Guide to the 10 Best Cooking Oils for the Ketogenic Diet

This comprehensive guide breaks down the 10 best cooking oils for the ketogenic diet and how to pick the best one for you.

Eating healthy fats is one of the cornerstones of the keto diet in addition to moderate protein and low carbs. On the keto diet, fat makes up 70 – 75% of your daily nutrition intake.

This ratio is necessary in order to get your body to a state of ketosis. However, not all fat is created equal. Just because something is fatty doesn’t mean it’s ideal for the ketogenic diet.

Part of adding healthy fats to your keto diet includes cooking with natural oils that contain saturated fats and monounsaturated fats and avoiding processed polyunsaturated fats.

Healthy natural oils are great for the heart, lower bad cholesterol, lower blood pressure, reduce insulin resistance and belly fat, and combats inflammation in the body.

This article will cover the 10 best natural oils for cooking on the ketogenic diet.

These oils have been featured as well in the cooking with oils series on the blog.

In This Post...

10 Recommended Cooking Oils for the Ketogenic Diet

1. Avocado Oil for Ketogenic Diet

Avocado oil is rich in vitamins A, D & E, lecithin, and potassium. It also contains proteins and beta-carotene.

It also contains essential unsaturated fatty acids such as palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic.

The avocado oil profile is similar to sweet almond oil and olive oil.

Use avocado oil for cold cooking such as salad dressings, marinades, and dippings. Authentic unrefined avocado oil is usually a rich green color.

The recommended brands of avocado oil are La Tourangelle Avocado Oil and Primal Kitchen Cold Pressed Avocado Oil.

You can get even more of the benefits of avocado oil by adding avocado fruit to your diet every day.

That’s the excuse to eat avocado every day if you were looking for one. :)

2. Olive Oil (EVOO) for Ketogenic Diet

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is one of the best natural oils. It is versatile and multifunctional. It is heart-healthy and contains oleic acid.

Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid in addition to linoleum acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, vitamin E, and oleuropein.

Extra virgin olive oil is cold-pressed and contains many antioxidants. There’s a reason why it’s the main component in Mediterranean cooking.

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is best for finishing off a dish such as in salad dressings, as a dipping sauce ingredient, etc.

It can also be used for light cooking such as sautéing veggies and pan-searing seafood.

Some excellent recommendations for extra virgin olive oil brands include:-

You can also read Guide to the Best Brands of Extra Virgin Olive Oil for Hair, Health, and Beauty for even more extra virgin olive oil recommendations.

3. Coconut Oil (EVCO) for Ketogenic Diet

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (EVCO) contains a significant amount of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which help boost metabolism and speed up ketosis.

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (EVCO) also contains lauric acid and capric acid, which contain antibacterial properties.

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (EVCO) is ideal for high heat cooking because of its high smoking point.

You can use extra virgin coconut oil for frying, sauteing, baking and roasting. I also use it in my marinades and smoothies.

Extra virgin coconut oil is one of the most popular oils for the keto diet so you want to buy large quantities at a time. Extra virgin coconut oil also has a long shelf life.

Some excellent recommendations for extra virgin coconut oil brands include:-

4. Hazelnut Oil for Ketogenic Diet

Hazelnut oil is strongly flavored and used by many chefs in cooking because it adds a whole other level to great dishes.

The essential fatty acid content of hazelnut oil is similar to olive oil.

Some excellent recommendations for hazelnut oil brands include La Tourangelle Roasted Hazelnut Oil and Roland Hazelnut Oil.

5. Hemp Seed Oil for Ketogenic Diet

Hemp seed oil has a nutty flavor and is greenish in color. Hemp seed oil is a good source of vitamin E.

It has the perfect 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acids, which is the optimal requirement for a healthy body.

Hemp seed oil contains polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, aim for an unrefined brand.

Additional minerals in hemp seed oil include potassium, iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.

Use for light cooking in small amounts. I use it sometimes in my daily smoothies. 1 – 2 tablespoons at a time are more than fine.

Some great brands of hemp seed oil include Just Hemp Foods 100% Cold Pressed Hemp Seed Oil and Nutiva Organic Hemp Seed Oil.

6. Macadamia Nut Oil for Ketogenic Diet

Macadamia nut oil is one of my favorites for the skin. Macadamia nut oil contains the perfect ratio of omega 3:6.

When you add it to your diet, it promotes a healthy heart and efficient functioning of the immune system. You can add macadamia nut oil in salad dressings and for sautéing.

Some excellent recommendations for macadamia nut oil brands include Species Macadamia Nut Oil and Roland Virgin Macadamia Oil.

7. Red Palm Oil for Ketogenic Diet

Red palm oil is derived from the reddish pulp fruit produced by palm trees.

Red palm oil is rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A. It also contains carotenoids, phytosterols, squalene, vitamin E, and CoQ10.

