Are you out of baking powder or flour in the middle of baking? Or maybe missing garam masala or curry powder while trying out an Indian recipe?
- The Principles To Follow When Choosing Alternative Ingredients
- Common Ingredients Substitutions You Can Follow
- Spices and Herbs Substitutes
- Vegetables and Beans Substitutes
- Sauces and Condiments Substitutes
- Cooking Oil Substitutes
- Grains, Seeds, Nuts Substitutes
- Baking Ingredients Substitutes
- Sugar and Sweeteners Substitutes
- Dairy Products and Plant-based Milk Substitutes
- Alcoholic Products and Vinegar Substitutes
- Beverages
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish
Even worse you forgot to pick an item from the store. You’re tight on time and going back to the store isn’t an option.
Some ingredients, especially the exotic ones, are not always readily available in the store. As with many other people, you think twice about buying these ingredients since you think you won’t use them frequently.
We all have been there. Whether missing an ingredient or for other personal reasons (such as allergies, following certain diets, searching for healthier options), there are times when we need to look for alternatives for ingredients when cooking.
The good news is you can secure the substitutions of most ingredients from whatever available in your kitchen. Although the final results can be different in terms of flavor, texture, taste, or color, as long as you (and your family) are happy with the results, nothing else counts.
Some items can be equally substituted with other ingredients, while some others can be tricky to handle. In this article we talk about the factors to take into account when choosing substitutions of an ingredient. Next to that, we have lists of substitutions to pick for many common ingredients.
The Principles To Follow When Choosing Alternative Ingredients
Whether for enhancing the flavor, adding a nice bright color, or creating a thick consistency, each ingredient has its own function in a recipe. You need to figure it out before looking for a suitable replacement.
Keep in mind that replacing one or more ingredients from a recipe may alter the characters of the final result. After all, a recipe is flexible. You can adjust to your condition and preference. Who knows, you may come up with a new favorite dish?
The following are some factors you should consider when looking for alternatives for certain ingredients.
Consistency
This has to do mostly with liquid. The substitute should have a similar consistency to what’s replaced. In general, water, broth, stock, wine, and beer can be used to replace each other (irrespective of flavor).
For creamy liquid, in most cases you can either use dairy or non-dairy cream (coconut milk, coconut cream) interchangeably. If you need to thin out the liquid, add some water. To thicken the liquid, simply add a small amount of flour or cornstarch.
Texture and Structure
Texture and structure are very important to make your dish appealing and appetizing. The rule of thumb is to replace an ingredient that creates similar results. Otherwise, you probably need to adjust the cooking time.
If a recipe calls for breadcrumbs, replace it with other crunchy bits. For vegetables, try to find those from the same family or group. For example, exchange carrots with parsnip, or potatoes with sweet potatoes (technically these two are not closely related, but they have similar characteristics).
Flavor
The rule is to start small and adjust as you go. Flavors of a dish are primarily attributed to spices, herbs, and sauces.
Choose ingredients that have the closest flavor to what you need to replace. Consider items that are made from similar ingredients. For example, oyster sauce can be substituted by Worcestershire since both are made of oysters.
Likewise if the original ingredient is acidic, add lemon juice or vinegar to the substitute. For example, you can easily swap buttermilk with regular milk added with some drops of lemon juice.
Some ingredients are very special and distinctive in flavor and taste. Thus, they might be very difficult to replace. Think about saffron or cilantro. You can replace saffron with turmeric, both create a similar color but the flavor is different.
Likewise, cilantro can be substituted with parsley, but its aromatic flavor is hard to replace by other ingredients.
Diet Restriction
If you are cooking for yourself or someone who follows certain diets or have health conditions, you may need to modify the recipe to comply with the requirements.
Here is a brief guideline about different dietary restrictions from various considerations.
Type of diets
Vegan – a fully plant-based diet without any animal products. No meat, fish, eggs, dairy products
Ovo-vegetarian – a plant-based diet which allows eggs, but no meat, fish, and dairy products
Lacto-vegetarian – a plant-based diet which allows dairy products, but no meat, fish, and eggs
Lacto-ovo vegetarian – a plant-based which allows dairy products and eggs, but no meat and fish
Pescatarians – a vegetarian diet which adds fish, but no meat. Some pescatarians may consume dairy products and eggs
Paleo diet – a diet that mimics what hunter-gatherers humans ate which includes whole and unprocessed foods, such as meat, vegetables, fruits, potatoes, nuts, and healthy fats. Consult your dietitian to know which ingredients are paleo-approved.
Keto diet – a diet that is low in carbs and high in fat. Consult your dietitian to know which ingredients are keto-approved.
Food allergies and sensitivities
Common food allergies – milk, peanut and tree nuts, egg, gluten, soybean, fish, shellfish (crustaceans and mollusks), mustard, sesame, celery, lupin, sulfites, and sulfur dioxide
Common food intolerance – lactose (from dairy products), gluten, caffeine, histamine (in mushrooms, pickled and cured foods, fish and seafood), salicylates, food additives (sweetener, flavoring, MSG, coloring agent).
Religious restrictions
Halal – an Islamic dietary law that restricts several food items, mainly alcohol, pork, and their derivatives, including gelatins from animals that are not halal. Meat should be slaughtered and treated in Islamic rites. Halal certified meat and products are usually available in Halal shops. Some supermarkets also dedicate a special shelf for Halal products.
