Should I Use Olive Oil for Cooking Beef

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure to learn more.

There is a certain art to cooking steak. Whether you cook it on the grill, in a skillet, or some other way, you need the right tools!

Many people marinade steak because it helps to flavor it and retain moisture. Marinades commonly have oil in them.

Then, there are people who cook steak in oil for similar reasons. Cooking steak in oil retains moisture and flavor in the steak and helps it to cook just right without any sticking.

Oil is used for flavor and getting just the right cooking appeal to your steak. You also want an oil that won't throw up a bunch of smoke when you're cooking!

What is the best oil for cooking steak? The best oil for steak depends on how you cook it, but you will want a pure oil (with no additives) and one with a high enough smoke point for your cooking method. The best options include grapeseed oil, olive oil, peanut oil, and canola oil.

There are several really great options out there to consider. There is a recommended oil for grilling, searing, frying, and more – and we've got you covered with each of these!

In this guide, we will share with you detailed reviews of the seven best oils for cooking steak and let you know just what purpose they are best used for. We've sorted through all the data out there to find some of the very best options available.

Keep reading to learn the seven best oils for cooking steak!

How to Choose an Oil for Cooking Steak

Before you settle on an oil for cooking your steak, let's discuss a few things you may want to be aware of as you make a decision.

There are a few things to watch out for and there are also a few types of oil we specifically don't recommend using.

Before we get started, let's discuss the oils not to use.

Olive oil, extra-virgin olive oil, and traditional vegetable oil all have relatively low smoke points.

They tend to range between 300-350 F which simply isn't high enough for steak and could easily lead to issues with burnt oil that will affect your flavor.

However, there is an exception with extra light olive oil, which we'll discuss below!

Now, here are some of the qualities you should watch for.

Smoke Point Levels

Whether you are frying, grilling, or searing steak, the smoke point of the oil you are using is very important! Unfortunately, what happens is you will be well into your cooking and you will get bombarded with smoke.

Here's the thing, it doesn't just affect the air, it also affects the flavor of the food you're preparing! You will want an oil with a high smoke point (above 400 F).

Options like seed oils, plant oils, nut oils, and even extra light olive oil are your best options here.

Ingredients

Ingredients can make a difference. We always recommend going with pure oils. For one thing, the smoke point can be negatively affected (lowered) if there are a lot of added ingredients or processing.

The ingredients can also affect the flavor as well as the health and nutrients of the oil. If you are at all health-conscious, we recommend looking for options that are pure and natural.  Why ruin a good thing?

Variety

We did provide you some specific oils for specific scenarios that we felt worked best in those scenarios but be aware that most of these options are pretty versatile and will work for just about any style of cooking you may be using.

What we really want to bring home is that the flavors and the smoke points can vary by the different types of oil so keep these things in mind as you make a choice.

The 7 Best Oils for Cooking Steak Reviewed

As we progress through these reviews, we will share with you what each oil is best used for. However, we also have a few miscellaneous options that can be good for cooking steak with any method.

Here are our top steak oil recommendations:

Rank	Product	Best For
1.	Pompeian Grapeseed Oil	Using a cast iron skillet
2.	Lou Ana Pure Peanut Oil	Searing steak
3.	Bel'Olio Extra Light Olive Oil	Cooking on the grill
4.	Wesson 100% Natural Canola Oil	Frying steak
5.	Daana Organic Cold-Pressed Peanut Oil	Multi-purpose use
6.	Healthy Harvest Canola Oil	Multi-purpose use
7.	Pompeian Extra Light Olive Oil	Multi-purpose use

Our goal is to provide you with a variety to meet all of your steak-cooking needs. Each review will share a detailed description and review and will be complete with a list of pros and cons as well.

Let's take a closer look!

1. Pompeian Grapeseed Oil (100%)

Best Oil to Cook Steak in a Cast Iron Skillet
Check Current Price on Amazon

Cast iron skillets have their own seasoning if they've been used any number of times. We like this grapeseed oil from Pompeian for cooking steak in a cast-iron skillet. Grapeseed oil has a high smoke point, which makes it a great option for cast iron.

