Not all air fryer oils perform the same way. The cooking temperature determines which oil you should use. If you push an oil past its smoke point, you will get burnt flavor, acrid smoke, and a residue that can build up in your basket over time, ruining it. Learn which oils you can use, and which to avoid.
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The right oil makes air fryer food crispy and flavorful. Using the wrong oil or the wrong cooking spray can permanently damage your basket coating, void your warranty, and make your food taste rancid. I have been using an air fryer for years and have tested a lot of oils in the process. This guide covers the best oils to use, which ones to skip, how much to use, and why smoke point is the factor that matters most when cooking at high heat.
Many of my readers have sent me messages asking what oils to use in their air fryer. I decided to write my responses up in this article in hopes of helping answer all of these questions. I have a lot of delicious air fryer recipes. Here are all of my gluten-free air fryer recipes if you are looking for more recipe inspiration.
If you are trying to decide on what air fryer to get, I have a great list of the Best Air Fryers for Gluten Free Households. I include a great pros and cons list for each model.
The Best Oils To Use In The Air Fryer:
When choosing an oil for your air fryer, note the recipe’s cooking temperature and compare it to the oil’s smoking point. This is a list of the best oils for air frying:
- Avocado Oil (Refined): Avocado oil is my first choice for air fryer cooking. Avocado oil has a smoke point of around 500-520°F, which is higher than almost any temperature a home air fryer reaches. It has a very mild, almost neutral flavor that does not compete with whatever you are cooking. It is more expensive than canola or vegetable oil, but a little goes a long way when you are using a mister.
- Avocado Oil (Unrefined): Unrefined avocado oil has a lower smoking point, so be sure to look at the label to see which type you have. Unrefined avocado’s smoke point is 375ºF/190ºC.
- Grapeseed Oil: Grapeseed oil is pressed from grape seeds left over from winemaking. It has a neutral flavor and a smoke point of around 390°F, which is sufficient for most air fryer recipes at moderate temperatures. One note: grapeseed oil is higher in polyunsaturated fats, which are less stable at high heat than the monounsaturated fats in avocado or canola oil. For very high-temperature cooking, avocado or canola oil is a better choice.
- Peanut Oil: Peanut oil has a high smoke point of around 450°F/230°C and a mild, slightly nutty flavor that works particularly well with Asian-inspired dishes and fried foods. It is inexpensive and widely used in commercial deep frying for a reason. The main issue for home use is allergies: do not use peanut oil if you are cooking for anyone with a peanut or tree nut allergy.
- Vegetable Oil: Vegetable oil is usually a blend of soybean, corn, and other plant oils. I personally am not a fan of using vegetable oil. It has a neutral flavor and a smoke point of 400-450°F/205-230°C, making it okay for most air fryer temperatures. It is inexpensive and widely available. The main downside is that most vegetable oil blends are high in omega-6 fatty acids and low in more stable monounsaturated fats.
- Canola Oil: Canola oil is a reliable, neutral-flavored oil with a smoke point of around 400°F/204º C. It is lower in saturated fat than most other cooking oils and has a reasonable balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. It is widely available, inexpensive, and comes in spray form, which makes it a practical everyday option for air fryer cooking. I use canola when I want a neutral oil and am not reaching for avocado oil.
- Coconut Oil (Refined): Coconut oil should only be used in foods where the flavor could be complementary. It has a coconut flavor that will enhance what you are cooking, making it delicious for tropical recipes and baked goods. 392º F/200º C.
- Coconut Oil (Unrefined): Note that unrefined coconut oil has a lower smoke point of 350ºF. It works well in baked goods if they are baked at 350ºF or lower.
- Olive Oil (Light or Refined): Light or refined olive oil has a smoke point of around 465°F, which makes it a solid choice for most air fryer recipes. It has a mild flavor that works well with vegetables, fish, and chicken.
- Light Sesame Oil: Not to be confused with dark, toasted sesame oil, is another nice choice. It has a smoke point of 410ºF and mild flavor. I like to use this oil for marinating meat that will be cooked in my air fryer.
I used avocado oil in this Air Fryer Rutabagas and this Chicken Air Fryer Foil Packet recipe.
Why Does The Smoking Point Of The Oil Matter?
The smoke point is the temperature at which an oil stops shimmering and starts to smoke. Once an oil smokes, two things happen: it releases compounds that give food a harsh, bitter flavor, and it begins to break down and leave residue in your basket and on the heating element.
