Making pancakes is a common favorite childhood memory. A parent in the kitchen, stirring up pancake batter on a Saturday morning. Those pancakes were always the best.
It seems like it’s so hard to recreate those pancakes of our childhood memories, even for some of the most profound chefs. We can never quite get it to be as good.
One of the keys is in getting the ingredients just right. You would be surprised at how much a simple ingredient can affect your outcome. One such ingredient is oil.
What is the best oil for pancakes? One of the best oils for pancakes is canola oil, but there are some other types of oil you can use as well, including olive oil and coconut oil. Canola oil, however, tends to be a bit healthier and alters the taste less than other oils.
In this guide, we will walk you through the best oils for pancakes on the market today. We’ve narrowed down the search and chosen some quality oils that will make the best pancakes and we think you will be pleased with our choices!
How to Choose Oil for Pancakes
Before we set you loose on the different choices for oils, we thought it might be helpful to provide you with some good qualities of an oil for pancake use.
While you can use any type of oil you like, we’ve found that some oils really do work better than others. For example, vegetable oil is perhaps one of the most common oils used across the board.
There is certainly nothing wrong with vegetable oil and you can use it for making pancakes. We just prefer oil that is not as highly processed, even for things like pancakes.
Below, you will find some qualities that we think can be quite helpful when it comes to choosing an oil for your pancakes.
Flavor
One of the things you really want to be mindful of is purchasing an oil that might affect your flavor.
While there are several healthy oil options to choose from, you have to be careful because some oil flavors can be fairly strong and that might affect the taste of your pancakes.
The oil will serve its purpose and won’t affect your texture, but you might notice a little something different in your flavor in the end. Some people may never know or taste a difference, but it’s certainly something to keep in mind.
Quality
Oil quality can also make a difference. You certainly don’t want to waste your money on oil that has a bunch of additives. There are plenty of oils out there that are pure and natural, so we recommend sticking to those options.
Whether you like cold-pressed or refined vs. unrefined is totally up to your preferences, but when it comes to oil quality and the source of the oil, we recommend looking for products that truly use natural ingredients.
Be mindful of additives that are not necessary and add absolutely no health value to the oil that you choose.
Recommended Oil Types for Pancakes
We recommend one of the following types of oil for pancakes for tasty, evenly-cooked, moist pancakes.
Canola Oil
Canola oil is perhaps our top choice for pancakes. It has little to no flavor, it’s affordable, and it’s good for allergy solutions or even a semi-healthy option compared to vegetable oil.
This is a versatile solution that a lot of people have in their kitchens and it’s a winner on the pancake front.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is another great solution. It’s a healthier oil choice as well, though any type of oil will have its downsides in the health department.
It’s known for being high in monounsaturated fats, or good fats. You can find different flavors and types of olive oil as well.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil might be a good vegetable oil for pancakes because it’s a good butter replacement. If your recipe calls for butter or shortening instead of oil, give coconut oil a try.
Coconut oil has a lot of health benefits and while it may have a slight flavor to it, you probably won’t notice that in your pancakes.
The 7 Best Oils for Pancakes
Now that you have all of the information to make a decision, let’s walk through some good options. We searched the market and found some great options for making pancakes.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Healthy Harvest Canola Oil | Natural ingredients, pesticide and GMO-free |
| 2. | La Tourangelle Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Organic, cold-pressed, light flavor |
| 3. | Happy Belly Organic Refined Coconut Oil | Organic, refined, neutral taste |
| 4. | Wesson Pure 100% Natural Canola Oil | All natural and pure, no flavor |
| 5. | Crisco Pure Canola Oil | Pure, no flavor, large quantity |
| 6. | Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil | All natural, robust, farmer-owned |
| 6. | Nutiva Organic Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil | Organic and unrefined, light taste |
Below, you will find our top picks for the 7 best oils for pancakes, complete with reviews and details for you.
1. Healthy Harvest Canola Oil
This first option is our top pick. It’s the best overall option and you can purchase it in a gallon so you have plenty of oil. More oil means more pancakes, right?
This is a non-GMO canola oil that is made with quality in mind. In fact, the only ingredient listed in the nutrition table on this product is “non-GMO canola oil.”
The ingredients are natural and there are no additives and artificial ingredients that you have to worry about ingesting.
This oil is grown without using pesticides. It’s a safe and healthier alternative to other types of oil and one of the most well-made canola oils on the market.
Canola oil has antioxidants that are healthy for you as well, which is always a nice bonus. You can rely on this canola oil to provide you with Omega-3 fatty acids as well.
It’s also made in the USA from start to finish and the sources of the canola oil are locally sourced as well.
Pros:
- Made in the USA
- Non-GMO oil
- No additives or artificial ingredients
- Grown without pesticides
Cons:
- The packaging and shipping isn’t the best to protect the bottle from damage on its way
2. La Tourangelle Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Next up, we have a high-quality olive oil for you to take a look at. This extra virgin olive oil is cold-pressed using early harvest plants.
It is certified as USDA organic, which just gives it a complimentary finish.
