Ingredient substitutions
Out of something? The best swaps, with exact ratios and what changes when you use them.
Best All-Purpose Flour Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best all-purpose flour substitute: an equal weight of half bread flour and half cake flour. For gluten-free baking, use a 1:1…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Allspice Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best allspice substitute is a blend: 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg and 1/8 tsp cloves per 1 tsp allspice. Also pumpkin pie spice,…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Anchovy Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best anchovy substitute is anchovy paste: 1/2 tsp per fillet. For vegetarian dishes, use miso with chopped capers. Fish sauce also…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Apple Cider Vinegar Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best apple cider vinegar substitute is white wine vinegar 1:1. Rice vinegar, lemon juice and sherry vinegar also work, and in baking…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Baking Powder Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best baking powder substitute: 1/4 tsp baking soda plus 1/2 tsp cream of tartar replaces 1 tsp baking powder. Bake right away.…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Baking Soda Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best baking soda substitute: 3 tsp (1 Tbsp) baking powder replaces 1 tsp baking soda. Expect paler, slightly tangier results. Potassium…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Bread Flour Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best bread flour substitute: all-purpose flour swapped 1:1, with 1–2 Tbsp less water per 500 g. Add 1–1 1/2 tsp vital wheat gluten per…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Breadcrumb Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best breadcrumb substitute: panko 1:1 for crispy coatings, or 3/4 cup quick oats per cup of breadcrumbs as a binder in meatballs and…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Brown Sugar Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best brown sugar substitute: 1 cup white sugar plus 1 Tbsp molasses makes light brown sugar; use 2 Tbsp for dark. Coconut sugar and…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Butter Substitutes for Baking (With Ratios)
Best butter substitute for baking: plant-based baking sticks 1:1 for creamed cakes and cookies, or 3/4 cup neutral oil per cup of butter…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Buttermilk Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best buttermilk substitute: stir 1 Tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar into 1 cup of milk, wait 5–10 minutes, then use it 1:1. More swaps,…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Cake Flour Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best cake flour substitute: 1 cup all-purpose flour minus 2 Tbsp, plus 2 Tbsp cornstarch, sifted together twice. It lowers protein for a…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Cayenne Pepper Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best cayenne pepper substitute is ground red pepper flakes, 1:1. Hot paprika, chipotle powder, gochugaru and hot sauce also work.…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Chicken Stock Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best chicken stock substitute is vegetable stock 1:1. Bouillon at 1 tsp per cup of water, mushroom stock, miso broth and a gelatin…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Cilantro Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best cilantro substitute is flat-leaf parsley 1:1 with a squeeze of lime. Thai basil, culantro and mint also work. Ratios, plus why…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Cocoa Powder Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best cocoa powder substitute is unsweetened chocolate: 1 oz (28 g) replaces 3 tbsp cocoa, minus 1 tbsp fat. Also Dutch-natural…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Coconut Milk Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best coconut milk substitute is homemade: blend 1 cup shredded coconut with 1 1/2 cups hot water, then strain. Or use half cream,…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Corn Syrup Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best corn syrup substitute: golden syrup, swapped 1:1 in pecan pie, candy and sauces. Glucose syrup is best for candy. Homemade sugar…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Cornstarch Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best cornstarch substitute for thickening: 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour per 1 Tbsp cornstarch, simmered 2–3 minutes. Arrowroot swaps 1:1 for…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Cream Cheese Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best cream cheese substitute is mascarpone 1:1 with a squeeze of lemon. Also Neufchatel, labneh, ricotta and cashew cream, with…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Cream of Tartar Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best cream of tartar substitute: 2 tsp lemon juice or white vinegar per 1 tsp for egg whites and syrups. If paired with baking soda,…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Crème Fraîche Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best crème fraîche substitute is full-fat sour cream mixed 1:1 with heavy cream. Mascarpone, Greek yogurt and homemade versions also…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Cumin Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best cumin substitute is 1/2 tsp ground coriander plus 1/2 tsp caraway per 1 tsp cumin. Chili powder, garam masala and curry powder…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Dijon Mustard Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best Dijon mustard substitute is stone-ground or spicy brown mustard, 1:1. Dry mustard, whole-grain, yellow mustard and horseradish…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Egg Substitutes for Baking (With Ratios)