You can use high heat, you can deep fry, you can bake, or you can cook it any other way you like as well. This is a 68-ounce bottle so you get a pretty decent supply. This is a fairly healthy oil as well, as far as oils go.

Grapeseed oil is rich in Vitamin E as well as Omega-7 and fatty acids. This company has been making quality oils since 1906. This oil is naturally gluten-free. It is also GMO-free and non-allergenic.

You can count on this brand for reliable craftsmanship, farm labor, and overall quality.

Pros:

• Healthy oil option
• Smoke point of approximately 420 degrees Fahrenheit
• Rich in vitamins and nutrients
• Natural and free of harmful ingredients
• Produced by a reliable, quality company

Cons:

• When ordering online, it seems it's common for customers to receive the product with no cap in place.

2. Lou Ana Pure Peanut Oil

Best Oil For Searing Steak
Check Current Price on Amazon

When it comes to searing steak, you again need an oil that has a high smoke point. You will often hear things like olive oil recommended but we recommend you stay away from most olive oils. It has a very low smoke point and could result in bad flavor when you're finished.

Instead, try out this peanut oil from Lou Ana. The smoke point of peanut oil is 450 degrees Fahrenheit so you can get that pan nice and hot, make quick work of the searing process, and not worry about the oil negatively affecting your flavor!

This bottle comes with 24 ounces in it and it's made in the United States. Lou Ana is a well-known oil company and this oil is all-natural pure peanut oil so you really can't go wrong with this option. There is no trans-fat or gluten in it.

Pros:

• Pure peanut oil
• Smoke point of 450 degrees
• Reliable company
• Made and packaged in the US
• No trans-fat in this oil

Cons:

• This oil may have been reformulated recently and may not be quite as advertised.
• There is not a lot of descriptive information about this oil. They expect you to just trust the brand.

3. Bel'Olio Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil

Best Oil to Cook Steak on the Grill
Check Current Price on Amazon

Grills tend to get really hot really quickly. Just as with most cooking methods, you don't want to run into an issue where you produce a lot of extra smoke on the grill. With the grill, you have to be careful not to use an oil that is just going to run off the steak and cause a lot of smoke and potentially even a burned oil flavor.

Extra light olive oil is a great option. (Do NOT use regular or even virgin olive oil. It needs to be extra light!) This extra light olive oil from Bel'Olio is a really great find. You're buying it in bulk here so you get 4 liters and it does cost a bit more but it should last quite some time.

This is extra light, extra virgin, and refined olive oil. It's perfect for frying, cooking, grilling, baking, and more! If you peek at the ingredient list, you will notice there is no trans-fat and there are no ridiculous ingredients added either. It's an all-natural oil that is gluten-free and non-allergenic as well.

Extra light olive oil has one of the highest smoke points of approximately 468 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pros:

• All-natural oil
• Healthy ingredients
• Contains no trans-fat or cholesterol
• High-quality extra live olive oil
• Comes in a bulk package

Cons:

• The flavor is very light but will work great for grilling steak.
• This may be more expensive than other options you are considering.

4. Wesson 100% Natural Canola Oil

Best Oil For Frying Steak
Check Current Price on Amazon

Wesson is a well-known brand. They certainly aren't new in the cooking oil industry.

Their items are high-quality and reliable from a trusted source.

Canola oil has a smoke point of 400°F so you are able to fry without concerns of getting smoked out of the kitchen.

This large bottle should last quite some time and you can use it for more than just frying steaks. This is pure, 100% natural canola oil.

It is rich in Omega-3s and you can rely on this oil to be both cholesterol and trans-fat free.

You can't beat the quality for the price here. This has a great smoke point, which makes it a versatile oil.

It's really great for frying but you can use it for any type of cooking you prefer. There isn't necessarily anything that stands out, aside from this being a well-made oil.

