The 5 Best Oil For Searing Steaks

October 4, 2022
by Dan Skewes
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We all want to cook the perfect steak every time. But how can you sear it perfectly in your pan if you’re sure what oil to use?

Some people may be tempted to use butter, but you should always avoid this.

Butter has a low smoking point and will burn long before the pan is able to get up to temperature to sear your steak.

This will leave you with an acrid taste in your mouth if you were to try and sear your steak in it.

So using a high-quality cooking oil is an absolute must for getting the perfectly seared steak.

But with so many different cooking oils to choose from, it can often be confusing when trying to find the best one for steak.

How can you be sure that you’ve found the best oil for searing steak? And what type of cooking oil should you opt for, anyway?

That’s where we come in! We’ve done all of the hard work so that you don’t have to.

We’ve researched and reviewed hundreds of different products on the market to find the best of the best.

So as long as you opt for one of the 5 best oil for searing steak that we’ve reviewed in more detail below, you can rest assured that you’ve found the best oil for searing steak!

Happy Belly Canola Oil

Amazon Brand - Happy Belly Canola Oil, 1 gallon (128 Fl Oz)

First up is the wonderful Happy Belly Canola Oil! This particular cooking oil is ideal for searing your steak because it comes with a range of great qualities.

Most importantly it has a high smoking point of 399 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it perfect for searing steak.

What we really liked about this cooking oil is that it comes with a lighter taste. So you won’t have to worry about it giving your steak any additional strong flavor.

Simply add a dash to your pan to sear your steak to perfection, then enjoy the taste of your scrumptious steak.

You’ll have plenty of cooking oil to go around with this canola oil.

There is an impressive 1 gallon worth of canola oil included, which will be more than enough to sear a butt load of steaks.

Pros

  • Canola oil - perfect for searing steak to perfection
  • Large capacity - gives you 1 gallon of cooking oil to work with
  • Light tasting - you don’t have to worry about it influencing the flavor of your steak

Cons

  • Larger bottles - no smaller options for those who want a smaller size

Also available at…

finegrocerys.com
walmart.com

Pompeian 100% Grapeseed Oil

Pompeian 100% Grapeseed Oil, Light and Subtle Flavor, Perfect for High-Heat Cooking, Deep Frying and Baking, 68 FL. OZ.


Next up is the fantastic Pompeian 100% Grapeseed Oil!

Grapeseed oil is another excellent choice for searing your steak, as it's one of the cooking oils that has a very subtle flavor.

This light flavor means that your steak is allowed to shine through!

What we really liked about this grapeseed cooking oil is that it has a high smoking point.

It can be used for up to 510 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it arguably more versatile than other types of cooking oil.

Another excellent feature of this grapeseed oil is that it’s available in 3 different sizes.

You can choose between bottles of 24 fluid ounces, 68 fluid ounces, or a 6 pack of 24 fluid ounce bottles.

Ideal if you want more choice when it comes to selecting grapeseed oil as your cooking oil of choice!

Pros

  • Grapeseed oil - one of the best cooking oils for searing steak
  • Light and subtle - no need to worry about the grapeseed oil flavoring your food
  • High smoke point - able to cope with the higher temperatures needed for searing steak

Cons

  • Bottle cap thread - some customers felt this was a little small so needed to be stored standing up

Also available at…
walmart.com
bjs.com

BetterBody Foods Pure Avocado Oil

BetterBody Foods Refined Non-GMO Cooking Oil, Kosher, Keto and Paleo Diet Friendly, for High-Heat Cooking, 100% Pure Avocado Oil, 1 Liter, 33.8 Fl Oz

One of the best cooking oils for searing steak is of course avocado oil.

Avocado cooking oil is one of the healthiest and more versatile types of cooking oil, so it will also be worth using for other recipes in the kitchen.

That’s why we’ve selected the BetterBody Foods Pure Avocado Oil to include in our list of the best oils for searing steak!

A feature that will really come in handy with this cooking oil is that it has a high smoking point of 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

So you won’t have to worry about it burning and giving your steak an acrid taste!

