21 Easy Ways To Substitute For Vegetable Oil

Here are 21 ways to substitute for vegetable oil for high heat, low heat, no heat, and baking, plus easy recipes to try!

Vegetable oil is a common ingredient in baking and cooking. This neutral oil is used for sautéing and frying and helps baked goods turn out light, fluffy and moist.

Vegetable oil is great vegan alternative to animal fats and is made from extracting the oils from a variety of seeds, nuts, grains and fruit.

But if your vegetable oil expired or you need a healthier alternative, there are several ways to substitute for vegetable oil for all your cooking needs.

Keep scrolling for the best vegetable oil replacements by cooking method!

Table Of Contents

Common Ways to Substitute for Vegetable Oil
Recipes with Vegetable Oil

Several bottles of vegetable oil on store shelves with golden yellow caps.

Common Ways to Substitute for Vegetable Oil

High-Heat Cooking

Vegetable oil is a neutral, high-heat oil, meaning you can cook with it at high temperatures before it starts to smoke and burn. Here are some high-heat vegetable oil replacements to use in frying, stir-frying, and grilling.

1. Canola Oil

Canola oil in glass bowl next to bright yellow flowers from the plant.

Canola oil has the least saturated fat of any common cooking oil, making it a heart-healthy stand-in for the vegetable variety. It is made from the seeds of the canola plant.

It’s great for all cooking methods and can be used as a 1 to 1 substitute.

2. Safflower Oil

Safflower oil vegetable oil substitute in small glass jar next to wooden spoon for fronds.

Safflower oil (not to be confused with the essential oil version) is great for cooking and works as a 1 to 1 substitute for vegetable oil. This oil comes from a thistle-y plant, related to sunflowers, and has a very neutral flavor.

Just be sure to steer clear of the regularly refined or unrefined versions for high heat cooking. These versions are more suitable for sautéing or dressing.

3. Peanut Oil

Peanut oil in clear glass jar surrounded by whole and shelled peanuts.

Peanut oil has a mild or neutral flavor and is made from it’s namesake nut. It has a high smoke point, making it great for all forms of cooking. It is also heart healthy and has antioxidant properties.

Use peanut oil as a 1 to 1 replacement for vegetable oil in cooking and baking.

4. Grapeseed Oil

Cluster of grapes and pile of grape seeds next to glass jar of grapeseed oil.

Grapeseed oil is made from the seeds of grapes. It’s another great, high-heat vegetable oil alternate. Use grapeseed oil as a 1 to 1 substitute wherever you’d use vegetable oil.

5. Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil in glass jars next to two sunflower heads and bag of seeds. — [

Sunflower oil is made from, you guessed it, sunflower seeds! It’s another great neutral oil that can stand high temperatures. Use sunflower oil for cooking, frying and baking as a 1 to 1 substitute.

6. Avocado Oil

Avocado oil in glass bottle next to white bowl of cut avocados.

Avocado oil is derived from the pulp of avocados. This vegetable oil replacement is very similar to olive oil in terms of utility and nutritional value. It’s heart healthy and can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

It’s also mild in taste and can stand high-heat, making it a great 1 to 1 substitute for vegetable oil.

7. Soybean Oil

Soybean oil in glass bottle next to wooden bowl of soybeans pods with wooden spoon.

Soybean oil is extracted from the seeds of the soybean plant. It’s rich in healthy fats and Omega-3s and may even promote bone health. Use soybean oil as a 1 to 1 substitute everywhere you would vegetable oil.

8. Ghee

Ghee in clear glass jar with wooden spoon on rustic wooden surface.

Ghee is butter that has had all the milk solids removed. It is a much better alternative for those with milk allergies and it’s also a great stand-in for vegetable oil. Ghee has a high smoke point (unlike traditional butter) and a rich and nutty flavor.

Use as a 1 to 1 substitute for vegetable oil in cooking.

9. Sesame Oil

Sesame oil substitute for vegetable oil in glass jar next to bowls of sesame seeds.

