Avocado Oil vs. Grapeseed Oil - What's The Difference?

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Whether you’re making deep-fried chicken or salad, choosing the right kind of oil is an important decision. Many oils are sold in the market, each with its specifications, taste, and benefits. But it isn’t obvious which one we should choose or which one is healthier.

Despite the diversity in the types of oils in the market, Grapeseed oil and Avocado oil are becoming popular by the day. More and more people are turning toward healthier options when choosing the oil they use in their diet. Which is great, but it poses a question.

Which one should I use? Which one is healthier? And so on. Among the most compared oils around the globe are Grapeseed oil and Avocado oil. Despite being similar in many aspects, these oils have many differences that set them apart.

And in this article, we will discuss these differences and similarities in detail. So without saying anything else, let’s get into it.

Table of Contents

Avocado Oil

If you are a fan of Avocadoes, you may already know how great and different it feels to eat an avocado. Avocadoes contain lots of healthy fats, so they are used to produce Avocado oil. Despite being less popular than other oils, Avocado oil provides numerous health benefits along with great, rich, and delicious taste.

Most people assume that the only benefit of avocado oil is in its healthy fats, but they are not right. Avocado oil is also a rich source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are active chemical compounds that help our body deal with oxidative stress, which simply means an accumulation of free radicals in our body.

These free radicals can be quite troublesome if they are left unchecked. These agents lack an electron in their outer shell, so they bind with other cells, “stealing” an electron from their shell and leaving the cell damaged. Because of this mechanism, free radicals can attack the DNA and cause mutation or cancer; they can also cause faster aging and damage our organs.

So, the antioxidants in avocado oil help us deal with these free radicals. Some people also use Avocado oil directly on their skin or scalp. This helps in keeping the skin looking fresh, young, and healthy.

Smoke Point

The smoke point also referred to as the burning point, is the specific temperature at which an oil stops shimmering and starts producing a continuous stream of smoke. You might have encountered this if you ever left the pan with oil in it over high heat, and when you turned around, it was wafting with smoke.

So, why is Smoke point important, you ask? Because once oil is heated beyond its smoke point, free radicals are formed and transferred to whatever food you’re making. Now, instead of reaping the benefits of its antioxidant content, you actually increase the oxidative stress on your body.

In addition to free radicals, Acrolein is also produced, and it’s nothing but bad news. It’s the substance that gives you watery eyes, adds a burnt flavor to the food, and gives your kitchen an acrid Aroma. And this is why most manufacturers work hard to raise the smoking point of oil by adding various chemicals.

But if you are using an unrefined oil, like Avocado oil, you have to be careful about the smoking point as there are no chemicals added to raise the smoke point. But luckily, Avocado oil has one of the highest smoke point compared with other oils. Unrefined olive oil has a smoke point of around 375 F – 410 F (190C – 205C), and refined Avocado oil has a smoking point of 520 F or 270 C.

Health Benefits of Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is one of the healthiest oils one can use in their daily cooking, and its consumption is highly related to its health benefits. Here is a list of benefits you can get by consuming Avocado oil.

Rich in oleic acid, which is a very healthy fat. It helps lower bad cholesterol in our body and helps with reducing inflammation.
Good for heart health: According to research, Avocado oil helps lower blood cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and inflammatory cytokines. All of which are related to heart disease in some form.
A good source of Lutein: Lutein is an antioxidant beneficial to our eye health. Researchshows that Lutein and zeaxanthin are essential for eye health and may prevent various age-related eye diseases.
Helps in the absorption of various essential nutrients: Studies revealthat Fat-soluble vitamins must be combined with fat to be absorbed in our body; these include Vitamin A, D, E, and K.

Grapeseed Oil

Grapeseed oil is perhaps the best smelling and best-tasting oil among the others. If the raw material used for production is of great quality, the oil will have an aroma similar to that of raisins. Despite being ahead in its taste and smell, the health benefits of grape seed do not look great.

The main problem when making grapeseed oil arises due to the high moisture content in the raw material after the juices from grapes are pressed. This increased moisture leaves the seeds susceptible to microorganism attacks and can cause spoilage. Another problem with grape seed oil is that most phenolic compounds don’t get transferred to the oil during pressing.

According to the European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, only 0.01 mg of phenolic compounds are transferred to the oil per gram of grape seed. So, almost all nutritionally important compounds are left behind in the press cake. However, another study has shown that Grapeseed oil is a promising alternative to most vegetable oils to manage hypercholesterolemia.

The study also mentions that Grapeseed oil can reduce biochemical blood parameters. So it’s not all bad news.

Smoke Point of Grapeseed Oil

Grapeseed oil has a high smoke point of 390 F – 420 F (195C to 215C), which is why it is used to fry food by many. This high smoke point lets you cook your food without worrying about health concerns and other safety hazards.