Are you searching for oils that can be safely used in an air fryer? Here’s the list of the best oil for an air fryer that is safe and good to use while cooking in an air fryer. However, there are many different types of oil available in the market for use. But using the right oil can make or break your recipe.
The air fryer uses very little oil for cooking and the right choice of oil gives the best result. After lots of research, I’ve finally come out with the best oils for an air fryer that works the best. In this article, I’m going to talk about the best oil and what oil does within the air fryer, and if you can use any oil of your choice in an air fryer.
Let’s find out the healthiest oil for air fryer.
What are the best oils for an air fryer?
There are various types of oil available in the market which has different smoking point. And if you’re wondering why does it even matter? The answer is each oil has its own smoking point and flavor which enhances the taste of the food rather than other oil.
While choosing the oil to use in the air fryer, make sure to note the temperature of the recipe. This will help you to analyze the smoking point of the oil to use for a particular recipe giving you the best result.
Here’s the list of 15 best oils for an air fryer:
1. Avocado Oil:
Avocado oil is the best oil to use for air frying because of its high smoke point and
is naturally low acidic. Avocado oil has a neutral flavor and is high in monosaturated fatty acids.
Usually, there are two types of avocado oil unrefined and refined. Make sure to choose refined avocado oil because it has a high smoke point of 250C/482F. The unrefined avocado oil has a much lower smoke point. However, both the oils are healthy and good for cooking.
2. Ghee:
Ghee is a type of clarified butter with a strong flavor and a high smoke point of 250C/482F. Ghee is a good oil option for making savory foods in an air fryer. Ghee contains vitamin A and is high in saturated fat which makes it healthy too.
3. Palm Oil:
Palm oil is extracted from the fruit of the oil palm trees. Palm oil tastes savory and earthy relatively affordable and can be used as a substitute for butter. It has a very high smoking point over 235C/455F great oil for frying. Expect the flora and smoky flavor when using palm oil.
4. Soyabean Oil:
Soybean oil is made from soybean seeds. One of the most widely used oil to prepare food because of its neutral taste. Soybean oil is highly recommended to use in an air fryer for baking and roasting. It has a high smoking point of 234C/453F making your food crispier and delicious.
5. Sunflower Oil:
Sunflower oil is made from the seeds of the sunflower. It’s one of the best oil for an air fryer because of its high smoke point of 232C/450F. Sunflower oil has a light flavor with a large amount of Vitamin E.
Due to the light flavor, sunflower oil can be used in a variety of different dishes. Plus the foods are crispier in texture because of the high smoke point. Sunflower oil is a healthy and affordable option.
6. Vegetable Oil:
Vegetable oil is a great oil to use for cooking food, plus it can also be used in an air fryer. Vegetable oil with the smoke point at 230C/450F makes your food crispy and delicious. It has a very mild taste which can also be a good option to use while baking in an air fryer.
Vegetable oil is easily available in your local stores and the price is affordable too.
7. Safflower Oil:
Safflower oil is extracted from the seeds of the safflower plant. Safflower oil is one of the best oils for an air fryer due to its high smoke point up to 232C/450F and neutral flavor. Due to its neutral flavor safflower oil is good for frying and baking.
Safflower oil is a good source of unsaturated fatty acids, along with polyunsaturated fats and monosaturated fats.
8. Rice Bran Oil:
Rice bran oil is extracted from the rice husk. It is the best oil to use in an air fryer because of its high smoke point of 232C/450F. Rice bran oil is mild in flavor which is a good option for making sweet and savory dishes.
Rice bran oil is healthy, as it has vitamin E, and antioxidants and are high in monosaturated fat.
9. Peanut Oil:
Peanut oil has a soft/neutral flavor with a very high smoke point at 232C/450F. Using this high smoke point oil makes your food crispier texture and gives a subtle nutty flavor.
Peanut oil is one of the healthiest oil because it’s rich in Vitamin E and healthy fats. However, I highly request not to use peanut oil for those who are allergic to peanuts.
10. Olive Oil:
Olive oil is the best and most used oil in several recipes because of its high smoke point and pleasant flavor. Olive oil is a great choice when it comes to air frying. However, there are five types of olive oil- extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, pure olive oil, olive pomace oil, and refined olive oil. Each oil has a different smoking point, which depends on the quality of the oil.
The smoking point of extra virgin olive oil is between 180C/356F. Whereas refined olive oil has a smoke point of around 230C/446F.
11. Grapeseed Oil:
Grapeseed oil/grape seed oil/grape oil is made from the seeds of grapes. Grapeseed oil basically is vegetable oil with the smoke point at 216C/421F. Grapeseed oil is light in taste and high in nutrients, a very good alternative to vegetable oil.
Due to the high smoke point, the dishes you cook with grapeseed oil are crispier in texture. However, you’ll need to set the air fryer at 200C/400F to make the oil work.
12. Cotton Seed Oil:
Cotton seed oil is made from the seeds of the cotton plant. It has a high smoke point of 216C/420F. Cotton oil has a mild taste and is light golden in color. Cotton seed oil is high in vitamin E and the food cooked in this oil has a long shelf life.
13. Sesame Oil:
Sesame oil is a vegetable oil made from raw and toasted sesame seeds. Raw sesame oil is usually used for cooking because of its high smoke point at 210C/410F. Whereas toasted sesame oil is usually used for enhancing the flavor of food in the final stage.
Sesame oil is a healthy oil to choose because it’s high in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids plus it also enhances the flavor of the food.
