If you’ve ever tasted the deliciousness of a medium-rare steak, then you know there’s nothing better than a good steak sear.
The key to a good sear is the oil you use. If you notice an odd smell or a smoking pan, chances are you’re using the wrong type of oil.
Not all oils are made the same. Some can’t handle high temperatures, meaning they aren’t ideal for searing.
Fortunately for you, we’ve done a little digging and used some of our own experiences to gather some information regarding the best oil for steak searing.
Since you’ll be using high temperatures, you need to use an oil that has a high smoke point and no additives.
Our top pick for the best oil for searing steak is the BetterBody Foods Avocado Oil because it has a smoke point of 520 degrees Fahrenheit and is GMO & Gluten-free. There are some other great options on the list as well.
| Product | Smoke Point | Refined | Gluten-Free |
| BetterBody Foods Avocado Oil | 520 degrees F | Yes | Yes |
| Pompeian Grapeseed Oil | 470-510 Degrees F | Yes | Yes |
| Hollywood Safflower Oil | 450 Degrees F | Yes | Yes |
| Bel’Olio Extra Light Olive Oil | 468 Degrees F | Yes | Yes |
| Weston 100% Canola Oil | 400 Degrees F | Yes | Yes |
Best Oil For Searing Steak
1.BetterBody Foods Avocado Oil – Best Overall
Without a doubt, the best oil for searing steak is BetterBody Foods Avocado Oil because it has a high smoke point of 520 degrees Fahrenheit, contains oleic acid, and controls blood pressure
It’s no secret that avocado oil has the highest smoke point out of all the oils, coming in at a whopping 520 degrees Fahrenheit.
This oil helps the seasoning stick to the steak as opposed to sticking to the pan. The avocado oil ensures your steak is perfectly seared without burning the bottom or smoking the house out.
What we love about avocado oil is that it contains a decent amount of oleic acid and it helps control blood pressure.
Not only that, but avocado oil helps reverse the inflammatory process and keeps your heart healthy.
This is why avocados are considered to be good fat. This oil has minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients needed for maintaining good health.
This particular brand is certified non-GMO and gluten-free, leaving behind a smooth and subtle flavor that won’t effect the flavor of your steak.
What We Like
- Non-GMO
- Doesn’t change the real flavor of the steak
- Has minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients
- Highest smoke point
- Great for a Paleo and Ket diet
- Contains oleic acid
What We Don’t Like
- It’s a little expensive for its size
2.Pompeian Grapeseed Oil – Best For Searing in a Cast Iron
We love working with Pompeian Grapeseed Oil for a few reasons. The first is obviously because it has the highest smoke point out of all the oils, which is between 470-510 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is crucial because any oil used for searing steak should have a smoke point higher than 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Furthermore, this particular oil has nutrient properties. It contains essential nutrients for your body including Omega, fatty acids, and Vitamin E.
Many oils that are used in cooking contain almost no nutrients and a ton of fat. So even if you’re cooking while on a diet, this is a great oil to use. It’s also non-allergenic, naturally processed, and free from chemical additives.
As far as the flavoring is concerned, we noticed that the grapeseed oil made the steak more flavorful.
It has a subtle flavor that is also great for baking, high heat cooking, and deep-frying. It’s also not cold processed.
The problem with cold processed oil is that it can burn or smoke while cooking.
What We Like
- It has the highest smoke point rating
- It’s not that expensive for 68fl oz
- It adds a nice subtle flavor
- It’s non-allergenic
- Contains vitamins and nutrients
- Can be used for other types of cooking
- Great for cast iron
What We Don’t Like
- The only issue I found with this was that when ordering online, the cap sometimes falls off.
3.Hollywood Safflower Oil – Best for Searing Sous Vide
The sous vide method is a cooking technique that requires precise temperature control to ensure restaurant-quality results.
Sous vide is also the process of vacuum-sealing food in a bag and then cooking it to a precise temperature in a water bath and then searing, grilling, or broiling it. Hollywood Safflower Oil is perfect for searing steak in this method.
Hollywood Safflower Oil has a smoking point of around 450 degrees Fahrenheit and it’s naturally processed and expeller pressed.
Oils that are Expeller pressed are physically pressed and extracted from seeds in high heat and pressure.
It’s a fantastic refined oil and much better than cold-pressed oils. We like working with it because it doesn’t produce a strong odor or leave a scent on the steak.
This oil contains no leftover hexane residue since there are no harmful chemicals or solvents used in the process.
We like that it’s enriched with natural antioxidants, Vitamin E, and low saturated fats. This type of oil helps lower blood pressure, widen blood vessels, and has been said to keep cardio health in check.
What We Like
- Great for sous vide
- High smoke point
- Expeller pressed
- Affordable
- Enriched with natural antioxidants and vitamins
- Low saturated fats
What We Don’t Like
- It may be hard to find
4.Bel’Olio Extra Light Olive Oil – Best for Grilling
If you’re searing your steak on the grill, Bel’Olio Extra Light Olive Oil is a wonderful product to use.
