an excellent ingredient for baking! Baking with olive oil produces moist, flavorful cakes with a smaller amount of oil.
Peanut Oil
Peanut oil is a great substitute for avocado oil due to its high smoke point. You can heat this oil up to 450°F without any smoking! This is why peanut oil is perfect for deep frying.
Like avocado oil, peanut oil has a distinct, nutty flavor. Yet, while avocado oil’s flavor is quite mild when cooked, peanut oil seeps into the food, without any bitter aftertaste.
Alternatively, peanut oil prevents flavor transfer. This means you can use it to make multiple fried foods at once, creating many, unique tasty dishes!
Some great ways to use peanut oil include frying spices, like cumin or chili powder, to accentuate their flavor. The high smoke point and nutty taste of peanut oil also make it ideal for making crispy, deep-fried chicken.
Coconut Oil
If you’re using avocado oil in order to shed some weight, another great option is coconut oil. There are many health benefits to using coconut oil, which include encouraging your body to burn fat and reducing appetite!
Coconut oil is perfect for frying, cooking, and baking. However, if you’re going to be using high heat, you should keep in mind that coconut oil only has a smoke point of 350°F, so it’s better for baking than frying.
A minor drawback of using substituting avocado oil for coconut oil in your recipes is that it’s solid at room temperature. This means you’ll need to melt it first to get the right amount.
Coconut oil might have an overpowering flavor compared to avocado oil. So, if your recipe doesn’t call for a coconut flavor, you’re better off using other alternatives on this list.
Still, the taste of coconut oil can be incredibly appetizing. In fact, it might enhance a lot of your baked goods, especially if you use refined coconut oil.
Macadamia Nut Oil
Macadamia nut oil is a superb all-purpose oil. You can use it for cooking, baking, and frying. So, if you’re in a pinch, use it instead of avocado oil for similar, delicious results.
The health benefits of macadamia nut oil are plenty. It has a good amount of antioxidants and unsaturated fat. So, if you’re looking to maintain your cardiovascular health while still enjoying buttery food, macadamia oil is for you!
This oil has a relatively high smoke point. It’s about 410°F, so the oil is less likely to oxidize if you use it in high-heat recipes such as stir-fries and sears.
Macadamia nut oil is also compatible with other fats and won’t separate if you mix them together. You can even mix it with other oils on this list to increase their smoke point.
As for its taste, it gets a bit richer and nuttier when sauteing. For this reason, many chefs recommend heating it a bit before using it as a base for sauces or dressings. Yet, if you prefer a milder flavor, it’s unnoticeable if you use it cold.
Sunflower Oil
Many people overlook sunflower oil when cooking, but it’s actually great to use instead of avocado oil. Sunflower oil is inexpensive, tasty, and above all, healthy!
Not only is sunflower oil low in saturated fats, but it might actually reduce the amount of cholesterol in your blood. It might even slow the progression of dementia.
This versatile oil is great in almost any recipe. Its smoke point is 450°F, so it’s stable in high heat for long periods, making it safe for use in grilling or frying! Additionally, sunflower oil’s neutral flavor makes it exceptional as a foundation for marinades.
You can make an exceptional dish from start to finish using only sunflower oil as your fat. Sunflower oil pairs greatly with garlic and lemon for a chicken marinate. In fact, it’ll make the chicken more tender. Then, you can use the oil to grill the chicken and even make a sauce.
Ghee
Another great substitute for avocado oil is ghee. Ghee is clarified butter from which the milk has been removed. This gives the ghee a subtle, nutty flavor, and a high smoke point of 465°F.
Additionally, since it’s somewhat dairy-free, it’s suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals who are looking for a rich, creamy taste. The best part is that you can make ghee at home in a matter of minutes.
Whether you’re using it for frying, grilling, or marinating, ghee pairs quite well with almost everything, including meats, vegetables, and fish. It’s also a great spread for sandwiches and bagels as it’s fairly delicious on its own.
Lastly, ghee is the ideal avocado oil alternative to add to your baking recipes as it provides a smooth texture you can’t get with any other oil. After all, ghee is practically butter!
