10 VEGETABLE OIL SUBSTITUTES (WITH A CHART!)

Here are 10 vegetable oil substitutes (with a chart!). Whether you're baking muffins, mixing a salad dressing, or prepping homemade mayo, here are 10 vegetable oil substitutes you can rely on.

10 VEGETABLE OIL SUBSTITUTES

1. AVOCADO OIL

Avocado oil is like the cool kid of healthy fats. With a super high smoke point, it’s amazing for frying, and its mild flavor makes it perfect for muffins and even carrot cake. Bonus? It’s packed with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.

BEST FOR:

Frying, Baking, and Salad Dressing

2. GRAPESEED OIL

Best for: Salad Dressing, Mayo, Light Cooking
This light seed oil is ideal when you want a neutral flavor, like in homemade mayo or a zesty salad dressing. It’s also a favorite for sautéing and pan-frying thanks to its clean taste and decent smoke point.

BEST FOR:

Salad Dressing, Mayo, Light Cooking

3. PEANUT OIL

If you're planning an epic frying session, peanut oil brings the heat (literally). With a high smoke point and slightly nutty flavor, it's perfect for crispy fried foods, stir-fries, and even savory baking experiments.

BEST FOR

Deep Frying, Stir-Fries

4. COCONUT OIL

Solid at room temperature but magical when melted, coconut oil can give baked goods like carrot cake or muffins a subtle tropical twist. Just keep in mind it can add a hint of coconut flavor—delicious in the right context!

BEST FOR

Baking, Muffins, Vegan Recipes

5. OLIVE OIL

For Mediterranean vibes, olive oil is where it’s at. It works beautifully in salad dressings, gives roasts a rich finish, and adds depth to cakes (yes, even carrot cake—trust us). Just use light olive oil if you want to keep the flavor neutral.

BEST FOR

Salad Dressing, Roasting, Moist Cakes.

6. BUTTER (MELTED)

Okay, not oil per se—but melted butter is a dream in baked goods. It adds richness, flavor, and moisture, especially in muffins or cake batters. For carrot cake, it makes everything that much more decadent.

BEST FOR

Muffins, Cakes, Pancakes

7. APPLE SAUCE

Trying to lighten things up? Unsweetened applesauce can sub in 1:1 for vegetable oil in most baking recipes. It works wonders in muffins and sweet treats like—you guessed it—carrot cake. Plus, it adds natural sweetness and moisture.

BEST FOR

Cakes, Muffins, Lower-Fat Baking

8. GREEK YOGURT

Best for: Muffins, Cakes, Quick Breads
For a protein-packed twist, swap oil for Greek yogurt. It’s thick, tangy, and creates ultra-moist textures in baked goods. Great for anyone wanting to skip seed oils and still have a fluffy muffin or loaf.

BEST FOR

French yogurt cake

9. SUNFLOWER OIL

Another neutral seed oil alternative, sunflower oil, is super versatile. Use it for frying, baking, or making homemade mayo. It’s stable at high heat and has a mild flavor that won’t compete with other ingredients.

BEST FOR

Frying, Roasting, Baking

10. CANOLA OIL

BEST FOR

All-Purpose Use

Technically still a seed oil, but worth including here, canola oil is one of the most common veggie oil swaps. Use it in carrot cake, muffins, frying, or creamy salad dressings. It’s neutral, affordable, and always ready to fill in.

📝 TIIPS AND TRICKS

🎂 For baking:

Sub 1:1 with melted butter, applesauce, yogurt, or any neutral oil like avocado or grapeseed.

🍳For frying:

Choose oils with high smoke points like peanut, avocado, or sunflower oil.

🥗 For salad dressing:

Stick with light-flavored oils like grapeseed or olive oil.

Substitute	Best Uses	Quick Tip
Avocado Oil	Mayo, salad dressing, and light frying	High smoke point + mild flavor = great for savory or sweet
Grapeseed Oil	Mayo, salad dressing, light frying	Neutral taste—ideal for homemade mayo or vinaigrettes
Peanut Oil	Deep frying, stir-fries	Slight nutty flavor, great for crispy fried dishes
Coconut Oil	Baking, muffins, vegan recipes	Adds a subtle coconut flavor—best in sweet bakes
Olive Oil	Salad dressings, roasting, cakes	Use light olive oil for a neutral flavor in carrot cake
Melted Butter	Muffins, cakes, pancakes	Adds richness and a decadent flavor to baked goods
Applesauce	Muffins, carrot cake, healthy baking	Sub 1:1 for oil to reduce fat and boost moisture
Greek Yogurt	Muffins, cakes, quick breads	Adds moisture and protein—use plain, unsweetened
Sunflower Oil	Frying, roasting, mayo	Light seed oil with a neutral flavor and high smoke point
Canola Oil	All-purpose: baking, frying, dressings	Classic neutral option—great 1:1 swap for vegetable oil

❓FAQS

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