Where to Buy Avocado Oil + 4 Things You Should Know About It

Avocado oil is rapidly increasing in popularity as a way to improve health and create amazing meals. It is a great alternative to olive oil, offering many of the same benefits and advantages.

What’s more, the oil is easy to use and has a mild flavor.  

This post highlights the various options for where to buy avocado oil, including both local and online sources. We also consider with why you might want to use this oil.

By far, the best place to find avocado oil is online.

The simple reason is the selection. A physical store will always have fewer options than an online one. After all, they’re limited in space. Some will also pick and choose which brands they carry, often missing out the smaller companies entirely.

When you shop online, you get to choose from many different products.

Of all the online options, Amazon is the most powerful. The site gives you the largest range to choose from. There are also reviews to guide you and the site is easy to navigate.

The sheer amount of choice can seem overwhelming. But, it doesn’t have to be. From that selection, here are some of the best brands to use:

Bella Vado Avocado Oil

Other Places to Find Avocado Oil

Of course, there are other places to find avocado oil. Many local health stores will stock it, as will some convenience stores. Examples include:

Farmers markets may also stock avocado oil but only if it is made locally. That won’t be true in most cases. Even so, it’s another avenue to consider.

If you’re focusing on physical stores, the selection will be smaller. Make sure you read the labels closely as well. Some brands do produce refined avocado oil, which won’t have the same health benefits.

There are many places to buy avocado oil from. And the oil is worth trying. If you’re not convinced, take a look at these key areas.

1) What It’s Made Of

No shock here. Avocado oil is made from avocados. But, it is also unusual, as the oil comes from the avocado pulp rather than the skin or pit.

Various techniques are used but the most desirable is cold press. This extracts the oil as naturally as possible, without using chemical solvents (1). The low temperatures help prevent chemical changes in the oil. As a result, cold pressed avocado oil will offer the most benefits.

Because avocado oil simply comes from avocado flesh, you’re getting most of the same compounds and health benefits that whole avocados offer.

The minimal processing means you’re getting a healthier oil than alternatives like canola oil. That aspect alone is powerful.

2) The Different Types

There are various different terms used to describe avocado oil. Some of them are an indication of quality, while others are simply marketing.

When you’re buying avocado oil, the terms below are the most relevant ones:

• Cold pressed. This is the ideal manufacturing approach and avoids chemicals, along with extra heat.
• Organic. Using organic avocados may be healthier.
• Naturally refined. This suggests that chemicals aren’t used in the refinement process. However, the term is vague and is open to interpretation.
• Unrefined. The implication is the same as for naturally refined.

Other terms are much less important, such as the ones below. These are just marketing phrases. They can sometimes indicate a focus on quality but inferior companies often use them too:

• Virgin: While olive oil has grades, avocado oil doesn’t. There is no formal difference between virgin, extra virgin or regular avocado oil. Companies just pick a term to use.
• Extra virgin. The same as for virgin.
• Natural. Natural is a meaningless term. It sounds good and implies less refinement. But, even refined avocado oil could be considered natural just because it comes from avocados. So, don’t assume the term means what you expect.
• Raw. This mostly just implies cold pressed and offers no extra benefits.
• GMO Free. This label makes no sense for avocado oil as there are no genetically modified avocados in the food supply

It’s often best to avoid brands that heavily rely on marketing and misleading terms. A focus on marketing doesn’t mean the product is bad. But, a high quality brand shouldn’t need to manipulate customers.

If you plan to cook with the oil, make sure you find one that focuses on food. Some brands emphasize external uses instead, such using the oil on your skin or in your hair. As such, they might not be ideal for consumption.

3) The Benefits of Avocado Oil

To put it simply – avocado oil is a healthy oil. It’s even comparable to olive oil and is high in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) (2).

Avocado oil is also a key source of oleic acid (3). This omega-9 fatty acid is an important reason why olive oil is so beneficial (4).

Choosing olive or avocado oil over options like canola oil can help improve cholesterol levels (5) and reduce LDL oxidation (6,7). Avocado oil also helps increase nutrient absorption from food (8). Diets high in MUFAs have been linked to other health benefits too, including decreased blood pressure (9).

4) How to Use it

Avocado is a very practical oil, with a smoke point of around 520°F for refined oil (10) and 300°F to 375°F for unrefined (11). This makes it popular for cooking. You can even use it for deep frying.

The oil doesn’t taste like avocados either. Instead, it has a somewhat buttery flavor and is often said to be ‘clean tasting’. That’s perfect if you don’t want to impact the taste of your overall dish.

You can simply use the oil in the same way that you would any cooking oil. The site Cure Joy also highlights various other ways to use avocado oil, including when you can substitute for the oil. Likewise, Legion Athletics highlights 20 uses of avocado oil that you can try.

You can also simply swap avocado oil for olive oil or coconut oil in many recipes.

Final Thoughts

Avocado oil may not be as common as olive oil but it’s still powerful for health. The oil is also easy to use and has minimal flavor – making it perfect for cooking.

So, go on, give it a try.

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