Updated on April 9th, 2023
Vegetable oils are oils extracted from seeds or other parts of a fruit. It has a neutral flavor and a high smoking point that allows it to be heated to high temperatures. They are also rich in polyunsaturated fats which are heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory, provided it is taken in moderate quantities.
Vegetable oil should be used primarily for deep frying and stir-frying. It is a universal oil and can be used in almost any type of recipe. The main varieties of vegetable oils include Palm, soybeans, sunflower, peanut, cotton, coconut, olive, corn oil, grape seed, hazelnut, rapeseeds.
vegetable Oil Nutrition Facts:
Use in Different Types of Recipes
Vegetable oils are great when it comes to culinary uses.
For example:
- They serve shortening purposes, which gives the pastry a crumbly texture.
- They add flavor to food.
- They increase the texture and make sure the ingredients don’t stick together.
- They act as a flavor-base for other ingredients since some of these ingredients carry flavors that are soluble in oil.
Other recipes where vegetable oils can be used includes:
Cakes and Muffins
Vegetable oils are known to give one of the best results when used in baking, especially in cakes. It makes the moistest and lightest cakes.
Vegetable oils remain liquid at room temperature, which makes the dough very light. Vegetable oil is also pure fat, without liquid, which means the dough will not interact with any form of liquid in the vegetable oil. This is what gives the coveted feeling of cakes falling apart in your mouth when you bite into it.
Brownies
Vegetable oil is used in brownies because it has a mild taste that does not affect your product’s end quality. Other oils tend to have a sharp and defined taste that might taint the brownies when it’s done.
Asides from the taste, vegetable oils do not aerate butter. This is what gives your brownies a fatter texture, rather than cake texture.
Waffles
Vegetable oils are added to waffles to help smoothen the batter after preparation. It also gives the waffle this crunchy texture on the outside. Without the oil, the waffles would appear soft outside.
The oil is also spread on the pan to keep the waffles from sticking to the pan.
Pancakes
Vegetable oils are also beneficial when making pancakes. They help keep the batter well moisturized and fluffy.
Their high boiling point keeps the pancakes brown and makes them crispy on the edges, rather than just soft and unicolored.
Substitutes for Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oil has its health benefits, mild taste, and light texture. It works and gives the best results for many people, so the importance can not be overemphasized, and it is almost indispensable. However, sometimes you cannot just get a hold of it. Or sometimes you are fresh out, or if you are like others, you want a healthier alternative, then there are a few other ingredients to use.
- Applesauce
- Canola oil
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Butter
Substitutes for Vegetable Oil in Cakes
Apple sauce is one great substitute for vegetable oil in the cake. Apple sauce is a sauce made from apples, peeled or unpeeled. The sauce can be gotten by cooking apples with water or apple cider, and the more acidic the apple, the finer the purée.
Adding applesauce to your batter instead of vegetable oil should be done by adding one spoon of applesauce for every spoon of oil you would have added. Asides from the fact that applesauce is a healthier option because it reduces the overall dietary fat intake and calorie level, it also adds flavor and moisture to the cake.
The acidic tang and apple taste gives the cake a more thorough flavor, while the high moisture content of the apple sauce ensures the cake remains soft and fluffy.
Read More: Substitute for Oil In Brownies Mix
Substitutes for Vegetable Oil in Waffles
Canola oil is the perfect substitute for vegetable oil when making waffles because it functions as a vegetable oil in making your recipe. It helps smoothen out the batter and make the waffle crunchy and brown on the outside.
Asides from that, it is also flavorless, which means it will impart no taste into your finished product, and you don’t have to worry about it tasting any different. Canola oil is also one of the healthiest cooking oil out there. It is pressed from the seeds of the canola plant. It has low proportions in saturated fats and high proportions of monounsaturated fats, making it very healthy. For measurements, you swap the vegetable oil for it in the ratio 1:1.
Substitutes for Vegetable Oil in Muffins
If you are about to make some muffins and realize you’re fresh out of vegetable oil, then coconut oil is a great substitute for it. Coconut oil is a colorless, edible oil made from the coconut palm tree’s kernel or fruits. It has a natural, sweet coconut taste and contains 92% saturated fatty acids. Coconut oil has also shown to be anti-diabetic and cholesterol-lowering.
When used in making muffins, it should be substituted for vegetable oil in the ratio of 1:1, that is, one tablespoon of coconut oil for one tablespoon of vegetable oil. It does the same thing for the muffins as vegetable oils. Only it’s a healthier substitute.
Substitutes for Vegetable Oil in Brownies
When making brownies, the perfect substitute for vegetable oil is olive oil. Olive oil is made from the fruits of an olive tree. It is made by pressing whole olives and extracting the oil.
To use olive oil in vegetable oil for brownies, you substitute it in the same ratio as vegetable oil. This is because they have the same density. Olive oils are produced through gentle pressing and grinding; without the use of overly harsh chemicals, which makes it a very healthy and nutritious oil.
But when choosing olive oil for your baking, please be sure to use a very light olive oil from a good brand to avoid the characteristic spicy taste of the olive oil.
Substitutes for Vegetable Oil in Pancakes
For pancakes, the next best substitute is butter. Vegetable oil keeps the pancakes moist and non-sticky, and so will the butter.
Since butter is thicker than vegetable oil, you need to be careful when scooping out a measurement. When using butter for pancakes, just spread a cube on the pan, let it melt, and then spread. It keeps the pancake moist and fluffy without sticking to the griddle or pan.
Butter burns more quickly than vegetable oil, so that it can get tricky, but if the heat is low, it shouldn’t be a problem. Butter also imparts a distinct and flavorful taste to the pancakes.
FAQs
Is cooking with vegetable oil bad for you?
Vegetable oils are not extracted naturally. Asides being extracted with the help of chemicals like hexane, they undergo deodorization, refinement, modification to remove impurities further. Anything subjected to such an amount of chemicals cannot be good for your health, especially in the long run.
Is olive oil the same as vegetable oil?
They are different. Vegetable oil is extracted from plant sources like seeds and other parts, while olive oil is extracted from olive fruits.
Also, vegetable oil has a higher boiling point than olive oil. But olive oil is a healthier choice when it comes to cooking.
What are the healthiest cooking oils?
They are a bunch. We have canola oil, olive oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil.
They contain less fat and calories.
Conclusion
Vegetable oils make cooking easier. They have a high boiling point, which makes them a great choice for stir-frying and deep-frying.
It is almost like they have zero taste, so it imparts absolutely no flavor whenever they are used in cooking. But these days, healthier options for cooking have been discovered, and health should be our main priorities.
These oils also have distinct properties that make them great substitutes for vegetable oils, depending on what you want to cook at a particular time. I hope this article helps in discovering which one works best for you.
