Drought conditions have caused olive oil prices to skyrocket. Don't worry; we've rounded up the best budget-friendly substitutes to keep your kitchen lubricated without breaking the bank.
Olive oil, the golden elixir beloved by home cooks and professional chefs alike, has become alarmingly pricey lately. With drought and climate change decimating crops around the planet, the world's olive oil supply has taken a major hit, causing prices to surge. But don't freak out just yet! There are plenty of tasty, wallet-friendly alternatives to satisfy all your cooking needs.
Here are some of our favorite olive oil alternatives...
Sunflower Oil
- Best For: Salad dressings and frying/sauteing.
- Taste: Light, crisp, and neutral which lets other flavors shine.
- Cooking: It has a higher smoke point than olive oil, so it's ideal for frying.
- Downside: Higher in calories than many oils.
Coconut Oil
- Best For: Baking or frying.
- Taste: It adds delicious sweet, silky, and fruity notes.
- Cooking: You should always use less than you would with olive oil. A little goes a long way.
- Downside: High in saturated fats.
Canola Oil
- Best For: All-purpose cooking.
- Taste: Very neutral so not an ideal choice for dressings or drizzles.
- Cooking: It's incredibly versatile with a very high smoke point so food tends to cook faster.
- Downside: High in trans fats
Sesame Oil
- Best For: Salad dressings, sauces, and marinades.
- Taste: Delicious, nutty, and toasted.
- Cooking: This is our go-to add-on for Asian salad dressing. We also coat our noods with it, along with some hot chili paste.
- Downside: Some folks are allergic to sesame.
Vegetable Oil
- Best For: Frying.
- Taste: Not great on its own so not ideal for salad dressing.
- Cooking: This was your mom's cooking oil. Perfect for cake mixes, frying, and sauteing, It's pretty much a Swiss Army Knife in cooking oil form.
- Downside: High fatty acid levels can increase inflammation in some.
The good news is experts predict olive oil prices may stabilize after the fall harvest in Spain. But until then, these budget-friendly alternatives have got you covered for all your kitchen needs!