At air fryer temperatures, which typically run between 350°F and 400°F, it’s easy to reach the smoke point of a low-quality or low-stability oil without realizing it. It is the fastest way to ruin dinner.
The hotter you cook, the higher the smoke point your oil needs to be. For most air fryer recipes, cook at an average 375°F or below; canola, grapeseed, refined coconut, and light olive oil all work. For high-heat cooking at 400°F and above, refined avocado oil or peanut oil is the best choice to use.
What Oils Should Be Avoided?
These are the two oils I do not use in my air fryer. Dark sesame oil and extra virgin olive oil.
- Dark Sesame Oil: Dark sesame oil is made from toasted sesame seeds and has an intense, nutty flavor that burns easily at high heat. Its smoke point is around 350°F. It can be used as a finishing oil, meaning it is best for drizzling over food after cooking. It does not belong in a hot air fryer basket.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO): Do not confuse this with extra virgin olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil varies more than almost any other oil. Some varieties have a smoke point as low as 320°F, others as high as 405°F, depending on the quality and processing. At air fryer temperatures, the risk of hitting the smoke point is too high, and I do not advise using it.
This handy smoking point chart is a good reference when deciding on what oil to use.
Best Spray Oils For The Air Fryer:
Using a spray bottle or mister for your oil gives you the most control over how much oil you use, which is exactly what air frying calls for. You want a thin, even coat of oil, not a puddle. Here is what to look for and what to avoid.
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This is the oil sprayer that I use in my kitchen. Several of my readers wrote that they love their Misto sprayer. A mister or sprayer lets you control the amount of oil you use to add a light coating of oil to the food. If you don’t have an oil sprayer, no worries! Another great option many people use is a basting brush.
- Avocado oil spray is my top pick for a spray oil. It is the most versatile, and the one I primarily use. Refined avocado oil has one of the highest smoke points of any cooking oil (around 500 to 520°F), and it holds up even when you are cooking at maximum air fryer temperature. It has an almost neutral flavor and works on everything from chicken to vegetables to fish.
- Canola oil spray is the most widely available option, the least expensive, and it is a reliable everyday choice. It has a neutral flavor and a smoke point of 400ºF. If you are put off by the cost of avocado oil, canola is a great choice.
How much oil to use:
Surprisingly, you use less oil than you think in an air fryer. A light mist over the food is enough for most air fryer recipes. If oil is dripping into the basket, you have used too much, and it will smoke as it heats. For foods that are naturally high in fat, like bacon, you may not need any added oil at all.
Can you use Pam and other cooking sprays in the air fryer?
No, Pam and other aerosol cooking sprays are not safe for non-stick surfaces. They contain propellants and additives, including soy lecithin, that bond to non-stick coatings at high heat, creating a sticky buildup that cannot be removed and degrades the coating permanently. Using non-stick sprays is the fastest way to ruin your air fryer basket.
This 6 qt air fryer is wonderful for making scallops! This easy Air Fryer Scallops with Dill Butter recipe makes a wonderful dinner! I sprayed avocado oil to help them get a golden sear as they cooked.
Air Fryer Oil FAQ:
No, you do not need to use oil when frying frozen foods. Frozen French fries and other fried foods already have oil on them, so there is no need to spray additional oil over them.
I do not put oil directly into the air fryer. I prefer to spray the oil over the food. This helps the food get crispy as hot air circulates around the food in the air fryer basket.
The best way to use oil in the air fryer is to spray a small amount of oil on the basket, then lightly spray the food. This prevents the food from getting saturated with oil.
You do not need to use oil in your air fryer, but the oil is what makes air-fried food turn out crispy.
Easy Air Fryer Recipes To Try:
Need more air fryer recipes? Here are some of my favorites:
- Crispy Air Fryer Catfish
- Easy Air Fryer Cod
- Air Fried Cornish Game Hens
- Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
Have a tip?
Did you find this guide helpful? Leave a comment below and let me know which oil you use in your air fryer
I truly hope you enjoy this recipe. I have been testing and creating gluten-free recipes for over 15 years. Creating gluten-free recipes that do not taste gluten-free is my goal for every recipe. Sometimes I only have to test a new recipe a couple of times, and others it takes multiple times. I do this so you get reliable, delicious results every time!
