Grape Seed Oil Substitute

Grape seed oil is extracted from the seeds of grapes and has many culinary uses. Read this article to know more about substitutes of grape seed oil.

Grape seed oil is mostly produced in wine making countries like Italy and France as they have an abundance of grapes. What is grape seed oil? It is extracted from the seeds of grapes and it has a very high smoking point. The unique character of this oil is that it does not have a strong aroma, it is light and it has a slight nutty flavor. Since in wine making, the seeds of grapes are usually discarded, it was decided that extraction of oil from these seeds will be a profitable use of the seeds. Grape seed oil is not only used for culinary purposes, but it also finds wide application as a massage oil in spas.

It is chemically extracted, since the seeds are very small and manual extraction is not possible. Because of its high smoking point, grape seed oil is excellent for frying food. It can also be used for making dressings for salads, vinaigrette and sauces. Another very important use of grape seed oil is its use in making mayonnaise since it has good emulsifying properties. Grape seed oil is available in most supermarkets. But what do you do when you cannot find grape seed oil and your recipe calls for it. Then you need a grape seed oil alternative.

Substitute for Grape Seed Oil

Before you decide upon a grape seed oil substitute, it is very important to know what type of dish you are cooking. Depending upon the type of dish and the cooking process used, you can find a viable substitute for grape seed oil.

Substitute for Grape Seed Oil for Frying

If you need a substitute for grape seed oil for deep-frying food like meats or French fries then you will require an oil that has a high smoking point so that the food is cooked quickly without absorbing too much oil. Good substitute for grape seed oil for deep-frying are avocado oil, peanut oil, safflower oil and sunflower oil. These oils have a neutral flavor as well as high smoking point that allows you to cook deep-fried food quickly. Another good substitute for grape seed oil for Chinese or Malay cuisine is sesame oil. But sesame oil should be used sparingly as it has a very pungent taste and aroma.

Substitute for Grape Seed Oil for Salad Dressing

On the other hand, if you are preparing a salad and the dressing calls for the use of grape seed oil then there are a lot many substitutes that you can use. A salad dressing is supposed to be flavorsome and the grape seed oil provides it with a subtle nutty flavor. When you are out of grape seed oil then the best substitute for grape seed oil in a salad dressing are walnut oil, extra virgin olive oil, almond oil, avocado oil or rapeseed oil. Some other oils that impart a flavor similar to that of grape seed oil are hazelnut oil, macadamia nut oil, truffle oil and argan oil. Truffle oil, macadamia nut oil and argan oil have great flavors. These are pretty expensive but are great for making salad dressings and vinaigrettes.

Substitute for Grape Seed Oil for Baking

If your recipe calls for grape seed oil for baking purposes like baking quiches, tarts and cup cakes then the best substitute for grape seed oil is any unflavored vegetable oil or canola oil. As baking requires that the oil should not have any characteristic strong aroma or flavor, vegetable oil is your best substitute. You can also use plain unsalted butter as substitute for grape seed oil in baking. The only thing to remember is not to use extra virgin olive oil as a substitute for baking purposes as it has a very unique flavor. If you wanted to make mayonnaise with grape seed oil and you do not have any, then the best grape seed oil substitute will be olive oil. It also has excellent emulsifying properties which is required for making mayonnaise at home.

So this was all about different substitutes for grape seed oil. Grape seed oil is high in omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids and is also a good source of vitamin C. Try to use grape seed oil in salads and sauces to derive its full benefits. If grape seed oil is not available all the above substitutes will work just as well.

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