Best egg substitute for baking: a flax egg, 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed plus 3 Tbsp water rested 10 minutes, replaces 1 large egg in muffins,…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Evaporated Milk Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best evaporated milk substitute is regular milk simmered down: reduce 2 1/4 cups (540 mL) whole milk to 1 cup. Plus half-and-half,…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Fish Sauce Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best fish sauce substitute is soy sauce 1:1, plus a minced anchovy for funk. Also Worcestershire, anchovy paste, colatura and a…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Fresh Garlic Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best fresh garlic substitute is garlic powder, 1/8 tsp per clove. Also granulated garlic, jarred garlic, garlic salt, garlic oil and…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Fresh Ginger Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best fresh ginger substitute is ground ginger: 1/4 tsp per 1 tbsp grated fresh. Ginger paste, frozen or crystallized ginger and…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Gelatin Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best gelatin substitute is agar-agar powder: 1 tsp replaces one 7 g packet of gelatin, enough to set 2 cups liquid. Also…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Greek Yogurt Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best Greek yogurt substitute is plain yogurt strained 2-4 hours: 2 cups makes about 1 cup. Also sour cream, skyr, labneh and…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Half-and-Half Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best half-and-half substitute is 3/4 cup whole milk plus 1/4 cup heavy cream for 1 cup. Also milk and butter, light cream,…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Heavy Cream Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best heavy cream substitute for cooking: 3/4 cup whole milk plus 1/4 cup melted butter per cup. Use chilled coconut cream if you need it…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Hoisin Sauce Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best hoisin sauce substitute is a quick homemade mix of soy sauce, peanut butter, honey, vinegar and garlic, used 1:1. Plum, oyster…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Honey Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best honey substitute: maple syrup swapped 1:1 in baking, dressings and glazes. Agave and golden syrup also work 1:1. Vegan swaps, sugar…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Lemon Juice Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best lemon juice substitute is lime juice 1:1. In baking, white vinegar 1:1 gives the same acid. Plus citric acid, orange juice and…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Lemongrass Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best lemongrass substitute is lemon zest: 1 tsp per stalk, plus a slice of ginger. Lemongrass paste, makrut lime leaves and dried…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Maple Syrup Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best maple syrup substitute: 3/4 cup honey thinned with 1/4 cup water per cup of syrup. Brown sugar syrup is great on pancakes. Ratios…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Marsala Wine Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best Marsala wine substitute is Madeira, 1:1, then dry sherry or port. For no alcohol, use white grape juice with stock and…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Mascarpone Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best mascarpone substitute is cream cheese beaten with heavy cream: 180 g cheese plus 60 mL cream per cup. Plus creme fraiche,…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Mayonnaise Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best mayonnaise substitute is plain Greek yogurt 1:1 with a little mustard and salt. Also sour cream, avocado, aquafaba mayo and the…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Milk Substitutes for Cooking and Baking (With Ratios)
Best milk substitute: 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water per cup of milk. For dairy-free, unsweetened soy milk swaps 1:1 in…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Mirin Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best mirin substitute is sake with sugar: 1 tbsp sake plus 1 1/2 tsp sugar per tablespoon. Also dry sherry, white wine, rice vinegar…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Molasses Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best molasses substitute: black treacle swapped 1:1. Or dissolve 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar in 1/4 cup hot water per cup of…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Nutmeg Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best nutmeg substitute is mace, 1:1, because it comes from the same fruit. Allspice, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and garam masala…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Oil Substitutes for Baking (With Ratios)