Pros:

• All-natural, pure canola oil
• Smoke point of 400°F
• Large, 48-ounce bottle
• Rich in Omega-3s
• Trans-fat and cholesterol-free

Cons:

• Fairly plain oil but you can get flavors from seasoning and cooking process.

The Best Multi-Purpose Oils for Cooking Steak

Our last three oils all fall into multi-purpose use. They are not necessarily recommended for just one single category but could easily work well for any of your steak cooking needs!

If you're a fan of versatile ingredients, check these out:

5. Daana Organic Cold-Pressed Peanut Oil

Check Current Price on Amazon

This option is a premium peanut oil choice. It is organic and it is also made using a cold-pressed process. This cold-pressed process means that the oil is not refined like many options out there and therefore there are no harmful chemicals ingrained into the oil.

This oil is awesome for cooking. It's a healthy oil option so you can easily cook anything without worrying about trans-fats and such. Additionally, it has a high smoking point which makes it a really great choice for cooking steak in any way you might need to cook it.

This peanut oil has a bold flavor so it will add flavor to your steak. It might have a nutty flavor as well. It is rich in antioxidants as well as nutrients and low in carbs. You can rely on this to be a healthy oil choice for all your needs. It can even be used for skin and hair care if you like.

Pros:

• Cold-pressed oil
• All-natural with no chemicals or additives
• Flavorful and bold oil
• High smoking point for cooking steaks
• Sustainably-grown plants used

Cons:

• Comes with relatively little oil for the price.
• The oil has not been filtered which may affect the smoke point.

6. Healthy Harvest Canola Oil

Check Current Price on Amazon

This is another large bottle of canola oil that will last you quite some time. Canola oil has a high smoking point, which makes it a great option for cooking steak and many other items as well. This bottle should last you for quite some time without breaking the bank.

This company makes their oil all-natural. They believe in food with integrity and prefer not to add chemicals and additives to their processes. This oil is a non-GMO product, as verified by the Non-GMO Project.

The ingredient list is basic and simple. This option is high in your Omega 3s again and also does not contain any sodium, carbohydrates, sugars, or trans-fats in the ingredients. Everything is pure and natural and there are considerable nutrients available as well.

Pros:

• Rich with nutrients
• High smoking point
• Bulk 1-gallon jug
• Non-GMO
• Healthy canola oil made in the USA

Cons:

• No other size options available.

7. Pompeian Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil

Check Current Price on Amazon

Our final option is another choice from Pompeian. This is an extra light olive oil, which we highly recommend for grilling as it has the highest smoking point. It can also be used for any other cooking methods, especially for steak!

Extra light olive oil works well for frying and grilling purposes. It is light in both color and flavor so you will probably need to plan to season your steaks well. This oil is all-natural. It is gluten-free naturally. It is also non-GMO as well as non-allergenic.

This comes in a single 32-ounce bottle. It is a reasonable price for this bottle size. There are no additives or chemicals used in processing. As with most healthy oil options, you also have no cholesterol, no carbs, and no trans-fats.

Pros:

• Highest smoking point for oil
• Healthy oil option
• All-natural ingredients
• Single-serve bottle at a reasonable price
• Light and subtle flavor

Cons:

• This is extra light and has little to no flavor so be sure to accommodate for flavor elsewhere.

Related Questions

We hope you find this guide to the best oils for cooking steaks to be a valuable and informative resource for choosing an oil for your pantry. There are several great options if you know what to look for!

We invite you to review the following question and answer section for some additional information.

Can You Cook Steak Without Oil?

You can cook steak without oil, particularly using a pan-searing method. If you are going to cook steak without oil, it is recommended that you only do so on thin cuts of meat.

The oil helps the steak to cook evenly on the outside and inside while also helping it not stick.

Do You Heat Oil in Your Pan For Cooking Steak?

We recommend that you actually put your oil directly on the steak. You can use oil to make a rub or marinade and coat your steak before placing it on the grill or in the pan to cook.

Up Next: The Best Skillets For Steak

alifriontromes.blogspot.com

Source: https://foodsguy.com/best-oils-for-cooking-steak/

Share this post