Although you may not think of it, you most likely cook with some form of oil every day. From canola oil to avocado oil, we depend on it to make our dishes tasty! Some people do have dietary restrictions however and require different forms of oil for cooking. With this in mind, is there a good substitution for grapeseed oil?
Luckily, many great substitutions can be made in place of grapeseed oil. Some of the most common grapeseed oil substitutes include:
- Canola oil
- Sunflower oil
- Rice bran oil
- Peanut oil
- Avocado oil
- Corn oil
- Safflower oil
If you are interested to learn more about what oils you can use in place of grapeseed, keep on reading!
Why Should You Replace Your Grapeseed Oil?
People often talk about switching up what oils they are using for various reasons such as smoke points or health risks. This isn’t often spoken about for grapeseed oil, so why should you not use it in the first place?
In most regards, grapeseed oil is a great at-home, all-purpose cooking oil. It comes from a relatively healthy source (grape seeds), and it has an enjoyable flavor.
Aside from all of its benefits, the main issue with grapeseed oil has to do with its smoke point and high-heat cooking. Due to its high fatty acid content, it isn’t very suitable for high-heat methods of cooking such as deep frying. Due to this, if you are using your oil for these types of cooking, you may want to find a different type.
1. Canola Oil
Canola oil is one of the most common cooking oils due to its all-purpose nature. One main benefit to canola oil is its wide availability and cost-effectiveness.
Canola oil is also more healthy than other oils because it has slightly less heavy fats. One last reason why canola oil is great is that it is high-heat effective, and can be used for almost any form of cooking.
2. Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil has become more popular over the years due to its supposed health benefits. According to many sources, the oil contains many vital nutrients and vitamins that can improve one’s general health. As you can probably guess, it is sourced from the seeds of sunflowers.
This oil can be safely used for deep-frying, and many people also enjoy the flavor when compared to other oils.
3. Rice Bran Oil
Rice bran oil is one of the lesser-known grapeseed oil substitutes. It is sourced from the outer layers of rice bran.
Although there aren’t too many health benefits associated with this oil, many people enjoy it because it is relatively cost-effective, and it is very effective for high-heat cooking.
4. Peanut Oil
As you can probably guess, peanut oil is derived from the ever-so-classic snack, the peanut. This means that it has a more rich and nutty flavor when compared to grapeseed oil.
Although some refinery processes can take away the allergens, many people can still have allergic reactions to peanut oil. If you don’t have any allergens, though, high-heat peanut oil would be a great option for you to use as a grapeseed oil substitute, especially in a hearty Asian dish!
5. Avocado Oil
Similar to sunflower oil, avocado oil is another oil that is often touted for having health benefits. Many people claim that there are benefits to the specific and unique fatty acids and omegas found within avocados
Avocado oil is another high-heat cooking oil, which makes it a great replacement for when grapeseed oil won’t do the job. Additionally, avocado has a neutral taste, making it great if you don’t want your oil to transfer flavor to your dishes.
6. Corn Oil
Corn oil is one of the most affordable options on this list, making it a good option if grapeseed oil is too expensive for you.
It is a fairly healthy alternative, although many people do still have some concerns about its sugar content. If you are looking for a different oil, there are great corn oil substitutes.
7. Safflower Oil
Safflower oil is extracted from the safflower plant and is a great substitute for grapeseed oil. When compared, it is better and has a high-heat cooking ability, and it is fairly affordable.
Additionally, it is very light, and tends to have a mild flavor, making it great for topping salads or other refreshing dishes.
One important thing to keep in mind is that some people can have allergies to this oil (especially if they have allergies to other specific plants).
Conclusion
Overall, grapeseed oil is an all-around great cooking oil, however, it does have some drawbacks, such as its inability to be used in high-heat cooking. Luckily, if you are looking for some great grapeseed oil substitutes, there are many options.
Some great substitute options include:
- Canola oil
- Sunflower oil
- Rice bran oil
- Peanut oil
- Avocado oil
- Corn oil
- Safflower oil
Although there are other options, these are the most common, and the most similar to grapeseed oil. As discussed, each of these oils has its specific benefits, such as a unique flavor, high-heat cooking ability, or health benefits. In the end, try to choose the oil that works best for you, and have some fun cooking!
