SaurabhGrapeseed oil is a byproduct of winemaking. When wine is made wine there’s always some leftover grape seeds and grapes that we can use to make grapeseed oil.
You can also use it for your hair to improve its condition. There are many beauty products available in the market containing grapeseed oil, like body lotions and hair conditioners but you can use pure grapeseed oil too.
Nowadays grapeseed oil is becoming more and more popular in the kitchen as well. It is an ideal choice for sautéing, salad dressings, and baking.
With some spices and herbs, it gives any dish a nice characteristic flavor but grapeseed oil is not a good choice for high-heat cooking, such as frying.
One downside of grapeseed oil is that it is not so easy to find in local stores. Even if you do find it at most stores it is quite expensive. However, the good news is that it is easily replaceable with another oil in almost every recipe.
The best substitutes for grapeseed oil are canola oil, olive oil, avocado oil, corn oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, walnut oil, peanut oil, almond oil, macadamia nut oil, coconut oil, and sesame oil.
Therefore, if you don’t have grapeseed oil on hand or can’t find it at the store, you can replace it with some of the following alternatives.
Grapeseed Oil Substitutes
As grapeseed oil does not have a strong flavor, you can substitute it with basically any other type of oil. The following list will show you when and how to use these oils in your favorite recipes.
1. Canola oil
Canola oil could be the best substitute for grapeseed oil because it is also chemically extracted from grape seeds. But they are not the same as canola oil has a smoke point of 400 degrees Fahrenheit and grapeseed oil begins to smoke at 420 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, you can easily use canola oil in any recipe that requires grapeseed oil. Just like grapeseed oil, it is light in both flavor and color.
It is also super versatile to cook with whether you are grilling, baking, or dressing a salad. And in most places, you can find it cheaper than grapeseed oil.
2. Olive oil
Olive oil is made by the grinding of olives into a paste. In most cases is a great alternative to grapeseed oil. They have the same health benefits. But extra virgin olive oil is considered to be the healthiest choice because it is richer in antioxidants.
It tends to have a yellow or green color and a strong tangy flavor and a light texture.
The biggest advantage of olive oil is that it is very easy to find everywhere and is cheaper than grapeseed oil. Feel free to use it for baked goods, salad dressings, and sauces. It is also a good idea to use it for making mayonnaise due to its emulsifying properties.
3. Avocado oil
Avocado oil is pressed from the pulp of an avocado. It is high in vitamin E and contains many antioxidants and it is widely used both in the kitchen and the beauty industry.
It is a good substitute for grapeseed oil for baking, sautéing, grilling, and salad dressing. For example, you can make grilled meat and vegetable marinades with avocado oil. It has a mild grassy flavor, but this lowers in intensity as you heat the oil.
4. Corn oil
As mentioned in the beginning, grapeseed oil is not a good oil for deep frying. If you want to prepare something fried, I recommend using corn oil instead of grapeseed oil. It is also a key ingredient in some kinds of margarine.
Corn oil is extracted from the germ of the corn plant and is very affordable in most places making it one of the most popular vegetable oils on the market.
If you are looking for a healthier version of corn oil or have issues with your cholesterol go with the organic cold-pressed corn oil.
5. Safflower oil
Safflower oil is extracted from the seeds of the safflower plants. The biggest advantage of it is that it is almost flavorless so it won’t drown out the flavors of the other ingredients.
It is great for salad dressings and vinaigrettes because it doesn’t solidify when you store it in cold temperatures. It has the same health benefits as grapeseed oil. However, avoid it if you are allergic to its flowers.
6. Sunflower oil
Even if you don’t have other oils at home most likely you will have some sunflower oil. It is very easy to find worldwide for a low price. The best part? In many recipes, it works just as well as grapeseed oil.
It is sourced from the seeds of sunflowers and its qualities allow it to be used for deep frying as well as for dressing and garnishing. It has a neutral taste and is extremely nutrient-dense.
7. Walnut oil
For many dishes, nut-based oils can be also great substitutes for grapeseed oil. One of the most popular nut-based oil is walnut oil. It is made from crushed walnuts that have been dried and cold-pressed.
It has a buttery texture and nutty flavor that can turn bitter when heated. Because of this, walnut oil is best consumed cold or at room temperature. You can drizzle it over fish or garnish your salad with it.
8. Peanut oil
Another nut-based oil is peanut oil. It has a strong, nutty flavor. So, it’s a good replacement for Asian-inspired dishes and stir-frying since it doesn’t absorb the taste of the foods you cook in it.
In stores, you can easily find refined peanut oil and cold press peanut oil. If you use it for garnishing you can also buy peanut butter. However, be very careful with it as many people are allergic to peanuts.
9. Almond oil
Almond oil is extracted from sweet almonds and can be used as a grapeseed oil substitute for baked dishes and even cakes.
It gives your cupcakes and cookies a smooth buttery flavor and a slightly nutty taste. It is one of the healthiest oils with a high amount of vitamin E.
10. Macadamia nut oil
Macadamia nut oil is quite difficult to find and it can be very expensive. But if you have it at home you can use it as a grapeseed oil substitute. It is made from macadamia nuts and it is quite strong in flavor. It is an ideal choice for baked goods and fried dishes too.
11. Coconut oil
Nowadays coconut oil is becoming more and more popular to use in the kitchen. And it is also easy to find for an affordable price.
It is a good grapeseed oil substitute as it is odorless and flavorless. So, it won’t change the smell or taste of your final dish. For baking try to find refined coconut oil while for deep frying it is better to use unrefined coconut oil.
12. Sesame oil
If you are planning to make a Chinese or Malay dish you might consider using sesame oil instead of grapeseed oil. It works well for sautéing, baking, and even for dishes cooked at high heat.
However, it should be used sparingly since it has a pungent taste and aroma. If you can try to find the light sesame oil instead of the dark version to replace grapeseed oil.
Related Questions
Can I use vegetable oil instead of grapeseed oil?
Yes, to replace grapeseed oil you can use any type of vegetable oil.
Where does grapeseed oil come from?
Most grapeseed oils come from Spain, Italy, and France.
1 comment
Thank you for this post it has been really helpful for me, I cook a meal for my Wife once or twice a week and try to surprise her I could find Grape-seed oil anywhere but thanks to this article I found we had two of the Substitutes in our cupboard Thanks again…Dennis