Sesame oil comes from the seeds of the sesame plant and is best used in stir fry recipes and sauces. It has a very strong and distinctive flavor, so be sure this works with the other ingredients in your dish before using it as a vegetable oil substitute.

Dressings, Sautéing and Sweating

Here are some oils that don’t do well with high heat, but are great for lower heat applications or for dressings and marinades.

10. Olive Oil

Green olives and leaves next to jar of olive oil on burlap sack.

If you need a little oil for sautéing at a medium to low temperature, you can use olive oil to substitute for vegetable oil 1 to 1. Olive oil has a stronger taste and lower smoke point, so you should never use it for frying and only for specific baking recipes.

This heart-healthy oil is also great for dressings and marinades!

11. Butter

Butter is spread on a loaf of rustic crusty bread next to dish with butter.

Butter works as a great 1 to 1 substitute for vegetable oil at medium to low heats and in baking. Just melt it down and let it cool before adding it to your recipe.

12. Margarine

Butter knife lifts margarine out of tub large white tub on counter.

Margarine is another great vegetable oil substitute for medium and low heat cooking and can also be used in baking. Substitute the same way you would butter.

13. Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseed oil in glass jar next to ramekin and wooden spoon filled with seeds.

Flaxseed oil is not stable over heat, but is great for drizzling over food and finishing dishes and in dressings and marinades. Use as a 1 to 1 substitute for any of these applications.

Baking

Baked goods don’t require an oil with a low smoke point so there are more replacement options available for this cooking method. Oils are typically used as a moistening agent in baking, which make even ingredients like fruits and vegetables suitable replacements.

You can use any of the oils above to substitute for vegetable oil in baking (except flaxseed oil, sesame oil and olive oil), plus the following:

14. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil in glass jar next to bowl of creamy coconut butter.

Coconut oil can be used as a 1 to 1 substitute for vegetable oil in most baking recipes. Just note that there will be a slight coconutty flavor. If this works with the other ingredients in your dish, go for it!

15. Applesauce

Applesauce in glass jar with mint garnish next to stacked cinnamon pods.

Apple sauce makes a great vegetable oil replacement in cakes, muffins, cookies and brownies. Be sure to use an unsweetened version and substitute 3/4 cup applesauce to 1 cup of oil.

16. Yogurt

Large clear glass bowl filled with white yogurt with rustic wooden spoon.

Regular or Greek yogurt are suitable vegetable oil replacements in most baked goods and can increase the nutritional value with added protein and calcium. Use plain yogurt as a 1 to 1 substitute for oil.

17. Mashed Fruit/Fruit Puree

Woman holds large white ramekin bowl of pureed avocado over wooden table.

Velvety fruits like avocado, banana, pears, pumpkin and sweet potato can also substitute for vegetable oil when pureed. These creamy blends bring moisture to baked goods as a 1 to 1 substitute, but may alter the color and texture.

You can mix a fruit blend with equal parts baking-safe oil to help improve the texture of your baked goods.

18. Pureed Veggies

Pureed veggies substitute for vegetable oil in white ramekin serving bowl with spoon.

Surprisingly, mild flavored vegetables like blended cauliflower, zucchini and beets can also substitute for vegetable oil, 1 to 1. Add your unseasoned, cooked and puréed vegetables to your recipe and enjoy a moist treat with increased nutritional value.

19. Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise in white bowl next to whisk and fresh eggs and peppercorns.

Mayo is one of the best-kept secrets in the world of baking. It’s a great substitute for vegetable oil in baked goods, making them extra moist and decadent. Use as a 1 to 1 substitute and enjoy!

20. Sour Cream

Sour cream vegetable oil substitute in glass bowl next to orange, checkered kitchen towel.

Sour cream is a similar vegetable oil replacement to yogurt and mayo. Use as a 1 to 1 substitute and enjoy a slight tanginess in your baked treat.

21. Shortening

Large mound of white shortening for cooking sits on wooded kitchen counter.

Shortening isn’t the most healthy vegetable oil replacement as it does contain cholesterol. However, it has great utility in baking. Use melted shortening as a 1 to 1 substitute for oil.