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I want to substitute a better (for me) oil when a recipe calls for vegetable oil. I don't want to use olive or coconut oil for the taste changing properties. What substitutes work well fo you?

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The more processed coconut oil (the non-virgin type) has a pretty neutral taste. – Bread-Eating Beelzebub May 16 2010 at 16:01

12 Answers

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My suggestion is to think judo. Rather than resist the flavor altering properties of many fats, roll with them and select a fat that will compliment whatever dish you are cooking.

Imagine what you are about to cook then think of the different fats and their flavors. When I do this for myself, usually one or two will seem really good and the others will seem really bad.

For instance, for eggs I go with bacon grease or the TT Gold Label Coconut Oil (this stuff has a great flavor I love despite the incredible price -- watch for it on special). For grill cheese sandwiches I go for butter or coconut oil. For baking I go for butter or the TT Expeller-Pressed coconut oil. For acidic tomato sauces I go for olive oil. For soups and stews I go for beef tallow drippings I've saved from hamburgers, meatloaf, etc. For dried beans I use bacon grease. For coffee and tea I use cream.

Yeah, that's a lot of not strictly paleo cooking, I'm more a low-carb Nourishing Traditions-er. But don't out me. ;-)

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You get my vote for the most imaginative use of delicious fats. I agree with all above except that I render my own tallow. Virgin coconut oil is virtually tasteless and goes with anything or straight off the spoon. – Alan May 18 2010 at 23:15
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ghee works well for me. High smoke point, doesn't change the taste too much.

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Coconut oil, butter, ghee, or Medium Chain Triglyceride fatty acid from Now Foods. I find the MCT has a neutral taste. But I use them all as I like variation in the taste.

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+1 for Now MCT oil! – ricechek Aug 13 2011 at 16:37
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Meat drippings? I use the fat from beef, pork or chicken for almost all of my cooking and it is delicious.

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Exactly. There is always an abundance of meat drippings, even in a fat-loving household like mine. They make the perfect frying medium. – Ambimorph May 18 2010 at 1:48
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Render the fat from one duck, and you'll have tasty cooking fat for weeks. Yes, it has a flavor, but it's much milder than bacon fat, has a high smoke point, and seems to complement most savory dishes.

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Rendered-Duck-Fat

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whole foods sells rendered duck fat too.. very inexpensive – Sal May 19 2010 at 6:41
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Lard. Goose fat. Ghee. :)

I do second avocado oil; although I do think it really comes into its own as a dressing for salad [try with lime juice and crushed black pepper].

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I usually use bacon grease or coconut oil when cooking anything on the stovetop.

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I dislike the taste of coconut oil, but I find that the Tropical Traditions Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil, which is steam deodorized, has virtually no taste at all. It's great for cooking and does not alter the flavors.

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I use LouAna coconut oil and haven't noticed any kind of taste when using it.

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avocado oil, macadamia nut oil

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I thought that both of those were not well suited for high heat. – Glenn May 16 2010 at 15:06
@ Glenn, actually avocado oil has the highest smoke point of any oil, animal or vegetable. – sarah-ann May 16 2010 at 15:44
goodeatsfanpage.com/collectedinfo/… – rthomp May 16 2010 at 18:30
What is macadamia nut oil like? High smoke point? and does it have a strong flavor? – Sal May 19 2010 at 6:41
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I will be making a cupcake (carrot cake) family recipe with kids. Has anyone substituted coconut oil and or butter for vegetable oil before? Wondering how the baked product will be at room temp (as both the coconut oil and the butter are solid at room temp and the veg oil is liquid).

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try light olive oil. if you have a trader joes nearby, they should have it

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