Spotlight Series: All About Avocado Oil

You love avocados, but just what is avocado oil?

Extracted from the flesh of the popular fruit (yes, avocados are considered a fruit), avocado oil is a tasty, healthy and versatile oil. It is a popular choice among cooking oils—not just because of its versatility and tasty avocado flavor, but because of its numerous health benefits. Avocado oil is naturally high in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid important to heart health. This oil also contains beneficial antioxidants that fight diseases and contribute to eye health, bone health and skin health. To note, avocado oil is comparable to olive oil in its health benefits.

Avocado oil boasts a high smoke point, around 500˚F, which makes it a great high heat cooking oil for pan-frying, searing, grilling, sautéing and braising. Cold pressed avocado oils, like our DeLallo Extra Virgin Avocado Oil, are extracted without heat or chemicals making them a full-flavored choice for raw uses like drizzling, dressing and dipping. The flavor of avocado oil is much like that of the fruit itself. Where the refined avocado oil has more of a neutral flavor, extra virgin avocado oil is richer with notes that can be described as buttery, fruity, nutty, earthy and sweet.

There are so many reasons to love avocados and their oil… and so many ways to use avocado oil in your everyday recipes. We can’t wait to see what you create! Don’t forget to tag us on social media with #DeLalloEats.

Shop DeLallo Extra Virgin Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is an edible oil extracted from the pulp, or flesh, of the avocado fruit. Comparable to olive oil, avocado oil is considered a healthy oil that boasts many nutritional benefits due to its inclusion of heart-healthy unsaturated fats, antioxidants and vitamins. Though avocados are classified as a fruit, avocado oil is classified as a vegetable oil, like canola oil. Avocado oil is a versatile oil that can be used in everything from raw applications like drizzles and dressings to baking and sautéing. Its smoke point is high, around 500˚F, meaning it can be used for high heat cooking.

Avocado oil isn’t just a kitchen essential, but an oil that has uses outside of the culinary world too. Avocado oil is used in moisturizers, lubricants, soaps, shampoos and more.

Reasons You’ll Love This Avocado Oil (The DeLallo Difference)

DeLallo Extra Virgin Avocado Oil is made with fresh, handpicked Chilean Hass Avocados. Oil is extracted by the first cold press of the fruit with no heat or chemicals used. This gives our oil the honest full flavor of freshly cut avocados, but also the numerous health benefits. Our Extra Virgin Avocado Oil is smooth with a brilliant green hue and a buttery, fruity, mildly sweet flavor. While it is tasty enough for raw applications like dressing and drizzling, this versatile oil is also an exceptional cooking oil (and much healthier than your ordinary canola oil). Avocado oil boasts a high smoke point (about 500˚F) that makes it perfect for everything from baking to sautéing.

The Health Benefits of Avocado Oil

Avocado oil boasts many health benefits. To start, avocado oil contains monounsaturated fatty acids that are known to reduce LDL (or bad) cholesterol. Diets rich in such fats, especially those from plant sources, have been thought to protect against heart disease. One of the main beneficial fats in avocado oil is oleic acid, a fat known to aid in a healthy body weight. Avocado oil also contains key nutrients like vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant with many benefits to the body, such as its ability to protect cells against oxidative stress that can lead to diseases. (Note that extra virgin avocado oil, or unrefined cold-pressed oil, contains the most vitamin E.) This oil also contains plant compounds, such as carotenoids and polyphenols, that are known to fight inflammation and protect against heart disease.

For more information on the health benefits of avocado oil, click here.

The Best Ways To Use Avocado Oil

There are so many ways to put avocado oil to use in the kitchen. In its raw applications, avocado oil is great for drizzling on fresh garden tomatoes, greens and cut vegetables. Use it to create homemade dressings and vinaigrettes for leafy green salads and cold picnic pasta salads. Avocado oil can be used to create guacamole, homemade salsas and hummus. Top off roasted veggies, grilled meats and soups with a generous drizzle. As a cooking oil, avocado oil can be used for stir-frying, sautéing, roasting, braising and more. Use it as a substitute for butter or vegetable oil (canola oil) in your favorite creations.

Avocado Oil Substitutes

Avocado oil is most comparable to olive oil, as far as substitutions go. You can also substitute avocado oil with grapeseed oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil or vegetable oil. It all depends on the recipe and the cooking temperature you require. Be sure to check on the smoke point of cooking oils before using them.

You can easily substiute avocado oil in these recipes!

