Browsing for new recipes online can be incredibly fun. You discover new dishes with all kinds of flavor combinations and new ingredients to try out. But, if a recipe calls for an ingredient that’s not in your pantry, you may just skip over it. One ingredient that isn’t too common in our kitchens is peanut oil, which may leave you looking high and low for a peanut oil substitute.
As much as we all try to meal prep our week’s recipes using our meal planners and grocery shopping lists there are times a recipe will catch your eye or you got distracted and forgot to look for a new “hard to find” item, like peanut oil.
Luckily, there are many substitutes that can take its place in a recipe, and most of them are readily available in many pantries. That means you don’t need to leave your house to find this ingredient replacement and you can keep pinning recipes to your favorite Pinterest board.
Take a look at some of the ingredients that work well as peanut oil replacements before heading back out to the store.
🥜 What Is Peanut Oil?
Peanut oil, also known as groundnut oil, is a vegetable oil derived from peanuts. Surprise! 😊
To extract this oil, the nuts are heated to high temperatures, and then compressed to produce a clear, dark golden-brown liquid.
Even though peanuts are used to make this oil, it doesn’t taste much like the nut at all! The oil has a faint, earthy, nutty flavor that has little impact on the overall flavor of your dish. At best, it adds a hint of smokiness.
This may leave you wondering why we use peanut oil in the first place.
❓ Why Use Peanut Oil?
The main reason people use peanut oil is its high smoke point, which is around 450°F. That means that it can handle a lot of heat before it starts evaporating.
This characteristic can be incredibly useful if you want to cook something at a high temperature and you’ll see it called for in recipes with deep frying and sautéing.
You can also use peanut oil in salad dressings. The mild flavor makes a perfect option to carry other flavors in the dish.
📌 Unrefined vs. Refined Peanut Oil
When you go to the grocery store, you’ll find two types of peanut oil.
Refined peanut oil is the most common. It has a high smoke point and has a mild, nutty flavor.
Unrefined peanut oil tastes a lot more like peanuts and has a lower smoke point.
Generally, you’ll use refined oil for cooking, while unrefined variety is better for vinaigrettes.
🔖 Overview of Substitutes
| Peanut Oil | Conversion | Smoke Point |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetable Oil | 1:1 | 400°F |
| Canola Oil | 1:1 | 400°F |
| Safflower Oil | 1:1 | 510°F |
| Sunflower Oil | 1:1 | 450°F |
| Olive Oil | 1:1 | 350-410°F |
| Corn Oil | 1:1 | 450°F |
| Rice Bran Oil | 1:1 | 450°F |
| Avocado Oil | 1:1 | 520°F |
It’s important to note that the smoke point of each oil may vary depending on its quality. A useful rule of thumb is that unrefined, virgin, or extra-virgin oils will have lower smoke points than refined oils.
📎 Best Peanut Oil Substitutes
Peanut oil is a great ingredient to add a bit of depth to many dishes. However, it’s not a common item in every pantry.
If you find a recipe that calls for this oil, don’t worry. You can experiment with the alternatives on this list.
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Vegetable Oil
This oil is one of the most common oils we use for cooking. You most likely have this one in your pantry right now. It’s readily available in stores and quite affordable.
Vegetable oil is taste-neutral, which means it doesn’t change the flavors of a dish and it has a reasonably high smoke point, which makes it a great substitute for peanut oil.
It does have a couple of drawbacks. The main disadvantage of using this oil is that it’s made up of several different ingredients and it is difficult to pinpoint the main one. As a result, this may cause variations in smoke points between brands.
Canola Oil
Another widely available alternative is canola oil. This one also has a neutral flavor and a relatively high smoke point.
Canola oil has a slightly lower smoke point than that of peanut oil, though.
Canola does have a few advantages. The main advantage of using this oil is the positive effect it can have on your health.
Canola oil has monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids. The combination of these two nutrients can help with chronic medical issues like high cholesterol. Please talk with your doctor before making any changes to your diet that may impact your health.
Safflower Oil
This oil is made using the safflower plant, which is also called “the poor man’s saffron.” This is because they share a similar flavor and color.
Refined safflower oil loses almost all its flavor, but it gets a boost in smoke point (up to 510°F).
This makes it an ideal replacement in almost all cooking applications. It’s also a healthier alternative to peanut oil.