Red palm oil is a very popular ingredient in West African cooking where palm trees are primarily grown.

Red palm oil is another one that is ideal for high heat cooking because of its high smoking point.

Like coconut oil, red palm oil also becomes solid at room temperature but a little bit of heat easily melts it.

Buy sustainable red palm oil as irresponsible harvesting of the oil palm can lead to deforestation and endanger orangutans.

The recommended brands of red palm oil are:-

For more on cooking with red palm oil, read Get Better Cholesterol Levels & Healthier Hair With Red Palm Oil.

8. Pistachio Oil for Ketogenic Diet

Extracted from pistachio nuts, pistachio oil is a bright green color and tastes delightful with a distinctive pistachio taste.

Drizzle over steamed vegetables, over a salad, or as a topping to finish a dish. Can also be used in baking and marinades.

Pistachio oil is high in vitamin E as well as monounsaturated fats with a bit of linoleic fatty acid.

Pistachio oil is also rich in biotin so if you have hair loss issues while on the keto diet, this oil will help.

Some great brands of pistachio oil include Nutrawbar Organic Expeller Cold-Pressed Pistachio Oil and La Tourangelle Roasted Pistachio Oil.

For more on cooking with pistachio oil, read 4 Ways To Use Pistachio Oil in Cooking.

9. Pumpkin Seed Oil for Ketogenic Diet

Pumpkins are very popular for cooking a wide variety of dishes like pies and soups, and of course, it brings Halloween to mind.

Pumpkin seed oil is produced from the seeds scraped out of a pumpkin. The seeds are dried and then cold pressed for the oil.

Pumpkin seed oil is a rich dark green color and changes to red depending on the concentration and thickness of the layer.

Pumpkin seed oil is a rich source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, zinc, vitamins E and K, and phytosterol.

Pumpkin seed oil is best used for cold dishes as it becomes bitter if it’s heated up.

Think drizzling over dishes or in dipping sauces. This is another oil that assists with hair loss recovery.

Some great brands of pumpkin seed oil include:-

10. Walnut Oil for Ketogenic Diet

Walnut oil is extracted from English walnuts and is rich in zinc, manganese, niacin, potassium, and copper.

Walnut oil is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats.

Use walnut oil as a dressing for salads. It can also be used for light cooking such as sauteing seafood.

Some great brands of walnut oil include La Tourangelle Roasted Walnut Oil and Jean LeBlanc French Walnut Oil.

For more on cooking with walnut oil, read Benefits of Cooking With Walnut Oil.

Smoking Point and the Shelf Life of Cooking Oils

Cooking oils with a high smoking point can be used for high heat cooking like frying and roasting.

These oils can be heated safely without damaging their structure and loading the oils with free radicals although you shouldn’t reheat the same batch of oil over and over again.

Every natural oil has the ability to go rancid but they all have varying shelf lives as follows:-

6 – 12 Months Shelf Life

Avocado oil
Hazelnut oil
Hempseed oil
Macadamia nut oil
Pistachio oil
Pumpkin seed oil
Walnut oil

1 – 2 Years Shelf Life

Red palm oil

2+ Years Shelf Life

Coconut oil
Olive oil

Summary of Best Natural Cooking Oils for Ketogenic Diet

High Heat Cooking (Frying, Baking, Roasting, and Sautéing)

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
Red Palm Oil

Cold Use and Light Cooking (Sautéing, Stir-Frying, Grilling, and Pan-searing)

Avocado Oil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Hazelnut Oil
Macadamia Nut Oil

Cold Use Only (Dressings, Dips, and Marinades)

Sweet Almond Oil
Hemp Seed Oil
Pistachio Oil
Pumpkin Seed Oil
Walnut Oil – can also be used for grilling seafood.

Though these natural oils are healthy, remember they should all be consumed in moderation.

You don’t have to consume all the natural oils recommended above. One or two at a time is more than adequate.

Ketogenic Meal Plan Help

If you are new to the keto diet and need help figuring out what to eat 3 – 5 times a day, consider using a meal planning service.

A meal planning service can help put together a diet plan every month and/or deliver ingredients and meals to you. I recommend JetFuel Meals to start with.

The plans start from $5 and offer a free trial period as well so don’t be apprehensive about checking it out and getting started on your keto diet today.

Tried the Instant Pot Yet?

Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7 in 1 Multi-Use Crock Pot

Get your meals prepared faster with the Instant Pot. It’s a fast, easy and healthy way to try out a lot of recipes and save time.

The multi-functional cooker contains a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, saute/browning, yogurt maker, steamer, and warmer.

The Instant Pot comes in 3 quarts (cooking for 2 – 3 people), 6 quarts (cooking for 4- 6 people), and 8 quarts (cooking for over 6 people).

Let me know if you have any questions about ketogenic oils in the comments section.

This post contains affiliate links which means I will make a small commission if you purchase through those links. Read full disclosure HERE.