Avocado Oil: FAQ

Is Avocado Oil Derived from Avocados?

Yes, avocado oil is 100 percent avocado. The oil is extracted from the pressing of avocado pulp. Extra virgin avocado oil varieties are made from the first cold-press of the avocado. This is known as an unrefined oil, as it is extracted without the use of heat or chemicals.

What Does Avocado Oil Taste Like?

Pure avocado oil is a refined oil and so it has a more neutral flavor that does not taste like fresh avocado. This makes it a great cooking oil for recipes and applications that require a neutral flavor. Extra virgin avocado oil, however, is a raw oil that retains its fresh avocado flavor. Extra virgin avocado oil can be described as nutty, grassy, buttery, earthy, sweet and fruity.

Is Avocado Oil Good for You?

Yes, avocado oil is one of the most healthy oils, comparable to olive oil. For the specific health benefits of avocado oil, see the section labeled The Health Benefits of Avocado Oil.

Is Avocado Oil a Seed Oil?

No, avocado oil is not a seed oil. Seed oils are extracted from seeds (sesame, grape, etc.) Avocado oil is made with the flesh of the avocado. Though avocados are considered a fruit, avocado oil is classified as a vegetable oil, in the same category as canola oil.

Does Avocado Oil Taste Different from Extra Virgin Olive Oil?

Yes, avocado oil tastes different from extra virgin olive oil. Avocado oil is made with the avocado, where extra virgin olive oil is made with olives. Avocados and olives are very different but share some similar flavor notes, depending on the varietals: grassy, fruity, earthy, buttery and sweet. Avocados are typically more sweet and mellow compared to the bold, pleasantly bitter flavor of most olives. Extra virgin avocado oil is more avocado-flavored where the refined pure avocado oil is more neutral flavored.

What is the Smoke Point of Avocado Oil?

The smoke point of avocado oil is about 500˚F. This makes it a great oil for high heat cooking.

Is Avocado Oil Good for Frying?

Avocado oil is suitable for pan-frying, but not the best choice for deep frying. While it has a high smoke point of 500˚F, avocado oil begins to degrade at such high temps. This means that avocado would not be suitable for long bouts of frying and reusing the oil. Besides this, avocado oil is a pricier oil and so it might not be great for filling a deep fryer. The last point to make is that all the health benefits of avocado oil cease to exist at prolonged higher temperatures. This is why you get the most nutritional benefits from avocado oil when used in its fresh, raw form.

Can I Bake with Avocado Oil?

Yes, avocado oil is a healthier vegetable oil that boasts a high smoke point (about 500˚F) that can withstand baking, making it a great choice for sweet and savory baked goods. Refined avocado oil, or pure avocado oil, has a neutral flavor that won’t flavor your breads, cakes and cookies like avocado.

Is DeLallo Avocado Oil Refined?

No, DeLallo Extra Virgin Avocado Oil is an unrefined oil, meaning that it is made with the first cold press of avocado fruit. There is no heat or chemicals used in the oil’s extraction.

Is DeLallo Avocado Oil Cold-Pressed?

Yes, DeLallo Extra Virgin Avocado Oil is made with the first cold press of avocado fruit. No heat or chemicals are used to extract the oil.

What is the Best Way to Store Avocado Oil?

Store avocado oil in a cool, dark place. Make sure the bottle is properly sealed. Light, air and heat will degrade avocado oil.

Avocado Oil vs. Olive Oil - What Is the Difference?

Avocado oil and olive oil are very similar in their nutritional benefits and their uses. The biggest difference, beside the fruit itself, is the smoke point. Avocado oil has a high smoke point, about 500˚F. Most olive oils have a smoke point of about 400˚F. This makes avocado oil better for high heat cooking.

Avocado Oil vs. Vegetable Oil - What Is the Difference?

Avocado oil is a vegetable oil. Though avocados are considered a fruit, the oil is classified as a vegetable oil (like canola oil). Avocado oil is healthier than most vegetable oils and can be used in much of the same ways.

Avocado Oil vs. Grapeseed Oil - What Is the Difference?

Both avocado oil and grapeseed oil are versatile cooking oils with higher smoke points than most others. Grapeseed oil has a smoke point of about 420˚F, where avocado oil boasts a higher smoke point of 500˚F. While both refined oils have a more neutral flavor, grapeseed oil is known for a crisper, cleaner flavor than avocado oil. Avocado oil is more buttery and rich. When it comes to health benefits, both oils contain healthy unsaturated fats and antioxidants.