Are you wondering if you can use olive oil in place of vegetable oil when baking? Or cooking?
Is the answer the same for extra virgin olive oil?
Are the proportions the same for olive oil and vegetable oil?
The answer is YES, you can use olive oil in place of vegetable oil in the same quantities for most recipes without changing anything else.*
Let’s take a look at when it’s best to substitute and when it’s better not to.
*I’ve based my advice on years of experience cooking side-by-side with my Italian family in Florence.
Jump to Section
Can You Use Olive Oil or Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil?
The answer is yes, you can for most cooking techniques and recipes (and many Italians prefer to do so!) but you must know that using both olive oil and extra virgin olive oil will change the overall flavor of the recipe.
When cooking and baking, it won’t change the texture if you are substituting EVOO in place of vegetable oil but it will affect the flavor. Both olive oil and extra virgin olive oil are very fruity oils that can be aromatic and even spicy at times. This pungent aroma and flavor can come through in whatever you are cooking, especially if it’s the star of the show, such as in a salad dressing.
Vegetable oil, however, is much more mild, even tasteless, which is used by some recipe authors on purpose so as to not overpower the other ingredients in the recipe. At the end of the day, however, it’s a personal preference and you can substitute it as long as you aren’t deep frying or baking items that call for solid or cold butter.
Tip: Keep in mind that substitute olive oil for vegetable oil can be pricey! Olive oil is much more expensive than vegetable oil so if you aren’t going to taste the difference, don’t bother using the expensive stuff!
When You Don’t Want To Use Olive Oil or Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil
You really don’t want to substitute olive oil in place of vegetable oil for delicate baked goods such as a yellow birthday cake.
Before using EVOO or olive oil in place of vegetable oil in a baked good, always ask yourself “Do I want to taste the aroma and fruity flavor of the olive oil?” If you don’t mind this, then go ahead and substitute in equal quantities.
Baking Recipes To Make With EVOO in Place of Vegetable Oil
Consider these types of cakes and baking recipes to make with EVOO or olive oil in place of vegetable oil, which will hold up well to the fruity flavor and richness of the olive oil:
- Citrus cake
- Yogurt cake (tea cake)
- Apple cake
- Morning Glory muffins
- Carrot cake
Baking Recipes to Avoid Making with Olive Oil
These recipes are baked goods and desserts that are best made with the original vegetable oil that is called for:
- Birthday cake
- Cupcakes
- Chocolate ricotta cake
Substituting Olive Oil in Place of Butter
Don’t replace butter with olive oil should the butter be melted in a recipe. For example, in pancakes, waffles, banana bread or other quick breads, using olive oil is perfect as long as you replace it with the ratio of three parts olive oil for every four parts butter (¾ cup olive oil in place of 1 cup butter, for example).
Do not substitute olive oil in place of butter in recipes that call for cold or room temperature butter because the clotted butter consistency is key to the success of that recipe. Items and recipes that should be avoided include:
- Pie crusts
- Scones and biscuits
- Cookies
Using Olive Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil – Quick Guide
| Recipe/Cooking Technique | Can You Use Olive Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil? |
| Salad dressing | Yes |
| Homemade mayonnaise | Partly |
| Drizzling | Yes |
| Marinades | Yes |
| Stir-Frys | Yes |
| Pan Frying | Yes |
| Deep frying | No |
| Sauteing | Yes |
| Baking | Depends |
| Cookies | No |
| Cakes | Yes |
Using Olive Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil For Salad Dressings
Salad dressings will most likely call for olive oil anyways because it has much better flavor than a vegetable oil. If you see a salad dressing recipe that calls for vegetable oil, I urge you from personal experience to replace it with EVOO for even better flavor!
Using Olive Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil For Homemade Mayonnaise
When I make mayonnaise from scratch, I always use half vegetable oil and half olive oil. I like the combination because the vegetable olive oil is lighter but I like the health benefits and the slight fruity flavor of the olive oil. If you use all olive oil in place of vegetable oil, I find the homemade mayonnaise to be a bit bitter. For best results, stick to half olive oil and half vegetable oil.
Need help choosing an olive oil? Read
15 Best Italian Olive Oils – To Enjoy in Italy & Bring Home as a Souvenir
Best Italian Olive Oil Brands in America – Where to Buy Them and How to Store Them
Using Olive Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil For Drizzling
Yes, you can use olive oil in place of vegetable oil for drizzling and you should be! Finishing any meal with a drizzle of olive oil improves the overall flavor of most dishes, especially items like grilled meats, crostini, fish, cooked vegetables and soups. Most Italians, including myself, would avoid drizzling any food with vegetable oil.
Curious about other ways Italians use their olive oil? Check out
20+ Ways Italians Use Their Extra Virgin Olive Oil + When They Don’t
Fettunta – Italy’s Oily Slice and How Italians Cook with Olive Oil
Using Olive Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil For Marinades
You can use olive oil in place of vegetable oil for marinades including for fish, steak, vegetables, pork or vegetarian options. It shouldn’t change the overall flavor of your recipe too much and olive oil is considered better than vegetable oil for your health.
Using Olive Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil For Stir-Frys
This is one of the best places to use olive oil in place of vegetable oil in my experience if you want to incorporate more olive oil in your diet and remove other processed oils such as vegetable oils.
Using Olive Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil For Pan Frying
Pan frying, a similar cooking technique to sauteing, is another great way to use olive oil instead of vegetable oil. The olive oil and EVOO have the capability to get nice and hot just like vegetable oil, making it easy to create a deep, golden crust on whatever you are pan frying.
Using Olive Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil For Deep Frying
While some Italians deep fry with olive oil or even extra virgin olive oil, I don’t recommend it. I have tried both and I can say with certainty that deep frying with EVOO makes for a heavier and greesier result. Vegetable oil (peanut or sunflower are my preferred choices) are better because the smoke point is higher. The food you are frying will crisp up well without burning and will drain equally well.
Using Olive Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil For Sauteing
Please do! Most Italians do so and so should you, should you like. It shouldn’t affect the overall outcome of your recipe too much.
Using Olive Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil For Baking
You can use olive oil in place of vegetable oil for baking generally speaking as long as you won’t be changing the consistency of the recipe. Avoid baked goods that ask you to cream butter with sugar or cut butter into the flour. Simple cakes, muffins, pancakes or breakfast baked goods are always great with olive oil.
Using Olive Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil For Cookies
In my experience as a long term baker and homecook, you should not use olive oil in cookie recipes. Firstly, most cookie recipes call for butter to be creamed with the sugar and the moment you skip this step and use olive oil, the texture of the cooking will change dramatically.
Using Olive Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil For Cakes
You can absolutely use olive oil in place of vegetable oil when baking cakes. I find the best recipes to substitute olive oil are ones that call for melted butter or vegetable oil and not room temperature butter that will be creamed with the sugar.
Tea cakes, muffins and cakes made with fresh fruit work best and can even be improved with olive oil in place of vegetable oil.
Be sure you are storing your olive oil correctly to get the best results.
Want to learn more about olive oil? I know a lot! Read on in
How To Store Olive Oil – Our Italian Family’s Secrets From Tuscany
50 Olive Oil Facts – From the Tree to the Table
How to Make Rosemary Infused Olive Oil
How to Store Basil in Olive Oil