This is a super healthy cooking oil that only uses the very best ingredients. There are no genetically modified ingredients in this avocado oil, and no additives.

Pros

  • High smoke point - no need to worry about the cooking oil burning when you sear your steak
  • Naturally refined - doesn’t feature genetically modified ingredients or additives
  • Versatile - can be used for cooking a variety of dishes

Cons

  • One size - this avocado oil is only available in one size

Also available at…

walmart.com
waterbutlers.com

Healthy Harvest Non-GMO Sunflower Oil

Healthy Harvest Non-GMO Sunflower Oil - Healthy Cooking Oil for Cooking, Baking, Frying & More - Naturally Processed to Retain Natural Antioxidants (One Gallon)

If you want a tried and tested cooking oil that can be used for a variety of other dishes, then the Healthy Harvest Non-GMO Sunflower Oil.

Sunflower oil is widely versatile and can be used for many cooking applications.

What we really liked about this cooking oil when we put it to the test was that it comes with a high smoking point.

It can be used up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, which will be perfect for searing steak.

So you won’t have to worry about ruining the flavor of your steak with burnt oil!

This is a super large container that gives you 1 gallon of sunflower oil to work with. It only features natural ingredients, with no additives or genetically modified ingredients.

Pros

  • Natural ingredients - doesn’t include any genetically modified ingredients or additives
  • Long lasting - typically lasts you longer than other types of cooking oil
  • High smoke point - suitable for use up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit

Cons

  • Expensive - one of the pricier options on the market

Also available at…

healthyharvestnongmo.com
walmart.com

Bertolli Extra Light Olive Oil

Bertolli Olive Oil, Extra Light, 750 ML

Last but not least is the wonderful Bertolli Extra Light Olive Oil.

Even though standard or extra virgin olive oil isn’t recommended for searing steak, a refined or lighter olive oil such as this Bertolli Extra Light Olive Oil is perfectly fine to use.

This particular olive oil comes with a high smoking point which makes it ideal for using to sear steak.

It is safe to use up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, so you won’t have to worry about the cooking oil burning when you use it for searing your cut of steak.

We really loved that this extra light olive oil is super versatile. This means that you can use it for several other types of dishes in the kitchen, helping you to get more value for money.

By stocking up on this type of olive oil you will be able to use it for different dishes and save yourself some money in the process!

Pros

  • Light flavor - you won’t have to worry about the olive oil flavoring your steak
  • High smoke point - suitable for use up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Versatile - can be used for a wide range of cooking applications

Cons

  • One size - only one size of light olive oil available

Also available at…

target.com
walmart.com
samsclub.com

Buyer’s Guide

Trying to find the best oil for searing steak can be a real challenge, particularly if you’re not all that savvy on all the different cooking products that are on the market.

It can be tricky trying to decide between all the different types of cooking oil without trying them all yourself!

How are you meant to know which cooking oil will have the best smoking point and won’t flavor your meat?

We’ve put together this handy buyer’s guide to help you and give you all of the information that you need.

We included all of the key criteria that we used to select the best oil for searing steak that we reviewed in more detail up above.

So as long as you bear the below factors in mind when it comes to choosing your product, you can rest assured that you’ve found the best oil for searing steak for your needs.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about cooking oil for searing steak down below or skip ahead to the frequently asked questions.

High Smoking Point

The first thing you will need to look for in a cooking oil for searing steak is a cooking oil that comes with a high smoking point.

This will be especially crucial when it comes to something like searing a steak because you need to get the pan up to a very high temperature.

If the cooking oil had a lower smoking point, then this would burn before you got up to temperature.

A cooking oil that burns before you reach the optimal temperature for searing steak will obviously pose a problem.

Burnt oil will then flavor your steak with an acrid taste which will be unappealing. Not to mention making a complete waste of good steak!

So you should opt for a cooking oil that has a high smoking point.

This will hold up to the heat and ensure that you are able to cook your steak perfectly every single time.

Type Of Oil

Next you will need to consider what type of cooking oil that you use.