This is a non-GMO verified extra virgin olive oil and you can buy it in a couple of different sizes.
This olive oil is well-balanced with a peppery finish that isn’t noticeable when used in light quantities for pancakes. It’s fresh and very light.
You can taste the difference in the quality overall. This oil is considered an artisan oil and is premium quality.
This extra virgin olive oil is made to be delicious and versatile. It will accent your pancakes perfectly without changing their flavor. We also love that this option is made with all-natural and sustainable ingredients.
The brand takes great pride in carefully compiling their products and it shows in the quality of this oil.
Pros:
- USDA-certified organic
- Cold-pressed from early harvest plants
- Premium quality with light flavor
- Manufactured and bottled in the USA
- Made to be delicious and versatile
Cons:
- Some people noticed a bitter flavor
3. Happy Belly Organic Refined Coconut Oil
And now, we have a coconut oil for you to take a look at! This is an Amazon brand, Happy Belly, and it’s highly-rated across the board.
This particular option is a refined organic coconut oil, which means it won’t have a heavy coconut flavor that you have to worry about affecting your pancakes and other foods.
This coconut oil is USDA Organic and it is also Non-GMO. It’s got natural flavors and natural aromas and you can get a sizeable container so you can use it for cooking and all of your other coconut oil needs.
Happy Belly organic coconut oil is made with fresh coconuts. These are sourced directly from the Philippines, which is a leading coconut provider.
The oil in these jars is cold-pressed. It’s designed to be neutral in both taste and aroma. It stays solid in the canister but easily melts as needed.
Pros:
- Refined coconut oil
- Organic and Non-GMO
- Neutral taste and aroma
- Solid in canister but melts easily
- No artificial additives or hydrogenation
Cons:
- While it says it has a neutral scent, there is a slight hint of coconut to the flavor and smell
4. Wesson Pure 100% Natural Canola Oil
Here’s another great canola oil option. Remember that canola oil is our preferred option because it’s light and flavorless, for the most part.
It is versatile and can be used for so much more than just making pancakes, so that’s a bonus as well. This is a three-pack of 48 fl oz bottles of canola oil.
This canola oil really is all-natural. In addition, the Wesson canola oil has no cholesterol and no trans fats in it.
Pros:
- No flavor or taste
- Pure canola oil
- All-natural ingredients
- No trans fat or cholesterol
- 3-pack
Cons:
- Sometimes shipping can take a while
5. Crisco Pure Canola Oil
Crisco is a name brand that many of us recognize. Their canola oil is a great option for pancakes.
It’s highly-rated across the board and well-made. Plus, it comes from a brand that we know and trust.
This is pure canola oil. It does not contain any cholesterol or trans fat.
This bottle has a nice handle so it makes pouring it out of a large bottle so much easier. The lid even has a drip guard so you don’t have to worry about messes.
Crisco pure canola oil has absolutely no additives. It truly is just pure canola oil. It’s versatile and can be used for a whole host of cooking and baking needs.
Most importantly, it can be used for pancakes. This won’t affect the flavors, textures, or aromas of your food.
Pros:
- Canola oil option from a trusted brand
- No additives of any kind
- Versatile oil for tons of use
- Bottle is well-made with a no-leak spout
- No flavor or scent to contend with
Cons:
- Some people would prefer more flavor to their canola oil
6. Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Pompeian is another great brand that we love. They have oils of all kinds but we are highlighting their extra virgin olive oil for the purpose of these reviews.
You can choose your size. So many of these come in a huge bottle but you can get a smaller or larger bottle or you can go with this 48 fl oz option, if you prefer.
This is a robust oil, so it might have a hint of flavor to it, but it will be mild. It’s great for things like salads and marinades, but the flavor won’t be overwhelming in your pancakes.
The quality is monitored by USDA and the oil is first cold-pressed, which makes a difference in the quality.
Pompeian extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of 380-410°F. It’s made to be non-allergenic and gluten-free. Even the bottle is BPA free.
The olive plants are farmer-owned, as is the company. There are a lot of health benefits to this high-quality olive oil.
Pros:
- Reliable oil brand since 1906
- Multiple sizes to choose from
- Robust blend with mild flavor
- All-natural ingredients with no additives
- Farmer-owned and crafted
Cons:
- The bottle is thin and slightly flimsy
7. Nutiva Organic Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil
Finally, we leave you with one last coconut oil for the books. This option from Nutiva is an unrefined virgin coconut oil that is well-made.
This is the perfect coconut oil for cooking, including cooking pancakes.
Again, you can choose from multiple different size options so you don’t have to worry about a huge container that you won’t use quickly.
This coconut oil is USDA organic and non-GMO verified.
This oil is naturally extracted and full of nutrients. It can do so much more than just cook. The beauty of unrefined coconut oil is that the flavor and the scent are very light so your pancakes won’t be affected.
Pros:
- Unrefined coconut oil
- Light taste and scent
- All-natural and organic
- High-quality oil
- Solid at cool temps and liquid when heated
Cons:
- The quality seems to be inconsistent in freshness
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