14. Canola Oil:
Another best oil for an air fryer is canola oil with the smoke point at 200C/400F. Canola oil is very mild in taste and is lower in saturated fats. Canola oil is best to use for making sweet and savory dishes due to its mild/almost tasteless flavor.
Canola oil is not only good for use in an air fryer it’s a great oil to use for deep-frying as well.
15. Almond Oil:
Almond oil is made by cold pressing sweet or bitter almonds. There are two types of almond oil available on the market refined and unrefined. Always use refined almond oil for frying or in an air fryer because it has a high smoke point of 200C/400F.
Unrefined almond oil can be used for dressing the salads and to enhance the flavor in the final stage. However, while using almond oil you can expect a nutty flavor in your food.
What is a smoke point and why is it important?
Smoke point specifies the temperature at which the oil starts to burn and smoke. It’s important to know the smoke point of the oil your using because burned oil gives an unpleasant flavor to your food. Plus when oil hits its smoke point it also destroys the beneficial nutrients in both oil and the food.
Why do I need to use oil in an air fryer?
While cooking in an air fryer oil is not needed. But adding a small amount of oil can make the food texture better and adds taste to your food. However, using a small amount of oil while cooking in an air fryer is not bad. The food cooked in an air fryer is much healthier than the deep-fried ones.
What oils should I avoid while using an air fryer?
The oils that have a strong flavor and a low smoke point are always better to avoid while using an air fryer. Here are some of the oil to avoid while using an air fryer.
- Coconut Oil:
Coconut oil has a very low smoke point and it easily burns at 176C/350F. Plus it has a very strong flavor which may not be suitable for many food items. However, you can use coconut oil if you cooking at a low temperature using an air fryer and want to add a coconut flavor to your food. - Dark Sesame Oil:
Dark sesame oil has a very low smoke point with a rich flavor. It easily gets burned while used in an air fryer and tastes bitter. Dark sesame oil can be used for drizzling food at the final stage to enhance the flavor. - Corn Oil:
You should avoid using corn oil in an air fryer because it puts the flavor of oil into the food. Otherwise, you can use an air fryer to get that crispy texture on your food. However, feel free to use corn oil if you like its flavor plus it has a high smoke point and doesn’t burn easily.
Air fryer cooking tips and tricks
Here are some useful tips and tricks for you to apply while using an air fryer.
- Always preheat your air fryer before cooking any type of food.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket, place the food in a single layer for the best result.
- Toss/flip the food halfway through the cooking process to avoid uneven cooking.
- Grease your air fryer basket even if the food doesn’t require oil to ensure the food doesn’t stick.
- Place a piece of bread or water around 2 tablespoons to stop your air fryer from smoking while cooking fatty food. You can also check our article on why is my air fryer smoking.
- Avoid using aerosol spray cans because they cause damage to many air fryer baskets.
Best oil sprayers or pumps for air frying
If you love air frying and cook most of your food in an air fryer, investing in good oil sprayers or pumps is a good idea. You can transfer your favorite oil into the sprayers/pumps and is more cost-effective. Here are some of the oil sprayers you can try out:
- Evo Oil Sprayer Bottle
- Misto Oil Sprayer
- Purelite Oil Mister
- Premium Olive Oil Mister
- OurWarm Oil Sprayer
Don’t have an oil spray?
If you don’t have an oil spray it’s ok. You can also use a silicone brush to oil your food. Here are some of the good-quality silicon brushes you can invest in.
Are you frustrated with stuck food in an air fryer?
You can use these silicone liners or sheets to avoid food sticking in an air fryer basket.
- Lotteli Kitchen Reusable Silicone Air Fryer Liners
- Airware Aeromats The Original Reusable Silicone Air Fryer Liners
Here are some of the frequently asked questions
Which oil is best for high heat cooking?
The best oils for an air fryer that has a high smoke point and can stand up during air frying are avocado, sunflower, peanut, vegetable, grapeseed, soybean, almond, rice bran, safflower, sesame oil, etc.
These oils have a smoking point above 200C/400F and are better for cooking at high temperatures.
What oil can you not use in an air fryer?
Normally, when we are cooking in an air fryer the temperature goes quite high. So, the oils with low smoke points are not suitable for air fryer cooking. The oils you should avoid using in an air fryer are walnut, extra-virgin olive oil, coconut oil, corn oil, flaxseed oil, pumpkin oil, etc. These oils are good for salad dressing and dips.
Is it OK to use olive oil in an air fryer?
Yes, it is. But you should be careful while choosing olive oil because there are varieties of olive oil available in the market. Make sure to choose refined olive oil for the air fryer because it has a high smoke point compared to extra virgin olive oil.
Is Vegetable Oil good for air fryers?
Yes, it is the most common oil available in our pantry. It is also a good oil to use in your air fryer because of its high smoke point. It helps to add that crispy texture to your food and its light flavor is suitable for any kind of food cooking.
Is coconut oil good for air fryers?
Coconut oil is one of the oil you should avoid while using an air fryer. It has a very strong flavor with a low smoke point. It easily burns and leaves the flavor of oil in the food which might not be pleasant to everyone.
However, coconut oil can be used for dressing and to add a coconut flavor to your food.
Does the air fryer need spray oil?
Spraying, and brushing a little amount of oil in the air fryer basket doesn’t harm. Rubbing oil in the basket will assure that your food won’t stick to the basket.
However, if your air fryer is non-stick you might not have to spray oil. Please go through your air fryer manual before applying any steps.
You can also try our air fryer recipes:
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