We actually prefer this oil as opposed to others because of how well it works on the grill.
Grills tend to smoke as it is and this olive oil keeps from producing any extra while cooking.
This olive oil has a smoke point of approximately 468 degrees Fahrenheit, which is perfect for searing steak.
We’ve used it for baking, cooking, frying, and more without an issue. It doesn’t leave behind a gross taste either.
There are no trans-fats or additional ingredients in this olive oil. It’s also non-allergenic and gluten-free.
It’s important to remember that you have to use extra light olive oil, not regular or virgin olive oil.
The extra light has the highest smoke point. We used regular olive oil once and all it did was smoke out the house.
What We Like
- High-quality ingredients
- All-natural
- Has no trans-fat or cholesterol
- Health ingredients
- Doesn’t leave behind a bad taste
- All-purpose
What We Don’t Like
- It may be more expensive than other options
5.Wesson 100% Natural Canola Oil – Best All-Purpose Oil
Anybody who cooks is familiar with the name Wesson. They’re a well-known brand in the cooking industry. Their items are generally reliable and only of the highest quality.
Canola has a smoking point of 400 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can sear a steak without worrying about smoking out the kitchen.
Canola is rich in Omega-3s and we like it because it’s cholesterol and trans-fat-free.
Using canola to sear your steak with salt and spice, properly searing it will create a savory flavor and a really nice crust. We haven’t come across
What We Like
- Contains no trans-fat
- Creates a nice flavor
- Has a high smoke point
- Versatile
- Rich in Omega-3s
- Cholesterol-free
What We Don’t Like
- Pretty plain oil
- Can be pricey
Tip For Choosing an Oil for Searing Steak
Before you choose oil for searing your steak, there are a couple of things you should be aware of.
There are some things you have to watch out for and certain types of oil that we absolutely do not recommend.
Olive oil, extra-virgin olive oil, and traditional vegetable oil all have low smoke points, around 300-350 degrees Fahrenheit, which just isn’t high enough to sear a steak.
We did say that the extra-light olive oil would work though, so just remember that.
Smoke Point Levels
This is the most important thing you have to consider is the smoke point levels. Ideally, you will want a smoke point level of above 350 degrees.
Anything under that and you’ll have yourself a nice smoke show coming from your pan.
Not only does smoke affect the air, but it can affect the flavor of the steak. Options such as seed oils, plant oils, and extra light olive oil are your best bet.
Ingredients
Not only can smoke make a difference but so can the ingredients of the oil. We always recommend using pure oils.
If there are a lot of added ingredients, the smoke point can be negatively affected and lowered.
Additionally, the ingredients can affect the flavor and health of the nutrients of the oil. If you’re health-conscious, we recommend an oil that’s pure and natural.
Why Not Cold-Pressed Oil?
You can’t use all types of oil for searing steak. Only oils with higher smoke points should be used.
You should also not use cold-pressed oils. These types of oil have a lower smoke point and there’s a huge chance that these will smoke out your kitchen.
The reason this happens is that these oils are processed without heat or chemicals. This is why coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, and other cold-pressed oils shouldn’t be used for seating steak.
More so, extra virgin olive oil can create a bad flavor, cause smoking, and even burning issues. It can even destroy the taste of the steak.
This is why we suggest using refined or expeller-pressed oils. They have a higher smoke point of over 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
We found that these are fantastic when used in stainless steel or cast-iron skillets.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Cook Steak Without Oil?
We only recommend doing this with thin cuts of meat if you don’t want to use oil. This is more common with the pan-searing method.
The oil is used to help the steak cook evenly on the outside and inside while helping it not stick to the pan.
Do I Heat the Oil in the Pan First?
We actually recommend that you put the oil directly on the steak. You can use the oil to make a marinade or rub and coat it before placing it on the pan to cook.
Final Thoughts
It is our hope that this guide has given you some insight as to what the best type of oil is for searing steak.
If you follow the recommendations above, not only will you be able to make a delicious steak, but a juicy and tender one. The taste and juiciness come mostly from the searing oil.
Don’t choose an oil that has GMOs or gluten. As we mentioned, we really like the BetterBody Foods Avocado Oil because it has the highest smoke point of 520 degrees Fahrenheit and it’s full of vitamins and other natural ingredients.
My name is Keren Tayler. I am a stay-at-home mama to three lovely girls, Sarah + Rachel + Hannah. Prior to becoming a mom, I had a successful career in the accounting field, steps away from becoming a CPA. I decided to give up on my career in order to raise my own kids (as opposed to letting a nanny do it, no judgment here :)) I learned a lot and I love sharing it with other moms. Along the way, I also became a Certified Food Handler.