Safflower oil is especially good for baking and pan frying.
Sunflower Oil
Sunflower seeds produce a neutral oil with a high smoke point, which makes for an incredibly versatile oil. You can use sunflower oil for baking, pan frying, and deep frying.
A word of caution: if you’re looking for a peanut oil replacement to get around an allergy, this option may not be the way to go. Some allergy sufferers may still have a reaction to these. So, be careful.
This is fairly common to find in the store and it’s good to keep on hand. On top of this, it has crucial omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E.
Olive Oil
Many of us are familiar with olive oil. We sometimes use it as a healthy alternative to butter or margarine. However, not as many people understand the different types available.
The first, and most common, type is extra virgin olive oil. To make it, olives are cold-pressed, without the addition of any chemicals or heat. This gives us a flavorful oil with a much lower smoke point.
The second type is more suited for cooking. Refined olive oil has less flavor and a higher smoking point.
Sometimes you can get refined oil with extra virgin mixed in. This may improve the flavor, but it also makes the oil unpredictable.
If you’re looking for a replacement for a recipe that calls for high heat, go with refined olive oil.
Corn Oil
Many people prefer to use corn oil in their daily cooking. It’s affordable and you can find it in almost any store.
The oil also doesn’t pack much flavor as it has a slightly earthy, sweet taste. This is a crucial property in any oil replacement you find.
Corn oil can handle a lot of heat. In fact, its smoke point is almost identical to that of peanut oil.
It can also help keep your skin vibrant and moisturized.
Rice Bran Oil
This oil is made using the outer layer of brown rice. It is a light golden brown and has little to no flavor. It also has a higher smoke point than that of peanut oil.
These reasons are why it is so popular in restaurants. The mild flavor complements many dishes and cooking styles and the high smoke point allows the chef to reuse the oil multiple times.
It lacks that slightly nutty flavor, but it works well as a replacement. It’s also relatively affordable.
Avocado Oil
If you’re looking for a substitute with a high smoke point, you’re in luck. Avocado oil has a much higher smoke point at around 520°F. This lends itself to deep frying, searing, and sautéing.
It does have a strong grassy, earthy taste, though. So make sure that the flavor will complement your recipe before using this as a replacement.
This oil tends to be on the more expensive side.
Recipes With Peanut Oil
Air Fryer Copycat Chick-fil-A Sandwich — This meal is delicious, and you can get it on the table in under an hour. Instead of deep frying in peanut oil, try using canola oil.
Thai Crunch Salad with Peanut Dressing — If you’re looking for a refreshing salad, this one may be the way to go. You can switch out peanut oil with safflower oil and get a similar result.
Our Best Ingredient Substitutions
All of your substitutes needs all in one handy reference spot! Comprehensive list substitutes here or to print off for your own menu binder. You to find an ingredient option that will allow you to not run out to the store or you may find a flavor combination you love even better than the original. Garlic Powder Substitute, Cojita Cheese Substitute, Parsley Substitute, Green Chilis Substitute, Italian Seasoning Substitute, Mustard Seed Substitute, Cilantro Substitute, Sriracha Substitute, White Pepper Substitute, Onion Powder Substitute, Five Spice Substitute, Turmeric Substitutes, White Wine Vinegar, Cardamon Substitute, Parsley Substitute, Cremini Mushroom Substitute, Egg Yolk, Leeks, Egg Wash, Coconut Cream, Tomato, Stewed Tomatoes, Coconut Sugar, Palm Sugar, Hoisin, Adobo, Chili Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Escarole, Watercress, Rice Wine Vinegar, Ketchup, Tomato Puree, Tomato Paste, Lemongrass, Chervil, Cheesecloth, Worcestershire Sauce, Fennel, Dark Soy Sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Peanut oil is incredibly versatile with a mild flavor and high smoke point. This makes it ideal for baking, sautéing, frying, and cooking.
In moderation, peanut oil can be incredibly healthy. It’s rich in antioxidants that are great for you. Moreover, it has a low-fat content to help with cholesterol levels. Check with your doctor before making any dietary changes, though.
Wrapping Up
If you’re looking for a peanut oil substitute, there are a few options you can try. For cooking applications, you can use sunflower, corn, or rice bran oils.
If you’re looking for a salad dressing, go with olive, canola, or avocado oils.
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