8 Best Coconut Oil Substitutes For You

Let’s have a look at the top coconut oil substitutes today. Do you like your cuisine to have a nutty flavor? If so, you’ve probably heard of coconut oil. Coconut oil is a versatile cooking oil with numerous applications.

Coconut oil is now used for more than just cooking. It’s widely used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It is, however, sometimes difficult to find. So, what are your options? Use a decent coconut oil substitute instead. Can’t come up with good substitutes? Butter, sunflower oil, palm oil, and apple sauce are some of the best coconut oil substitutes.

Let’s look at coconut oil before moving on to the coconut oil substitutes. The flavor and texture of coconut oil and its health benefits will be discussed in the next section. This section is for you if you’re new to coconut oil.

Quick Peek: Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a very versatile ingredient. This section gives an insight into its flavor, texture profile, applications, and nutritional data.

What Is Coconut Oil?

Coconut oil, as its name suggests, is obtained from coconuts. It is usually obtained from coconut milk. It has a low melting point and stays as a liquid at room temperature. It usually has a colorless look and smooth texture. However, it will have a thick, cream-like texture when it freezes. Both forms are safe for human consumption.

Coconut oil has been around for ages. It is a constant dietary item in some countries and parts of India. However, due to its umpteen uses, it is gaining a lot of popularity these days.

Describing Coconut Oil: Flavor and Texture

Coconut has a very neutral flavor. It has a mild nutty flavor. But you can not associate that taste with that of coconut. Coconut oil has a very mild taste that won’t affect the taste of your cuisine.

Pure coconut oil is almost fragrance-free and color free. It usually has a colorless, liquidy texture. But, when it freezes, it will have a thick cream-like texture. Both forms are safe for human consumption.

But when we buy coconut oil from a store, it might have a smell. This is an added fragrance. Therefore, choose fragrance-free coconut oil for your cooking and baking purposes next time onwards.

Uses of Coconut Oil

Being a plant-based oil, coconut oil has numberless uses. First of all, it’s great for cooking. As we said, it has a neutral taste and would not affect the overall taste of the food. Hence, coconut oil is great cooking oil.

Coconut oil can also be used for baking as well. Yes, you read it right. You can easily substitute butter with coconut oil when baking. You can use coconut oil as an ingredient as well as grease the pan while baking.

Moving on, coconut oil is excellent for hair and skin. It has excellent moisturizing properties, which will help your skin and hair heal dryness. It is also said to have properties that heal skin from UV ray damage.

Apart from that, it is also used as a major ingredient in ayurvedic medicines. People who practice oil pulling and double-cleansing often prefer coconut oil as the main oil.

 Coconut Oil On The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope

Coconut oil is often looked upon as one of the healthiest oils when it comes to cooking. This is because coconut oil has multiple health benefits.

Unlike other oils, coconut oil is made of medium-chain fatty acids. This is good for maintaining the right cholesterol level in the body (if used in moderation). Other than that, coconut oil also contains lauric acid, which has proven anti-inflammatory properties. 

Coconut oil is also proven effective for skin diseases like eczema when used for a really long time. It is also a great addition to your hair care essentials as it will help repair damaged hair and regain its shine.

Coconut oil is great, but it’s not for everyone. Coconut oil might be allergic to some people. Also, coconut oil is only good in moderation. If consumed in large quantities, it might lead to cardiovascular diseases and weight gain.

 Why Use A Substitute For Coconut Oil?

I’m sure you’ve given it some thought by now. Why would you want to use a substitute for such a versatile oil? While there are many benefits to using coconut oil, there are also some reasons why you might want to use a substitute.

Coconut oil can sometimes be hard to find and may not be as readily available as various other oils. In a situation like this, if your recipe calls for coconut oil, you can easily use a substitute for the same. 

These days, it has become a bit hard to find pure coconut oil. If you cannot get your hands on pure coconut oil, I suggest you use a substitute because it might be best for your health.

I believe I’ve covered everything there is to know about coconut oil. Now, let me introduce you to the article’s central focus: the best coconut oil substitutes!

Other Food Substitutes You Can Try

• Best Coconut Water Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Coconut Butter Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Coconut Flour Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Coconut Sugar Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Coconut Aminos Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Vegetable Oil Substitutes In Brownies That You Can Try
• Best Grapeseed Oil Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Peanut Oil Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Sunflower Oil Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Sesame Oil Substitutes You Can Try

Best Coconut Oil Substitutes

This section includes all the best coconut oil substitutes. For ease of reading, we are dividing the section into two. 

For Cooking Purpose

1. Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is one of the best coconut oil substitutes. Just like coconut oil, avocado also has a mild taste and can be used for various purposes.

Avocado oil, like coconut oil, has a high smoking point. Therefore, it can be used for stringing or frying. It also has so many health benefits. Avocado oil is a rich source of powerful antioxidants and minerals. Not only that, but avocado oil also helps in lowering cholesterol. You can easily substitute avocado oil for coconut oil in a 1:1 ratio.

2. Vegetable Oil

Vegetable oil, just like coconut oil, has a very neutral taste. Just like coconut oil, vegetable oil doesn’t affect the dish’s overall taste. It is also one of the most easily available and affordable coconut oil substitutes.

Vegetable oil, like coconut oil, can be used for stirring and sautéing. Vegetable oil has a very high smoke point. Therefore, if you plan to deep fry something, choose vegetable oil over coconut oil.

