What Is a Neutral Oil—and When to Use It in Your Cooking

When it comes to cooking with oil, not all varieties are created equally. Some oils are fully flavored— like a grassy bottle of extra virgin olive oil—while some offer almost no taste at all. When a recipe calls for a neutral oil, it means you should use one with little to no taste so it won’t impact the final flavor of a dish. But when you're shopping the oil section at the grocery store, oils are not obviously labeled as "neutral." and there are a lot of different varieties to choose from. That’s why we’re breaking down the best neutral oils for cooking, baking, grilling, and everything in between. 

What Is a Neutral Oil?

Neutral oil is something that doesn’t have a strong flavor—it provides moisture and lubrication without changing the flavor of the finished dish at all. Because of its neutral profile, these oils take on the flavor of whatever they’re cooked with without imparting their own flavor. Some great examples are avocado oil, canola oil, and vegetable oil.

When to Use Neutral Oils

“Neutral oils should be used when you need a carrier fat that has no flavor—either raw or cooked— that could interfere with the flavor of the dish that you are using it in,” says Wes Martin, director of culinary production at Christopher Kimball's Milk Street Cooking School. These are some common uses for neutral oils:

• Baked goods: Neutral oil is used to add moisture but not flavor to baked goods like muffins or zucchini bread.
• To lubricate cookware: When you need oil for prepping a pan, such as in a stainless steel skillet, without adding any additional flavor. 
• Deep frying: Neutral oils are particularly useful in cooking projects like deep frying, where a good amount of oil is needed. They provide a neutral base that won’t impact the flavor of the finished dish. “Neutral oils have higher smoke points, which means they can be heated to a higher temperature without affecting the compounds in the oil,” says Martin. “Overheating oils can cause bitterness and the release of harmful compounds,” he adds. 
• Grilling: Similar to deep frying, neutral oils are a great option for high-heat grilling because of their higher smoke point.

The Best Neutral Oils for Home Cooks to Have on Hand

Some of the most common neutral oils for home cooks to have on hand are canola oil, vegetable oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, and safflower oil. The best oil for you will depend on your personal preference and dietary needs. For example, peanut oil is a fantastic neutral oil option, but it’s not safe for anyone with a peanut allergy. Martin suggests sunflower oil for its light viscosity and completely neutral taste. “Foods fried in sunflower oil are lighter, crisper, and don't get that soggy, oil-heavy flavor,” he says.

If you’re looking for an unrefined oil that has one of the highest smoke points possible, avocado oil is a great choice. Its smoke point ranges from 510 to 520 degrees Fahrenheit and is the highest of any plant-based, unrefined oil.