The grape is native to Asia and has been used for hundreds of years in cooking, wine making and for medicinal purposes. Grape seed oil has a number of health benefits including reducing cholesterol, high blood pressure and the risk of cancer. Virgin olive oil, cottonseed oil and peanut oil are good substitutes for grape seed oil.
Grape Seed Oil
Grape seed oil is extracted from grape seeds after the fruit has been pressed for wine. Grape seed is a polyunsaturated oil. It has a high smoke point of 420 degrees Fahrenheit, which means it can be used for cooking at high temperatures. This makes it good for baking, frying and sautéing. It has a light, natural taste and holds other flavors well, making it also good for use in salad dressings. Grape seed oil is known for a number of health benefits including reducing the symptoms of edema; lessening the risk of high blood pressure; and reducing the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, a disorder in which blood pools in the legs, causing swelling and discomfort.
Cottonseed Oil
Like grape seed oil, cottonseed oil has a high smoke point of 420 degrees Fahrenheit. It has a very light, neutral taste that enhances the flavor of other foods. It is good for deep-frying seafood and for sautéing vegetables. It is often used in the manufacture of snack foods containing oil. It has a long shelf life, during which its flavor does not deteriorate as the flavor of some other oils does. According to Texas Medical Center News, cottonseed oil can lower cholesterol levels up to 13 percent more than corn oil and also provides two-thirds more vitamin E than corn oil.
Virgin Olive Oil
There are several different types of olive oil, including virgin, extra virgin and regular. If you are using olive oil as a substitute for grape seed oil, you will need virgin olive oil, which is made from the second pressing. Like grape seed, it has a smoke point of 420 degrees Fahrenheit, making it suitable for frying, and sautéing. It also has a number of health benefits including helping to raise good (HDL) cholesterol and lower bad (LDL) cholesterol.
Peanut Oil
Peanut oil is also a good substitute for grape seed oil. It has a slightly higher smoke point than grape seed oil at 450 degrees Fahrenheit, making it excellent for cooking at high temperatures. Refined peanut oil has a light, nutty flavor, and contains no trans fats and is low in saturated fats. It is very stable and has a long shelf life as well as being allergen-free.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Grapeseed; David Zieve; August 2010
- Martha Stewart: Grapeseed Oil 101; 2011
- National Cottonseed Products Association: Cottonseed Oil: 2011
- Healing Daily: Olive Oil's Health Benefits; 2011
- Golden Peanut: Refined Peanut Oil; 2011
- Texas Medical Center News: Cottonseed Corners the "Healthy Cooking Oil" Market; Rhonda Wendler; 2006
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