You may have a preference when it comes to other types of cooking, but for this type of cooking, you will need to ensure that your chosen cooking oil can stand up to the heat.

Only certain cooking oils are able to do this, with standard olive oil and butter not being recommended.

The good news is that there are plenty of different types of cooking oil for you to choose from.

The best cooking oils for searing steak include refined or light olive oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, grapeseed oil, or soybean oil.

All of these cooking oils will be able to withstand the heat needed to sear your steak perfectly without impacting on the flavor of the meat.

We’ve made sure to include a good range of these cooking oils in our selected cooking oils for searing steak above.

Bottle Size

So you’ve selected your preferred cooking oil that has a high smoking point. Next, you will need to think about the size of the bottle that you are purchasing.

Do you plan on searing lots and lots of steaks?

Then you will need to opt for a larger capacity bottle so that you will have plenty of cooking oil to go around.

If your steak will be more of an occasional treat, then you can get away with opting for a smaller bottle.

This should be more than enough to sear the odd steak every now and then.

However, it will mean that you have to replace the bottle more often when you run out.

By opting for a larger bottle of cooking oil you can often save money, and it will mean you’ll have plenty of cooking oil to go around whenever you want to sear your next cut of steak.

High Quality

You will of course want to opt for a cooking oil that features high-quality components. This will ensure that you have a high-quality cooking oil for you to use each time you want to sear your steak.

High-quality ingredients will make all the difference to your steak, and ensure that it is able to sear your steak properly.

Opting for cheaper cooking oils that don’t necessarily have the best quality ingredients in them, this will of course affect how well they work.

You may find that the poor-quality cooking oils flavor your steak with an unpleasant taste.

It will be best to opt for the best quality cooking oil that you can reasonably afford for the best results.

Light Flavor

To get the very best results from your chosen cooking oil, it will be best to opt for cooking oil that offers a light flavor.

After all, you are searing your steak so that you will be able to taste its great flavor. You won’t want the cooking oil to influence the overall taste of the steak.

So opting for a cooking oil that has a lighter flavor will allow the meat to truly shine through once you have finished searing it.

This will allow you to cook the steak beautifully without impacting on the quality of the meat.

Each and every product that we have highlighted above in more detail will be perfect for searing your steak because they feature a lighter flavor.

Versatile

Last but not least, it will be worth opting for a cooking oil that is super versatile.

The more versatile your chosen cooking oil is, the more things you will be able to use it for.

You will of course need it primarily for searing your steak, or course. But choosing a more versatile cooking oil will allow you to use it for other dishes, too.

This can help you to save on money, as you won’t have to buy 2 separate cooking oils for the other dishes that you enjoy cooking in the kitchen.

This will be ideal if you want to save on money to boot!

Frequently Asked Questions

Before embarking on your seared steak journey, here are a few common FAQs.

What Is The Best Oil For Searing Steak?

The best oils for searing steak are:

  • Happy Belly Canola Oil
  • Pompeian 100% Grapeseed Oil
  • BetterBody Foods Pure Avocado Oil
  • Healthy Harvest Non-GMO Sunflower Oil
  • Bertolli Extra Light Olive Oil

Should You Sear Steak With Oil?

Yes, you should sear steak with oil. This will prevent the meat from sticking to the pan, and ensure that you are able to get the meat up to temperature thanks to the hot oil.

However, in order to sear your steak properly, you will need to ensure that you opt for an oil that comes with a high smoking point.

This will mean choosing between canola oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil, light or refined olive oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, or soybean oil.

We’ve made a list of the best oil for searing steak above to help you so that you can get the perfect sear every time.

Should I Use Oil Or Butter To Sear Steak?

You should always use cooking oil to sear steak instead of butter.

This is because butter has a fairly low smoking point, which will mean that it won’t be able to cope with the higher temperatures needed to sear steak.

It will also burn much easier and quicker than a cooking oil, which will then of course affect the flavor of your steak.

By using a good quality cooking oil, this will be able to stay stable for much longer than butter at a higher temperature, so you won’t have to worry about it flavoring your steak with acrid notes.

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