If you are confused about whether or not you can substitute butter for olive oil, here is a detailed guide just for you.
I will not only answer the question but also explain how you can best use this alternative.
Let’s get right into it!
Can You Substitute Butter For Olive Oil
A simple answer to that is, yes, you can safely and effectively substitute butter for olive oil for many cooking and baking recipes as olive oil and melted butter have similar physical consistencies and flavor profiles.
Butter is one of the closest substitutes for olive oil for any culinary purpose, producing a pleasant aroma and beautiful golden-brown crust.
It also efficiently binds together dry and moist ingredients when used for baking and works just as well for meat-based recipes.
Let’s explore where else we can substitute butter and why.
Butter for Olive Oil in Cooking/ Sautéing/ Frying
When substituting butter for olive oil for cooking, sautéing, and frying, the result would be an equally well-cooked dish, more aromatic and deliciously smooth due to butter’s natural creaminess.
Steak is especially known to taste best when cooked in butter.
Butter for Olive Oil in Baking
Butter can substitute for olive oil for all baking recipes, from cakes and pie crusts to donuts and cookies.
Butter can hold together all the ingredients while also acting as a leavening agent that helps the baked goodies to rise well into golden goodness.
How To Substitute Olive Oil With Butter
Butter and olive oil can often be substituted in an equal 1:1 swap for all cooking and frying recipes.
However, for baking, it is best substituted in a 3:4 proportion of olive oil for butter due to their differences in volume.
When cooking, sautéing, or frying with butter, one cup of olive oil can be substituted with the same cup of butter.
Be mindful that the melted butter does not start browning and burning before the vegetable or meat is added to it.
Watch this luscious steak being cooked entirely in butter.
When substituting olive oil for butter in baking, one cup of olive oil should be substituted with slightly more than one cup of butter.
It is also important to melt the butter before combining it with other dry or moist ingredients to make a smooth batter.
Try making this easy and soft butter cake.
Other Substitutes For Olive Oil
Other efficient substitutes for olive oil in cooking are clarified butter or ghee, vegetable shortening, lard, vegetable oil, or other seed-based oil such as grapeseed oil or sunflower oil, and even chicken or vegetable stock when used in a pinch.
Some more olive oil substitutes that work best for baking are Greek yogurt, fruit or vegetable puree such as mashed banana, applesauce, avocado puree, and pumpkin puree.
Can I Substitute Butter For Olive Oil For Frying?
Yes, you can efficiently substitute butter for olive oil for frying or sautéing. It is good to note that frying with clarified butter has better results, as regular butter contains small quantities of milk solids and water that may cause it to burn if overheated.
Can I Substitute Butter For Olive Oil in Banana Bread?
Yes, butter can be used to prepare banana bread for a more aromatic, fluffy, and melt-in-your-mouth bread with an appealing darker outside and lighter inside. Measuring the ingredients is important for baking the perfect banana bread and should be followed well.
Bottom Line
I hope this quick guide helped you decide if you should replace oil with butter and how.
If you have any tips, do comment and let us know. Share this article with your friends and family!