Baking with avocado oil is a great way to add an interesting and healthy twist to your favorite recipes. This nutritious oil has a mild flavor that works well in both sweet and savory dishes. Avocado oil is extremely versatile, so you can incorporate it into almost any baking recipe for added nutritional benefits and delicious flavor.
This post was written by Lindsay Delk, RDN. It is for informational purposes and is not intended to replace medical advice or instructions given by your healthcare provider.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
What Is Avocado Oil?
Avocado oil is a type of vegetable oil made from avocados. It is extracted from the pulp of ripe avocados. People use avocado oil for both culinary and cosmetic purposes. Avocado oil is a versatile product with many benefits both inside and outside of the kitchen. It has the potential to enhance your cooking while nourishing your skin and hair at the same time.
> How is avocado oil made?
The avocado pulp is mashed and pressed to extract the oil. This process can be done either by cold pressing or expeller pressing. Cold-pressed avocado oil retains more of its nutrients and flavor than expeller-pressed avocado oil. Expeller pressing generates heat that can destroy some nutrients. After the oil has been extracted, it is filtered to remove any impurities and then bottled for sale.
> Refined Vs. Unrefined Avocado Oil
Refined avocado oil is made by processing raw, unrefined oil through a chemical refining process. This removes impurities and makes the oil more suitable for use in high-heat cooking applications. Refined avocado oil is usually less expensive than unrefined varieties.
Unrefined avocado oil, sometimes called “virgin” or “extra-virgin” avocado oil, is made without any chemical refining processes. It has a stronger flavor and aroma than refined varieties and is better at slightly lower temperatures. Unrefined oil is the highest quality and most expensive type of avocado oil. It retains its natural flavor and nutritional value.
Baking with Avocado Oil
So, can avocado oil be used in baking? Yes, it definitely can!
It has a neutral taste, so it helps to give baked goods a light flavor and tender texture. You can use avocado oil in recipes such as cakes, muffins, breads, cookies, brownies, pancakes, and waffles. Store unused avocado oil in a cool dark place and make sure to check the expiration date before using it.
Benefits of Baking with Avocado Oil
The following are some benefits of baking with avocado oil:
- It’s full of healthy fats.
Avocado oil is high in “good” monounsaturated fat and low in “bad” saturated fat. It can lower your triglycerides and “bad” cholesterol without lowering your “good” cholesterol. Avocado oil is also high in antioxidants that can help protect your cells from damage. It may also reduce chronic inflammation that leads to chronic diseases and mental health problems.
- It has a mild taste.
Avocado oil has a neutral taste with hints of nutty and grassy notes that complement many types of food. It isn’t as strong as other oils like olive oil or coconut oil.
- It’s an easy substitution.
Avocado oil is an excellent substitute for other oils in baking recipes. It has a high smoke point, so it’s stable at high temperatures. And you can substitute avocado oil one-to-one for other cooking oils.
Where to Buy Avocado Oil
Because of its growing popularity, avocado oil is available at many large grocery store chains, health food stores, and specialty markets. It is also available online from a variety of retailers. Trader Joe’s avocado oil is virgin and cold pressed (virgin means unrefined).
FAQ about Baking with Avocado Oil
Yes, avocado oil is a great substitute for vegetable oil or canola oil when baking. Some people find that avocado oil gives their baked goods extra richness and flavor compared to other oils. You should experiment with different amounts and combinations of ingredients to get the best results for your particular recipe.
The answer to this question depends on several factors, such as the quality of the oil and where you buy it. But good-quality unrefined avocado oil tends to be more expensive than olive or vegetable oil.
Yes, avocado oil is very healthy. It is packed with monounsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamin E, and vitamin K. It’s an ideal choice for anyone looking to improve their overall health.
Bottom Line
Baking with avocado oil is an excellent way to make your recipes healthier and possibly tastier. This nutritious oil has a mild flavor that works well in both sweet and savory dishes. So you can incorporate it into almost any recipe for added nutritional benefits and delicious flavor.
Hi Lindsay,
So glad you’re writing these posts! I found this and your post on pickles so relevant to the choices we’re making this year to get good fats and to heal our microbiome!
The link to the USDA nutritional info does not show any vitamins. But it’s also a link to an older pre-2018 database they recommend you replace with a link to the maintained database.
“SR Legacy, released in April 2018, is the final release of this data type and will not be updated. For more recent data, users should search other data types in FoodData Central.”
Hi Lucy! I am genuinely happy that my posts are helpful to you. I hope I can continue to put out helpful information.
You are right that the nutrition information is from 2018, but there isn’t more current info from the USDA database for avocado oil. Honestly, I wouldn’t think it has changed though.
With regard to the vitamins not being listed – I get most of my nutrition info from cronometer.com, but I can’t link directly to a certain food’s nutrition page. So I use the info they have pulled from NCCDB (Nutrition Coordinating Center Food and Nutrient Database), but I use the best link I can find from the USDA database. If you would like to look up nutrition data from cronometer.com, click on “Foods,””Search Foods,” then “Search Foods and Recipes.” I hope that helps, and thank you for your comment!