Common Kitchen Substitutions
We’ve all run into this problem. You’re in the middle of cooking something, or just super excited about creating a new concoction – and are sad and disappointed when you go to your cupboard and find that you’re out of the one ingredient that you absolutely need. The good news is that anything goes in the kitchen and you can get away with adding or omitting just about anything!
Some stuff though, ya just need and can’t get away with leaving out. In those times, you need a good substitution – something that you can use in place of the ingredient that you are missing. Here’s a list of some common substitutions that you can use when you’re stuck just minutes before suppertime!
|
Amount |
Ingredient |
Substitution |
|
1 teaspoon |
All Spice |
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon each ginger and cloves |
|
1 cup |
Baking Mix |
1 cup pancake mix |
|
1 teaspoon |
Baking Powder |
1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar |
|
1 cup |
Beer |
1 cup chicken broth |
|
1 cup |
Bread Crumbs |
1 cup cracker crumbs/ground oats/or Corn Flakes |
|
1 cup |
Beef or Chicken Broth |
1 bouillon cube plus one cup boiling water OR 1 tablespoon of soy sauce plus 1 cup boiling water |
|
1 cup, packed |
Brown Sugar |
1 cup white sugar or 1 cup white sugar plus 1/4 cup molasses (decrease liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup) OR 1 1/4 cup confectioners sugar |
|
1 cup |
Butter | 1 cup shortening OR 7/8 cup of vegetable shortening OR 7/8 cup of lard |
|
1 cup |
Buttermilk |
1 cup yogurt OR 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar with enough milk to make 1 cup |
|
1 Ounce |
Semi Sweet Chocolate |
1 ounce of unsweetened chocolate and 4 teaspoons of sugar OR 1 ounce semisweet chocolate chips with 1 teaspoon shortening |
|
1 Ounce |
Unsweetened Chocolate |
3 tablespoons cocoa (unsweetened) with 1 tablespoon shortening or vegetable oil |
|
1/4 cup |
Cocoa |
1 ounce of unsweetened chocolate |
|
1 cup |
Corn Syrup |
1 1/4 cup white sugar with 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup honey |
|
1 cup |
Cottage Cheese |
1 cup ricotta cheese |
|
1 cup |
Half and Half Cream |
1 tablespoon of butter with enough milk to make one cup |
|
1 cup |
Heavy Cream |
1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk with 3 tablespoons butter |
|
1 cup |
Whipped Cream |
1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed |
|
1 cup |
Cream Cheese |
1 cup pureed cottage cheese |
|
1 teaspoon |
Cream of Tartar |
2 teaspoons of either lemon juice or vinegar |
|
1 Whole |
Egg |
3 tablespoons of mayonnaise OR mash half a banana with 1/2 teaspoon baking powder |
|
1 cup |
Cake Flour |
1 cup all-purpose flour, less 2 tablespoons |
|
1 cup |
Self-Rising Flour |
7/8 cup all-purpose flour mixed with 1.5 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt |
|
1 tablespoon |
Fresh Herbs |
1 teaspoon dried herb |
|
1 cup |
Honey |
1 1/4 cup white sugar mixed with 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup corn syrup |
|
1 teaspoon |
Hot Sauce |
3/4 cup teaspoon cayenne pepper plus 1 teaspoon vinegar |
|
1 cup |
Ketchup |
1 cup tomato sauce with 1 teaspoon sugar and one teaspoon vinegar |
|
1 teaspoon |
Lemon Juice |
1 teaspoon vinegar OR 1 teaspoon lime juice |
|
1 cup |
Mayonnaise |
1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup plain yogurt |
|
1 cup |
Whole Milk |
2/3 cup evaporated milk with 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup soy milk |
|
1 cup |
Molasses |
3/4 cup brown sugar with 1 teaspoon cream of tartar |
|
1 tablespoon |
Prepared Mustard |
1 tablespoon dried mustard with 1 teaspoon water, 1 teaspoon vinegar, and 1 teaspoon sugar |
|
1 Ounce |
Pepperoni |
1 ounce salami |
|
1 cup |
Sour Cream |
1 cup plain yogurt OR 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar with enough cream to make 1 cup |
|
1/2 cup |
Soy Sauce |
4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce with 1 tablespoon of water |
|
1 cup |
White Sugar |
1 cup brown sugar OR 1 1/4 cups confectioners sugar OR 3/4 cup honey OR 3/4 cup corn syrup |
|
1 cup |
Yogurt |
1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup buttermilk |
|
|