Can Vegetable Oil Be Substituted for Olive Oil? Yes—Here's How (2024)

Whether you're cooking or making a salad dressing, try vegetable oil or another olive oil substitute when your bottle of olive oil runs dry.

Updated on August 31, 2023

It seems a different oil is having its moment to shine every week. For example, coconut oil has been found useful in the kitchen and beauty products. Avocado, hemp, sesame, and hazelnut oil—the list goes on and on. These oils add different flavors and aromas to recipes and aren't always interchangeable.

At some point, when they run out of olive oil, home cooks may ask, "Can vegetable oil be substituted for olive oil?" since those are the two most frequently on hand in kitchens. If you run out of olive oil mid-recipe, here are some tips for substituting olive oil.

Can Vegetable Oil Be Substituted for Olive Oil? Yes—Here's How (2)

Olive Oil Substitutions

You may notice a slight difference in taste and fragrance, but vegetable or canola oil can be substituted for olive oil in most recipes. Refer to these specific uses to find the best olive oil substitute for what you're making.

What to substitute in cooking: Olive oil's smoke point (meaning how hot the oil can get before it starts smoking) is 325°F to 410°F. The low end of the range is for unprocessed extra virgin olive oil, while the upper end reflects the smoke point of pure olive oil, a blend of refined and extra virgin olive oil. Thanks to a similar smoke point (400°F) and mild flavor profile, canola oil is a suitable replacement for olive oil for sautéing, grilling, roasting, and stir-frying.

What to substitute in salad dressings: Olive oil is the base of many salad dressing recipes. Extra virgin olive oil will impart more flavor than pure olive oil. You can use any nut oil as an olive oil alternative in salad dressings, but they will likely add a noticeable nut flavor. Vegetable oils such as canola, safflower, and sunflower will contribute less flavor than olive oil to salad dressings but bring the same body and texture.

With so many oil options available, there's no reason to pause cooking for an emergency grocery run; one of these substitutes will fill in nicely.

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Can Vegetable Oil Be Substituted for Olive Oil? Yes—Here's How (2024)

FAQs

Can Vegetable Oil Be Substituted for Olive Oil? Yes—Here's How? ›

You may notice a slight difference in taste and fragrance, but vegetable or canola oil can be substituted for olive oil in most recipes. Refer to these specific uses to find the best olive oil substitute for what you're making. Get Our Free Emergency Substitutions Chart!

Can I substitute vegetable oil for olive oil? ›

The health benefits of olive oil include reducing inflammation and helping with maintaining a healthy weight, but olive oil is also more expensive and has a shorter shelf life than vegetable oil. Keeping both in your pantry is ideal, but feel free to swap one for the other whenever you need.

Can you use vegetable oil instead of olive oil for pizza dough? ›

In addition to improving the texture of your dough, flour and oil will keep it moist longer. You may also consider using vegetable or canola oil instead of olive oil. However, you could skip all these steps and opt for healthy frozen pizzas.

Can you use vegetable oil instead of olive oil for baked potatoes? ›

Prior to cooking, the potatoes should be scrubbed clean of any dirt, rinsed, and dried. I use vegetable oil to rub the potatoes, which helps the skin crisp up nicely. You can use olive oil if you prefer.

Is it better to cook with olive oil or vegetable oil? ›

In summary, use olive oil when you want its flavor in a dish and for moderate-heat cooking. Choose a vegetable oil when you want a cleaner flavor and for high-heat cooking. If you find yourself out of the oil called for in your recipe, we've found these oils can be used interchangeably the majority of the time.

What is a healthy substitute for olive oil? ›

The 9 Best Olive Oil Substitutions
  • Grapeseed Oil. Grapeseed oil isa neutral-tasting oil, so it won't add any noticeable flavor to your food. ...
  • Canola Oil. Canola oil is another neutral oil made from crushed canola seeds. ...
  • Sunflower Oil. ...
  • Peanut Oil. ...
  • Avocado Oil. ...
  • Walnut Oil. ...
  • Flaxseed Oil. ...
  • Sesame Oil.

