Oil and butter are both critical cooking ingredients, but there are many people who have allergies to one or the other and need to swap them. Many chefs also swap oil for butter because they are out of the ingredient, or personal preference.
It’s important to know that butter and oil cannot be swapped one for one, because they aren’t the same taste, consistency, or even form. For example, oil will make a recipe much denser and more moist than butter will, due to its liquid form at room temperature.
If you are intending to swap oil for butter, or vice versa, you will need to take care to ensure you convert it properly so your recipe will turn out as intended.
How to Swap Oil for Butter?
The swapping of oil and butter depends on the type of butter your recipe calls for. If your recipe calls for melted butter, oil, and butter can be swapped on a 1:1 or equal ratio, but the taste may still differ slightly.
But if the butter in your recipe is solid or softened, it must be swapped for oil on a 3:4 ratio meaning for every 3 parts oil, you will need to use 4 parts butter.
To convert butter to oil, you need to multiply by 0.75.
Oil = Butter X 0.75.
To convert oil to butter, divide by 0.75.
Conversion Table Between Oil and Butter
| Oil | Butter |
| ¾ tbsp | 1 tbsp |
| 1 tbsp | 1 ⅓ tbsp |
| 3 tbsp | ¼ cup |
| ¼ cup | ⅓ cup |
| ½ cup | ⅔ cup |
| ¾ cup | 1 cup |
| 1 cup | 1 ⅓ cup |
| 2 cups | 2 ⅔ cup |
| 3 cups | 4 cups |
| 4 cups | 5 ⅓ cups |
| 5 cups | 6 ⅔ cups |
| 6 cups | 8 cups |
| 7 cups | 9 ⅓ cups |
| 8 cups | 10 ⅔ cups |
Some basic equations exist for making these conversions:
- 1 cup butter equals 3/4ths cup oil
- 1 tablespoon oil equals 1 ⅓ tablespoon butter.
- 1/2 cup oil is equal to ⅔ cup butter
Frequently Asked Questions
How much oil is 125g butter
125g butter is equal to about 100 ml of oil.
Can you swap butter for oil in baking?
You can swap butter for oil in baking by melting the butter and adding the same amount as you would oil. Be aware, however, that the final result may taste a little different with the replacement.
How much oil replaces 1 tbsp of butter?
1 tablespoon of butter can be replaced with 2 and ¼ teaspoons of oil.
Is it better to use oil instead of butter?
Both butter and oil are fats, however, using butter gives baked goods a more spongy texture. Oil makes baked goods more dense (less spongy) than butter, but can help them retain their moisture when compared to butter.