Can You Use Avocado Oil for Baking? Yes—and It Works for Sautéing, Too

Cooking oils are a must-have ingredient for making everything from homemade salad dressing to showstopping cakes. Sure, extra virgin olive oil or canola oil are classic go-tos, but one less common oil you should consider making a pantry staple is avocado oil. It comes from the same vibrantly green stone fruit that you use as your favorite toast topper or to make guacamole. That means avocado oil has many of the same health benefits as the whole fruit does. And yes, you can use it for all your favorite recipes, thanks to its mild flavor.

What Is Avocado Oil?

Upon first glance, you'll notice avocado oil is thick and has a dark green hue (similar to most oils on the market) and there's no trace of the bright fruit when it's freshly cut. According to the California Avocado Commission, avocados get a good washing before they are de-pitted and de-skinned. The avocado pulp is mashed and pressed into a "beautiful vat of green 'guac.'" In the commercial process, that "guac" goes through a drum that spins at high speeds, which forces the oil and water out of the pulp to be separated for bottling.

Avocado Oil Health Benefits

Avocados are high in monounsaturated fat, which can help reduce cholesterol levels in your blood and lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. The same health benefits apply to just the oil as well. Avocado oil is also a great source of vitamin E and rich in the antioxidant lutein, which research suggests may provide benefits to skin and eye health.

Where to Buy Avocado Oil

Due to its increasing popularity over the past few years, it should be pretty easy to get your hands on a bottle of avocado oil in most grocery stores. You'll likely find it with the other oils in the baking ingredient aisle in a bottle, as well as a nonstick cooking spray. As far as price point goes, it depends on the brand and quality (which can get expensive for both). The average bottle of avocado oil runs around $10 vs. $6-$8 for extra virgin olive oil. But you should be able to find some quality affordable options out there. If you'd rather not make a trip to the store, you can also order it online.

How to Use Avocado Oil

Because avocados are fairly neutral in flavor anyway, you can expect the oil also won't have a distinct flavor. This makes it the perfect oil substitute for any of your favorite sweet or savory recipes calling for cooking oils. Swap avocado oil for olive or canola oil in your favorite salad dressings, poke cakes, or to coat your roasted veggies. Avocado oil also has a high smoke point (520ºF vs. olive oil's 410ºF), so it would be an excellent option for your meat marinades the next time you plan a cookout.