When recipes call for vegetable oil, can you substitute olive oil instead? Will it change the flavor much?

Question

More specifically with baking/desserts - I see a lot of recipes call for vegetable oil. I normally only have olive oil on hand. Does it really matter?

Answer 1

anytime i bake...and it calls for oil, i use applesauce. taste better and is moist

Answer 2

Yes it does matter because olive oil is much stronger especially extra virgin olive oil.  It tends to take over the flavor of the other ingredients.  I purchase a small bottle of vegetable oil to have available when needed.

FYI:  Extra virgin olive oil is more salad dressings, used in cold dishes, it should not be heated.

Answer 3

Olive oil does have a more distinct flavor than most vegetable oils. On the other other hand, it's better for you. On the other hand the flavor will be noticeable in baking and desserts. Get some Canola oil, which is pretty good for you, too.

Answer 4

High quality extra virgin olive oil can be used as a substitute for vegetable oil in recipes with strong flavor components (chocolate for example), but with more delicately flavored pastries and cakes, you should really use vegetable oil.

Answer 5

You can do it!  However, it is not so good in sweet things!  But you can do it.