Best oil substitute for baking: melted butter, 1 1/4 cups per 1 cup oil, or simply 1:1. Applesauce can replace up to half the oil in…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Oyster Sauce Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best oyster sauce substitute is vegetarian mushroom oyster sauce, 1:1. No bottle? Mix soy sauce with a little sugar, or use hoisin.…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Parmesan Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best Parmesan substitute is Grana Padano 1:1; Pecorino Romano works but is saltier. Plus aged Asiago, nutritional yeast and…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Powdered Sugar Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best powdered sugar substitute: blend 1 cup granulated sugar with 1 Tbsp cornstarch for 1–2 minutes. It makes about 1 3/4 cups of icing…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Pumpkin Pie Spice Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best pumpkin pie spice substitute is a homemade mix: per 1 tsp, use 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ginger and 1/8 tsp each nutmeg and…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Red Wine Substitutes for Cooking (With Ratios)
Best red wine substitute for cooking: 1 cup beef or mushroom stock plus 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar per cup of wine. Works in braises, stews…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Rice Vinegar Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best rice vinegar substitute is apple cider vinegar 1:1 plus 1/4 tsp sugar per tablespoon. Also white wine vinegar, lemon juice and…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Ricotta Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best ricotta substitute is cottage cheese, drained and briefly pulsed, used 1:1. Also homemade ricotta, goat cheese, mascarpone and…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Self-Raising Flour Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best self-raising flour substitute: 1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt. In UK recipes, use 2 tsp…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Sesame Oil Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best toasted sesame oil substitute is neutral oil infused with toasted sesame seeds, 1:1. For light sesame oil, any neutral oil…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Shallot Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best shallot substitute is yellow onion with a pinch of garlic: 3 tbsp minced onion per medium shallot. Also red onion, green onion,…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Shortening Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best shortening substitute is butter: use 1 cup plus 2 tbsp butter per 1 cup shortening. Lard, coconut oil, margarine and oil also…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Smoked Paprika Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best smoked paprika substitute is 3/4 tsp sweet paprika plus 1/4 tsp chipotle powder per teaspoon. Also ancho chili, liquid smoke,…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Sour Cream Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best sour cream substitute: full-fat plain Greek yogurt, swapped 1:1, in dips, baking and toppings. Crème fraîche is best for hot…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Soy Sauce Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best soy sauce substitute is tamari 1:1, and it is often gluten-free. Coconut aminos, liquid aminos, miso and fish sauce also work,…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Sweetened Condensed Milk Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best sweetened condensed milk substitute: simmer 3 cups whole milk with 3/4 cup sugar down to 1 1/4 cups, one can. Plus powdered…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Tahini Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best tahini substitute is sunflower seed butter, 1:1, which is also sesame- and nut-free. Cashew, almond or peanut butter and Greek…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Tomato Paste Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best tomato paste substitute is tomato puree or passata: use 3 tbsp per 1 tbsp paste and simmer it down. Also ketchup, tomato sauce…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Vanilla Extract Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best vanilla extract substitute: vanilla bean paste 1:1, or seeds from 1/3 of a bean per tsp. From the pantry, use bourbon, rum or maple…
🔄 SubstitutionBest White Sugar Substitutes for Baking (With Ratios)
Best white sugar substitute: light brown sugar or cane sugar swapped 1:1. For honey or maple syrup, use 3/4 cup per cup of sugar and cut…
🔄 SubstitutionBest White Wine Substitutes for Cooking (With Ratios)
Best white wine substitute for cooking: 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock plus 1 Tbsp white wine vinegar or lemon juice per cup. Great…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Worcestershire Sauce Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best Worcestershire substitute: 2 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp cider vinegar and a pinch of brown sugar per tablespoon. Plus vegan,…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Xanthan Gum Substitutes (With Ratios)
The best xanthan gum substitute is guar gum 1:1. Psyllium husk, ground chia or flax at double the amount also work, plus cornstarch and…
🔄 SubstitutionBest Yeast Substitutes (With Ratios)
Best yeast substitute: 1 1/2 tsp baking powder per cup of flour for pizza, flatbread and rolls, baked right away. Sourdough starter…
🔄 SubstitutionDried vs Fresh Herbs Substitution (With Ratios)
Use 1 tsp dried herbs for every 1 tbsp fresh, a 1:3 ratio, or 1/2 tsp if ground. See herb-by-herb swaps and which herbs should never be…
