I was baking a cake and one of the recipe ingredients was vegetable oil. I checked my pantry and found out that I only had canola oil available.
So what do I do? Can I use Canola oil instead of vegetable oil?
Most people normally use vegetable oil for everyday cooking. In several baking recipes, you will find vegetable oil as a replacement for butter. So, we just use vegetable oil without thinking much about its alternatives. Many other oils are equally good and can be used in cooking without compromising the taste of the food.
If you are a cooking enthusiast, have might have come across a similar situation where you had to substitute one oil for another.
We did some research on this topic and are sharing the information with you all for future reference.
There is a common perception that canola oil is not good for health. We will address this issue in detail and we hope it will clear many misconceptions that you might have about canola oil.
What is Canola oil?
First of all, let us give you some know-how about Canola oil. Canola oil is plant-based oil obtained by pressing canola seeds. The Canola plant is a genetically modified variety that is of concern to many people. It does not have organic certification so it is not received very well by people who prefer to have organic oil in their food.
Health Benefits of Canola Oil
Keeping the controversy aside, Canola oil is considered healthy oil. It has the lowest saturated fats as compared to other cooking oils.
Let us have a look at the nutrition facts of Canola oil per 100 grams of daily use:
- Saturated fats 8 g
- Polyunsaturated fats 26 g
- Monounsaturated fats 61 g
- Trans fat regulation 1.8 g
Canola oil has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It can be safely used in facial and hair masks to take advantage of these healthy features.
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Canola oil for skin
The use of Canola oil on skin has great impacts. It reduces skin irritation and allergy along with helping to prevent Eczema or any other skin infection. It is thought to delay skin aging as well.
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Canola oil for hair
Canola oil is a fabulous hair treatment. It has high levels of plant Sterols which help in reducing split ends. Make Canola oil an essential ingredient in hair masks to get healthy hair.
Other Substitutes for Vegetable Oil
So, to answer the important question: can you use Canola oil instead of vegetable oil? We have listed some great alternatives to vegetable oil and Canola oil is right at the top!
Various other products can also be substituted for vegetable oil. You can use any other mild cooking oil or butter or some other fat source as the recipe permits. Just keep in mind the various features and health facts of the alternate product. Choose a substitute that suits your needs best. Some great alternatives to vegetable oil are:
- Canola oil
- Corn oil
- Sunflower oil
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Applesauce
- Butter
- Ghee (clarified butter)
- Pureed fruit
Vegetable vs Canola oil
Back to some questions again!
Is canola oil the same as vegetable oil?
Do you want to know the difference between Canola oil and Vegetable oil?
Let us look at the properties of these oils in a little more detail. It will help you to clear any confusion about the difference between both oils.
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Composition
The basic difference between these two oils is their composition. Vegetable oil is usually a mix of 3-4 plant-based oils whereas Canola oil is obtained from only Canola seeds.
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Taste
Both the oils have a neutral taste which makes them perfect substitutes. Food cooked with these oils does not have any noticeable difference in taste.
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Affordability
Both Canola and Vegetable oils are budget-friendly. They are the most used oils for home cooking.
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Smoke point
It is the point when the oils start to give off smoke when heated. Both Vegetable and Canola oil have a very high smoke point. Therefore, both the oils are suitable for deep-frying, roasting, cooking, and baking.
Canola oil – Some Drawbacks
There are a few controversies about Canola Oil that have created a negative image in users’ minds. Some of the drawbacks of Canola oil are as under:
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Chemically Refined
Various chemicals are used to refine Canola oil which is thought to have various side effects on health.
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Genetically Modified Crop
Genetic modification of the Canola crop is the biggest issue that goes against Canola oil. Canola is not considered an organic product which is its most unappealing feature.
Conclusive Thoughts on Canola and Vegetable oil
Hope this detailed account of both the oils has answered your concerns about the health aspects of both oils.
After all the above research we can safely conclude that both these oils are good for health. They can be a perfect alternative for each other when needed.
“Can you use canola oil instead of vegetable oil?”
Next time when you are asked this question, you have all the information to justify the use of these oils!
