Let’s face it; even the best nonstick pans need a little help every once in a while. Nonstick pans weren’t meant to last forever. Over time, the nonstick coating can begin to chip, bubble up and become unreliable.
That’s why it’s good to know about the best cooking oils for nonstick pans. Besides, cooking oils aren’t just about making sure your food doesn’t stick to the pan: they can also be used to impart delicious flavor to your dishes. Let’s take a look at the list.
La Tourangelle All Purpose Baking Spray
Editors’ Choice: 4.8 out of 5.0 stars
First up we have a cooking oil from La Tourangelle that will be a hit for everyone in your home. That’s because this cooking oil does not contain any flour whatsoever so it’s naturally gluten-free. This oil is also propellant-free and contains no aerosols.
It’s perfectly healthy at zero calories and it’s safe for your family and your dinner guests. Plus, it imparts a hearty taste to your foods. The La Tourangelle, All Purpose Baking Spray is plant-derived and has a natural taste.
Gourmet Duck Fat Spray Cooking Oil Bottle
Editors’ Choice: 4.8 out of 5.0 stars
If you aren’t so much into eating healthy and care more about pure flavor, Gourmet Duck Fat Spray Cooking Oil Bottle may be perfect for you. The taste is unmistakable and pairs great with poultry and even beef.
Plus it heats up very nicely. This is a 7 ounce bottle and you can also get a gluten-free version of this oil for nonstick pans.
Baker’s Joy
Editors’ Choice: 4.7 out of 5.0 stars
While this baker’s joy cooking spray may not be best used for things like eggs and steaks, it is great for baking. It is a flour-based baking spray so it is not gluten-free. However, it coats baking sheets like a dream.
It sprays on evenly and helps you lift your confection creations off the cookware like a dream. Baker’s joy is a trusted manufacturer of baking sprays and will not damage your bakeware.
Pompeian USDA Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Editors’ Choice: 4.7 out of 5.0 stars
Pompeian USDA Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil has a really nice flavor profile that is reminiscent of actual olives. You don’t get much of the pungent flavor but rather a well-rounded, almost fruit flavor. This is also a really healthy olive oil to use with your nonstick cookware.
That’s because there is no gluten in it, there are no propellants and no aerosols. It has a smoke point of between 380 and 410 degrees Fahrenheit and is great with salads and pastas. This particular container has 5 ounces of oil.
Smart Balance Cooking Spray
Editors’ Choice: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars
This is actually a 2 pack of cooking oil sprays from Smart Balance. The big selling point with these cooking sprays is that that they provide a good balance of monosaturated and polysaturated fats. We don’t know much about that.
All we know is that these sprays are very easy to use and don’t impart a strong taste to your foods. So if you are looking for a cooking spray simply to help out your nonstick cookware, these would be a solid choice.
PAM Original Cooking Spray
Editors’ Choice: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars
It’s hard to argue with history. PAM has been a staple in American kitchens for decades and with good reason. They make a very easy to use spray that can be used in a variety of cooking situations. What we liked the most about using PAM is that it doesn’t leave behind a greasy residue on your pans.
That means it’s very easy to clean your pans even if you use a generous amount of PAM cooking spray. PAM may not be the healthiest cooking spray to use but at least its fat free. Bonus tip: you can use PAM spray to prevent your grills and smokers from rusting as well.
Crisco Professional Oil Spray
Editors’ Choice: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars
We are rounding out our list with some American classics. Crisco may not have some of the fancy ingredients that some of the other entries on our list have; but it is supremely reliable. It is totally safe for your nonstick cookware.
Crisco is a canola oil based cooking spray and you can get it for a very affordable price. In fact, when dealing in terms of price per ounce, Crisco is one of the most affordable cooking sprays on the market today.
Cooking Oil for Nonstick Pans Buying Guide
The best cooking oil for nonstick pans will vary from person to person. It really comes down to what your preferences are. However, here are some general rules of thumb when choosing a nonstick cooking oil.
Fat-Based Oils
Fat-based oils tend to be the safest for nonstick cookware since it will burn off with each use and not develop a residue that can damage the nonstick coating.
Health
However, if fat-based oils are not an option for you, it may be wiser to choose an oil that is olive oil or coconut-based.
Smoke Point
Different types of cooking oils have different smoking points which can affect the way you cook so make sure you know the smoke point of whichever cooking oil you are considering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should you use oil on nonstick pans?
A: You certainly can – especially with particularly sticky foods. However, you won’t need to use very much of it on nonstick cookware.
Q: Does cooking oil ruin nonstick pans?
A: Some may develop a residue around the edges of the pans that over time, can damage the nonstick coating. However, the sprays and oils on our list will be safe for most types of nonstick cookware.
Q: Is PAM better than oil?
A: In some cases, PAM can actually be healthier than oil because it lacks components that can degrade and make it into the foods you cook. It may be more fattening in the short-term but some studies seem to suggest that certain cooking oils are actually less healthy in a long-term sense.
Some Parting Words
It can help to be choosy when shopping for cooking oils. You have to consider whether you want an oil that imparts a taste or no taste at all, what the oil is made of and how it will affect your nonstick cookware.
The products on our list of the best cooking oils for nonstick pans would be great places to start your shopping because their safe on pans and can impart as much or as little flavor as you want.
