Substitute Olive Oil for Butter

 Contributed by Connie Lancaster

You can substitute olive oil for butter, margarine or other oils in almost any recipe. The basic rule is to use an equal amount of olive oil if the recipe calls for vegetable oil. The variety of olive and harvest time are major factors affecting the flavour of olive oil. If you want to replace butter with olive oil, to use in baking or on delicately flavoured foods, you don't want an olive oil that is described as "grassy, peppery, or pungent". An olive oil described as "smooth, mellow, and buttery" is what you're looking for.

This chart shows the substitution amounts for butter or margarine in imperial and metric measurements. 

Butter                            Olive Oil
1 tsp                                 3/4 tsp
2 tsp                                 1 1/2 tsp
1 Tbls                               2 1/2 tsp
2 Tbls                               1 1/2 Tbls
1/4 cup                             3 Tbls
1/3 cup                             1/4 cup
1/2 cup                             1/4 cup + 2 Tbls
2/3 cup                             1/2 cup
3/4 cup                             1/2 cup + 1 Tbls
1 cup                                3/4 cup
2 cups                              1 1/2 cup