Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently The guideline for using this substitute is to first and foremost, use unsweetened applesauce. contributor for many years. Oil helps us absorb fat-soluble vitamins and boosts the nutritional content of food we eat. You can also melt some shortening and use it as a substitute. @dinoleash: As the article stated, applesauce is a great substitute for vegetable oil. Cornstarch will not add any real nutritional value, but you will get a … I'm going to try prune juice (with pulp) in some brownies today. It is best to puree or mash your own fruit so you can ensure you aren't adding any other ingredients to the recipe. Many of the substitute options are healthier for you than oil, so you can cut calories if you make the right choice. You will use 75 percent of the amount of nonfat yogurt as you would oil, so if the recipe calls for 1 cup of oil, you will use 3/4 cup nonfat yogurt. Just about any fruit puree will make an acceptable oil substitute in baking. Yogurt is made when milk that is invaded by friendly bacteria is fermented and coagulated. It is best to puree or mash your own fruit so you can ensure you aren't adding any other ingredients to the recipe. Hillary Marshall has been writing professionally since 2006. In baking, oils are used to make food moist and tender. However, it is usually a very low amount, and will keep things from sticking. Bananas don’t even need to be cooked and you can make excellent banana bread without using any type of oil or shortening. I'll add a little butter since I have it in the house. Again, swap in the pureed pears for half the oil called for. working on her first novel. Salt is sometimes added for preservation. It’s a common misconception that a diet should be completely or as near as possibly fat free. Alternately, you may be able to use skim milk in place of oil in certain recipes. Baked goods may not be as fluffy, and they may be darker in color. Cooking spray may be used as an oil substitute though it does contain a certain amount of oil. Some of the winter squash variants can be a good substitutes for oil. Cornstarch also works as an oil substitute when you are baking. Keep track of what a serving size really is, and add oil in lower amounts. I understand people out there are trying to lose weight, but really, 'thick water' sounds gross! Bear in mind that fruit with a strong flavor may be detected. Another oil substitute alternative is called thick water. That being said, butter is heavier, so it may affect texture and appearance in some recipes. You can use pumpkin, which will act as the best one. These may have a stronger flavor in certain baked goods, but in baked items with lots of other strong flavors, pumpkin may not be quite as detectable. Pumpkin, especially from sugar pumpkins is probably the best of these. A little oil on a salad actually makes the salad more nutritious. You can choose from a variety of ingredients to replace oil when you are baking. So, a recipe that calls for 1 cup of oil would require 3/4 cup nonfat buttermilk. While there are many ingredients that can act as a substitute for oil while baking, it is always good to stick to the basic recipe. It is healthy and it gives food a great taste. I hate to be a naysayer, but there simply is not substitute for using cooking oil in a recipe. This is not true, and if you’re trying to lose weight, don’t cut all oil from your diet. Cooking spray may be used as an oil substitute though it does contain a certain amount of oil. Unless otherwise specified, use unsalted butter, because salted butter may alter the flavor of your baked goods. Mashed sweet potatoes may work too. It can impart firmness and retain a certain amount of moisture, and it may be a better substitute for things like salad dressings, where what you’re really looking for is to add thickness. Pureed or mashed fruit can be used to replace oil when baking, The ratio for replacing an oil with a fruit puree is one to one, so you can substitute 1 cup of fruit puree for 1 cup of oil. However, it is usually a very low amount, and will keep things from sticking. If you wish to use a fruit that is already pureed, read the label to check that it does not contain anything other than the fruit in question. No, for me, it's either a lower fat oil, or none at all. Furthermore, applesauce contains a fair amount of pectin, which can help keep baked goods firm. Mashed sweet potatoes are also a good option instead of using oil. It may also alter the nutritional values of your baked goods. What other substitutes can I use? @dinoleash: I sometimes use melted butter or margarine in place of vegetable oil. Pureed or baby-food pears: This convenient product also makes a good substitute for oil in baking. Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent wiseGEEK An oil substitute can also be another substance that will have some of the binding and moistening properties of oil, without any fat. Non-stick cookware can also help you lower oil in any goods that needed to be cooked on a stovetop or baked in a pan. I can't imagine thick water as an acceptable substitute. Buttermilk can also work as an oil substitute, but you should mix about three quarters of buttermilk with one quarter of melted butter before subbing it into your batter. It gives your food a nice, rich taste. Butter can be used as a substitute for baking oil in an equal ratio, so if the recipe calls for 1/2 cup oil, you can use 1/2 cup butter. However, you need to carefully consider the item you are baking, because the substitute ingredient may alter the flavor. Pureed or mashed fruit can be used to replace oil when baking, The ratio for replacing an oil with a fruit puree is one to one, so you can substitute 1 cup of fruit puree for 1 cup of oil. "Secrets of Fat-Free Baking"; Sandra L. Woodruff; 1994, Food Your Way: Oil Substitutions for Baking, Diana's Desserts: Tips-Ingredient Substitution, "Baking 9-1-1: Rescue from Recipe Disasters; Answers to Your Most Frequently Asked Baking Questions; 40 Recipes for Every Baker"; Sarah Phillips; 2003, A Web Experience brought to you by LEAFtv. It doesn’t have much flavor and can easily make muffins, cakes, pancakes, or brownies, to name just a few, lower in fat but still moist and delicious. Another excellent emulsifying ingredient is soy lecithin, which you can find in refrigerator sections of natural foods stores. This is why applesauce is often preferred. 3/4 cup nonfat buttermilk in a pan combination of cornstarch and water, which you can calories! 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