Can you use vegetable oil instead of olive oil for baked chicken? ›

If you happen to be mid-recipe and don't have enough olive oil, there are plenty of oil substitutions you can use in a pinch. Yes, vegetable oil is one of them so you can use them interchangeably when needed.

Can I use butter instead of olive oil? ›

It couldn't be easier to substitute butter for oil using a 1:1 ratio. This should work with olive, canola, vegetable, and coconut oils. Simply melt and cool the butter to room temperature, then continue with your recipe. (If the recipe calls for ½ cup oil, use ½ cup melted and cooled butter.)

What is the best oil for homemade pizza? ›

The majority of recipes call for olive oil, while some may specify extra virgin olive oil. You can also use additional oils to enhance the flavor. Avocado oil, and coconut oil are good options if you're controlling your cholesterol. The oil acts as a barrier to keep flavors from forming within the dough.

What happens if you don't put olive oil on pizza crust? ›

In other words, olive oil in pizza dough prevents sauce from absorbing into the dough and making it floppy. If you end up with a softer, floppier pizza, there's a good chance the dough contains little or no oil. Many classic pizza dough recipes do not include any, such as that of a traditional Neapolitan pizza pie.

Why is it advisable not to wrap potatoes in foil while baking? ›

Wrapping a potato in foil prior to baking traps the potato's natural moisture, steaming instead of baking it. This results is a soggy baked potato, not the light fluffy Idaho Baker that most people prefer.

What potato has the thickest skin? ›

The thick skin of a Russet crisps up while baking and the interior becomes light and fluffy, perfect for holding toppings like butter, cheese, or sour cream. Russets are also great for mashing, as long as the skins are peeled first.

Is it better to bake a potato at 350 or 400? ›

Is it better to bake a potato at 350 or 400 degrees? To get a nice, fluffy interior and the crispiest skin, bake your potatoes at 400 degrees. It'll take about an hour.

What is the healthiest oil to cook with? ›

Oils with more monounsaturated fats, such as rapeseed and olive, are also less susceptible to heat. Rapeseed oil (often sold as generic vegetable oil) and inexpensive olive oil are therefore the best choices for cooking. All cooking fats add fat and calories to your diet.

Can you use olive oil and vegetable oil interchangeably? ›

Any dessert recipe that calls for vegetable oil as an ingredient is a perfect chance to swap it for olive oil. In these recipes, the swap would be a one-to-one ratio. In other words, if the recipe calls for one cup of vegetable oil, you would simply use one cup of extra virgin olive oil.

Why do chefs use olive oil instead of vegetable oil? ›

Refined, polyunsaturated fats typical of vegetable oils have low oxidative stability which causes them to break down and release harmful compounds at temperatures below their smoke points. In contrast, extra virgin olive oil has been found to be the most stable cooking oil.

Can you use olive oil instead of vegetable oil when baking brownies? ›

Yes, you can use olive oil in brownies!

Olive oil has been gaining popularity in recent years as a substitute for butter and other vegetable oils in baked goods. Not only is it delicious but a healthy alternative cooking fat that can be used in most traditional baking recipes.

Can I use vegetable oil instead of olive oil in bread? ›

You can substitute vegetable oil for olive oil, that is no problem. You won't have the flavor that olive oil brings to the party, but in the case of more refined (not extra virgin) olive oils, it really won't make much difference. Just use however much oil the recipe calls for. It'll be fine.

What can I substitute for vegetable oil in a cake mix? ›

Melted, unsalted butter is the perfect substitute for oil, and can even add a richer flavor to baked recipes. Swap in butter for oil in a 1:1 ratio, melting butter in the microwave or on the stovetop. Vegan butter or ghee can also work in this instance.

Can I use olive oil in cake mix? ›

Yes, it's true! Extra virgin olive oil is a great substitute for butter or other fats when baking cakes. It gives cakes a wonderfully moist texture and a light, subtle flavor that pairs perfectly with other ingredients like fresh fruit and nuts. Plus, it's healthy and packed with antioxidants and healthy fats.

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