How To Substitute Oil For Grease In Cooking

Vegetable oil is more nutritious than grease from lard or shortening. Lard is pure animal fat rendered via frying or boiling meat. Shortening is derived from processed animal fat or hydrogenated vegetable oils. According to dietitian Joan Salge Blake in her book "Nutrition & You," saturated fats and trans fats from hydrogenated oils increase blood cholesterol and are bad for your health. Vegetable oils, like canola, olive and sunflower oil, are low in saturated fat and more heart-healthy. Substitute vegetable oil when frying foods, but use caution when baking. Directly substituting vegetable oil gives baked goods a greasy, overly dense texture.

Step 1

Substitute equal amounts of vegetable oil for grease when sauteing or stir-frying. Use less vegetable oil than the recipe calls for in order to reduce calories. Use as little as 1 tsp. of oil, depending on your cookware; non-stick pans require less oil to keep foods moist. Use only one or two sprays of a vegetable-based cooking spray, if available.

Step 2

Reduce the amount of oil you use by 25 percent when baking cookies, cakes and pastries. For example, substitute 3/4 cup of vegetable oil in a recipe which calls for 1 cup of grease.

Step 3

Increase the amount of sugar and egg in the recipe when substituting 25 percent less vegetable oil. For example, use 1 extra egg and 2 extra tbsp. sugar. Use 2 tbsp. vegetable oil and 1/2 cup applesauce for every 1 cup of oil for a healthier alternative. Using a mixture of vegetable oil and applesauce preserves flavor and reduces calories.

Tips and Warnings

Try using a solid vegan butter substitute. For the best results, freeze the vegan butter substitute before using it in a pie crust. Chill the pie crust again before rolling it out. Pie crusts made with vegetable oil are not as flaky.
Do not stir-fry foods, or cook foods at high temperatures with olive oil. Instead, use a vegetable oil refined for high heat. Canola oil, sunflower oil and safflower oil are generally appropriate for high-heat cooking. Consult the vegetable oil label for cooking suggestions.