The Best Oil for Grilling (High Smoke Point Guide)
The best oils for grilling have a high smoke point and a neutral taste. Avocado, canola, and refined olive oil all work great. Avoid butter and unrefined oils that burn and turn bitter.
Grilling runs hot. If you use the wrong oil, it burns, smokes, and leaves a bitter taste on your food. The right oil does the opposite. It helps your seasoning stick, prevents sticking on the grates, and handles high heat without breaking down. Here is how to pick the best oil for grilling.
What makes a good grilling oil
Two things matter most:
- A high smoke point. This is the temperature where oil starts to smoke and break down. Grills get very hot, so you want an oil that can take the heat.
- A neutral or mild taste. You want the flavor to come from your meat and seasoning, not a strong oil.
The best oils for grilling
- Avocado oil. The top pick. Very high smoke point (around 520°F) and a mild, buttery taste.
- Canola oil. Cheap, neutral, and handles high heat (around 400°F). A great everyday choice.
- Refined or light olive oil. Not the same as extra virgin. Refined olive oil has a higher smoke point and works well on the grill.
- Peanut oil. High smoke point (around 450°F) with a light nutty taste. Popular for high-heat cooking.
- Grapeseed oil. Neutral taste and a smoke point around 420°F.
Oils to avoid on the grill
Skip these for direct high-heat grilling. They burn fast and can turn bitter:
- Extra virgin olive oil. Great for finishing or low heat, but its low smoke point burns on a hot grill.
- Butter. It tastes amazing but burns quickly. Brush it on at the very end instead.
- Flaxseed and walnut oil. Save these for salads and finishing, not the grill.
How much oil to use
Less than you think. A thin coat on the food is all you need to help the Dad Spice stick and to keep things from sticking to the grates. Too much oil drips into the fire and causes flare-ups. Pat your food dry, add a light coat of oil, then season.
Want the full breakdown of each oil and its health benefits? Read our deeper guide on the healthiest cooking oils for grilling. And for grill heat and pull temps on your meat, use the Meat-o-Meter.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best oil for grilling?
Avocado oil is the top pick for its very high smoke point and mild taste. Canola, refined olive, peanut, and grapeseed oils also work well.
Can you use olive oil on the grill?
Use refined or light olive oil, which has a higher smoke point. Save extra virgin olive oil for finishing, since it burns on high heat.
What oil has the highest smoke point?
Avocado oil, at around 520°F, is one of the highest. That makes it ideal for hot, direct grilling.
Should you oil the grill or the food?
Oil the food, not the grates. A thin coat on the food helps seasoning stick and prevents sticking, with less risk of flare-ups.
Make it taste better.
Grab a bottle of The Classic and season like you mean it.