 Unlike coconut oil, vegetable oil does not have many health benefits. However, you can replace vegetable oil with coconut oil in the standard 1:1 ratio.

3. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

If you are searching for a coconut oil substitute with as many benefits as coconut oil, choose olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil, like coconut oil, has many uses. It has a low smoke point and can be used in dishes cooked at low heat. It is also a great option to dress a salad or other dishes.

Olive oil, like coconut oil, has many other uses. Like coconut oil, it is extremely beneficial for skin and hair. It also has oleic acids and many antioxidants, which are good for our health. But olive oil can be a little expensive in some places. If you use olive oil instead of coconut oil, follow a 1:1 ratio.

4. Grape Seed Oil

The grape seed oil has a neutral taste and a high smoke point. Therefore, it can be regarded as one of the best coconut oil substitutes. Whenever we think of grape seed oil, we might think of it as an oil with a fruity flavor. But that’s not the case at all. It is so plain and blends easily with all the other ingredients in a dish.

It is also a great option if you want to fry your dish deep. Since grape seed oil has a very high smoke point, it won’t burn the food easily. Moreover, it has so many other health and beauty benefits. Therefore, grape seed oil can be a good kitchen and bathroom substitute for coconut oil. While using it as a substitute, simply follow a 1:1 ratio.

For Baking

1. Butter

Butter is undoubtedly the best coconut oil substitute when it comes to baking. Moreover, most of us use butter for baking all the time. So even if your recipe calls for coconut oil, you can safely use butter in its place.

Butter and coconut oil share a similar consistency. They are creamy when cold and liquidy when exposed to heat. Butter, just like coconut oil, has a high-fat content and helps you achieve the best consistency while baking.

Other than baking, you can also use butter as a substitute for coconut oil cooking. However, butter has a very low smoke point. Therefore, it cannot be used for deep frying. While substituting butter for coconut oil, you can follow the 1:1 ratio. 

2. Applesauce

Applesauce is a vegan product and can be used as a coconut oil substitute in baking. It is obtained from apple puree and is available in both sweetened and unsweetened forms. If you are concerned about the fat content of coconut oil, you can choose applesauce as an alternative. It serves the same purpose as coconut oil in baking.

However, apple sauce has a more watery consistency. To match its consistency with coconut oil, mix half a spoon of apple sauce with any oil you have at home. Also, apple sauce might have a sweet-tart flavor of its own. Therefore, before mixing it with the baking ingredients, just do a quick taste check to see how well it goes with your cuisine.

3. Almond Oil

Almond oil is sourced from almonds. It has a mild and nutty fragrance and a sweet taste and works as a great coconut oil substitute in baking. Almond oil will be a great option for you if you plan to bake a nutty-flavored cake or cookie. Its sweet taste enhances the flavor of the cake and makes it moist and soft.

Just like coconut oil, almond oil also has many minerals and nutrients that are extremely good for us. Therefore, it can be a safe coconut oil substitute. While replacing coconut oil with almond oil, you can follow the standard 1:1 ratio.

4. Hazelnut Oil

Hazelnut oil has a mild hazelnut fragrance and can be used as a coconut oil substitute in cooking. Hazelnut oil is one of the most underrated oils when it comes to cooking. You might know it is a great carrier oil or moisturizer. But hazelnut oil is so much more than just a beauty oil.

If you love hazelnuts, you should try substituting hazelnut oil for coconut oil in baking. With its sweet taste and hazelnut aroma, hazelnut oil can do wonders for your baking experience.

In addition to that, hazelnut oil has a very high smoking point, making it perfect for deep frying and sauteing. It is equally nutritionally rich and low in fat compared to coconut oil. You can use the conventional 1:1 ratio to replace coconut oil with hazelnut oil.

A Short Recap Of The Best Coconut Oil Substitutes

I’m sure you’ve looked through the list of coconut oil substitutions. However, deciding which one to use in a recipe may be difficult for some. For that reason, I’ve divided it into three groups.

For Cooking Purposes

Most Suitable: Avocado oil is the most suitable substitute for coconut oil. 

Easily Available: Vegetable oil is the easiest coconut oil substitute. 

Best Flavor Profile: Olive oil will provide the best flavor profile when used to substitute for coconut oil. 

For Baking Purposes

Most Suitable: Butter is the most suitable substitute for coconut oil. 

Easily Available: Almond oil is the easiest coconut oil substitute. 

Best Flavor Profile: Hazelnut oil will provide the best flavor profile when used to substitute for coconut oil. 

Final Thoughts

I hope you found this post useful in searching for the finest coconut oil substitute for your recipe. While coconut oil is a nutrient-dense and helpful oil, it can sometimes be difficult to come by.

All of the substitute alternatives listed above are excellent substitutes for coconut oil. I’m sure you’ll choose something fantastic, and I wish you good luck in the kitchen!

How To Use Coconut Oil Substitutes In A Recipe

Coconut Oil Substitutes

Coconut oil is now used for more than just cooking. It's widely used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It is, however, sometimes difficult to find. So, what are your options? Use a decent coconut oil substitute instead.

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!

Ingredients

  

• Avocado Oil
• Vegetable Oil
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Grape Seed Oil
• Butter
• Applesauce
• Almond Oil
• Hazelnut Oil

Instructions

 

• Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
• Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
• Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)