Substitutions

Substitute for Neutral oil (canola/sunflower)

6 tested substitutions — with the ratio and the caveat that decides whether it works.

Ratio	Neutral oil (canola/sunflower)	Works in
×1	Olive oil Fruity flavor — fine for sautéing, noticeable in mayo/cakes. Reference ratio	cooking
×1	Coconut oil (melted) Solid below ~24 °C — melt before measuring. Reference ratio	baking · cooking
×1.25	Butter Butter is ~80 % fat — use ~25 % more than the oil amount. Kitchen-tested	baking · cooking
×1	avocado oil Neutral taste, high smoke point. Reference ratio	cooking · baking
×1	grapeseed oil Very neutral; great for mayonnaise. Reference ratio	cooking · baking
×0.5	applesauce (low-fat baking) Cuts fat sharply — only in muffins/quick breads, crumb turns cakey. Reference ratio	baking

Baking is less forgiving than cooking — stick to substitutions marked « baking » and respect the ratio.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best substitute for Neutral oil (canola/sunflower)?

It depends on the recipe — the table above shows which substitutes work in baking vs cooking.

Can I substitute Neutral oil (canola/sunflower) in baking?

Baking is less forgiving than cooking — stick to substitutions marked « baking » and respect the ratio.