Canola oil is an oil variant that comes from the rapeseed plant. It is primarily used to add richness and texture to dishes, and it is a fixture in most baking recipes.
Despite its popularity, canola oil has gotten into some controversy over the years, and users might want to get substitutes to enable their cooking.
What is the best substitute for canola oil? Oil olive is the best substitute for canola oil. While olive oil doesn’t work so well in deep frying, it has a similar texture to canola oil. Also, unlike canola oil, there is no argument over olive oil’s health benefits. So, you can use it for just about anything.
An Overview of Canola Oil
Canola oil is a vegetable oil variant that comes from rapeseed. It comes with a low smoke point, and it has a light flavor that works well with a wide array of dishes. Canola oil also gets a lot of credit for being low in trans fats and having no cholesterol at all. It also contains omega-3s, which help improve your heart’s health.
The first people to grow canola were Canadians. However, the crop has become popular in different parts of the world. Thus, it tracks that canola oil has also become a popular fixture in dishes worldwide. You can use it for various things, including baking and marinating dishes before grilling.
With a wide array of health benefits and a lovely flavor, it’s easy to see why canola oil has become famous worldwide.
Why Substitute Canola Oil?
- Non-availability: While it is popular, you could have difficulties finding canola oil at times. So, a substitute would be perfect for balancing things out.
- Health Controversies: There have been arguments about canola oil being genetically-modified. Some believe that it isn’t so healthy and that it could also contain some harmful substances. So, you could want to steer clear of it if you’re not so sure.
Options for Canola Oil Substitutes
Best Overall Substitute for Canola Oil: Olive Oil
Olive oil is the ideal substitute for canola oil for several reasons. Most prominent is the fact that these two work for just about anything – especially in savory dishes. So, for your salad dressing or sautéing dishes, olive oil is always available to you. Since they’re both oils, you don’t need to pay attention to factors like taste and consistency.
You will also benefit a great deal from olive oil’s health profile. Many consider olive oil to be the healthiest oil variant available. It consists primarily of monounsaturated fats, which can help reduce blood cholesterol and harmful fat levels in your body. Altogether, many consider olive oil to be effective in fighting against cancer and heart problems. Using it in a healthy diet also helps your skin glow more.
If you’re looking to use olive oil, most experts will recommend extra virgin olive oil. It has been retained in its pure form, so you get to maximize taste. For your pasta, salads, and more, olive oil is perfect. Note, however, that olive oil doesn’t work so well when it comes to deep-frying. Since it doesn’t have a high smoke point, you might want to get something else if you’re looking to fry.
You can also use olive oil as a one-for-one substitute for canola oil, so don’t worry about mixing or percentages, Use it freely and enjoy your dish.
Best Substitute for Baking: Butter
Butter has oil in it, so it makes sense that you can use it as a substitute for canola oil. Since butter is such a proficient baking tool, it works perfectly in this regard.
When using butter, you want to substitute one cup of butter for ten tablespoons of canola oil. Butter works for making cakes, muffins, cookies, and much more. As a result, you get a pastry with a similar texture as what you would have gotten if you used canola oil. However, the texture might be a tad different.
Best Substitute for Deep Frying: Safflower Oil
Safflower oil is a colorless, flavorless oil that comes with a high smoke point. If you’re looking for the best canola oil substitute for deep frying, there’s no better option than this one.
As expected, you get safflower oil from the seeds of the safflower. Not to be confused with sunflower oil, this oil comes with a wide array of health benefits that you can enjoy as well. Some have linked it with preventing premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and it can also help prevent diabetes, manage blood sugar, etc. As expected, your body and hair will benefit significantly from your use of safflower oil as well.
Note, however, that safflower oil isn’t healthy for everyone. People with blood clotting issues are advised to stay away from safflower oil as it could act as a blood thinner and reduce blood clotting. It is also not too good for people with allergies to ragweed and other related plants.
Best Non-Oil Substitute: Applesauce and Banana Mash
If you’re looking to step out of the oil space, then you could try a mashed banana or applesauce. They provide potent flavors, and they can be helpful in baking dishes as well.
As expected, mashed banana and applesauce applications as far as substituting canola oil is concerned are limited to banking. Nothing more. You can use any of them as a perfect one-for-one substitute, and you could also add some water to the mashed banana if you want to add some moisture to your baked dish.