Ingredient substitution guide

Best substitutes for sesame oil

Best swap for sesame oil: Toasted sesame oil, 1:1 in dressings and as a finishing oil; toasted is much stronger and burns when frying, so use plain sesame oil to cook.

How we checked this: these swaps come from the substitution list Well Stockd uses to match recipes, and their ratios follow ordinary kitchen practice rather than one published chart. For exact amounts on many common swaps, see the NDSU and Colorado State University extension tables listed below. Editorial policy

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What can I use instead of Sesame Oil?

The best swap for Sesame Oil is Toasted Sesame Oil, 1:1 in dressings and as a finishing oil; toasted is much stronger and burns when frying, so use plain sesame oil to cook. Another option is Chili Sesame Oil. The table below also lists Untoasted Sesame Oil, Toasted Walnut Oil and Tahini Thinned with A Neutral Oil, 5 swaps in all.

All 5 swaps for sesame oil, best first.
Swap	Ratio and notes
Toasted sesame oil	1:1 in dressings and as a finishing oil; toasted is much stronger and burns when frying, so use plain sesame oil to cook
Chili sesame oil	1:1; adds heat - omit other chili if using
Untoasted sesame oil	1:1 where the oil is simply the cooking fat; it is pale and close to neutral, so it will not give the nutty aroma a recipe wants from the toasted kind
Toasted walnut oil	1:1 as a finishing oil off the heat; similarly nutty and just as heat-sensitive, so do not fry in it Diet and health: Contains tree nuts.
Tahini thinned with a neutral oil	1 tsp tahini whisked into 1 tbsp neutral oil; sesame flavor without the toasted note, best in dressings and sauces

Source and limits

These swaps come from the substitution list Well Stockd uses to match recipes to your kitchen, last updated November 3, 2026. We remove swaps known to be unsafe, but not every swap has been tested in a kitchen, and a swap is cooking guidance, not an allergen or nutrition equivalent. Check labels and what the recipe needs before substituting.

The ratios and usage notes follow ordinary kitchen practice rather than a single published chart. These two university extension tables list exact amounts for many common swaps:

Browse every ingredient and read how these swaps are sourced.

Buying more? Storage times for sesame oil