Kosher – a Jewish dietary law which restricts several food items and sets rules on how they should be prepared. Kosher rules are complex, hence certification takes place to assure the compliance to such requirements.
Healthy alternatives
Due to certain health conditions or considerations for a healthier lifestyle, some people stick to foods that are low in carbs, sugar, fat, or dairy-free.
Common Ingredients Substitutions You Can Follow
In this section, we’ve made lists for alternatives you can consider when missing an ingredient. The lists are categorized for each food category and are written in alphabetical order. Links are provided to the articles of specific ingredients available on our website.
Please note that not all substitutes work similarly in every case. You need to figure out the role of the ingredient to replace it with the right one. Use the tips above as a general guideline.
Spices and Herbs Substitutes
There are myriad spices and herbs to use in different types of cuisines. Not all of them are always available on hand. Instead of getting a new pack that you don’t really use regularly, consider finding the right substitutes with whatever available in your pantry.
Remember that some spices are a blend of several different spices. Simply use the ingredients that make up the spices and you’re good to go!
Each spice or herb is unique with aromatic flavors. Replacing one or two may impact the final result. Thus, finding the right alternatives can be tricky, especially if you are less familiar with them or you have no idea how the original recipe should taste.
You may need to adjust the amount or combination. But, as long as you’re happy with the result, that counts the most right?
Spices / Herbs | Substitutions |
---|---|
Allspice | Cinnamon + cloves + nutmeg |
Basil | Oregano, parsley, mint, arugula/ rocket, Thai basil, Holy basil |
Bay leaf | Oregano, thyme |
Black pepper | White pepper, peppercorns |
Cajun spice | Black and white pepper + garlic powder + onion powder + cayenne/ paprika powder |
Capers | Dill pickles, green olives, thyme, pickled artichoke heart, nasturtium seeds, mustard green |
Cardamom | Cloves + cinnamon, cinnamon + ginger, cinnamon + nutmeg, allspice, cumin + coriander |
Caraway Seeds | Fennel seeds, cumin |
Cayenne pepper | Red chili flakes, jalapeno powder, Spanish paprika, Thai peppers, chili powder, gochugaru |
Celery Salt | Pink salt, onion salt |
Chives | Scallions/ spring onion, leeks |
Cinnamon | Nutmegs, allspice |
Cloves | Allspices, cinnamon, cardamom, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, mace |
Coriander leaves/ cilantro | Parsley, Dill, Spring Onions/ Scallion |
Coriander seeds | Caraway seeds, cumin, fennel seed |
Cumin | Caraway seeds, garam masala, curry powder |
Curry powder | Cumin + coriander seeds + turmeric + ginger |
Dill weed | Basil, tarragon, parsley, fennel |
Fennel seed | Aniseeds, caraway seeds |
Fenugreek leaves and seeds | Maple syrup, curry powder, mustard seeds, Chinese celery leaves, spinach (or combination of them) |
File powder | Okra, roux, cornstarch, eggplant, arrowroot powder |
Garam masala | Curry powder, chaat masala, cumin, allspices, coriander |
Garlic | Garlic powder, jarred minced garlic, garlic salt, garlic flakes |
Ginger | Ground ginger, allspice |
Hot peppers | Hot peppers such as Habanero, Jalapeno, Serrano, Thai Chili, etc. can replace each other |
Italian seasoning | Basil + oregano + marjoram + rosemary + sage + thyme |
Kaffir lime leaves | Lemon verbena/ lemon thyme zest + lime zest |
Kosher salt | Table salt, sea salt, pickling salt, Himalayan salt |
Lemongrass | Dried lemongrass, Preserved lemon, lemon verbena, lemon balm, fresh ginger + coriander stalks |
Mace | Nutmeg, allspice, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon |
Marjoram | Basil, thyme, savory |
Mint | Basil, marjoram, rosemary |
Mustard | Prepared mustard, wasabi powder, horseradish powder |
Nutmeg | Mace, allspice, cinnamon, ginger |
Onion | Celery, scallions, garlic, fennel, cabbage, ginger, carrots, bell peppers, onion powder |
Paprika powder | Ancho chili powder, chili powder, tomatoes, tomato juice + chili powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, chipotle powder, bell peppers |
Parsley | Celery leaves, coriander leaves/ cilantro |
Pepper flakes | Cayenne pepper, paprika powder |
Poultry seasoning | Thyme + sage + marjoram + rosemary + black pepper |
Pumpkin pie spice | Cinnamon + ginger + allspice + nutmeg |
Oregano | Thyme, basil, marjoram |
Red pepper | Hot sauce, cayenne pepper, pepper flakes |
Rosemary | Thyme, tarragon, savory |
Saffron | Turmeric, annatto powder |
Sage | Savory, marjoram, rosemary |
Savory | Thyme, marjoram, sage |
Shallots | Red onion, scallions, leeks, garlic, chives |
Star anise | Chinese five-spice powder, cumin seeds + tarragon, cloves, fennel seeds, allspices |
Tamarind juice | Lemon/ lime juice + brown sugar, pomegranate molasses, rice vinegar, white wine |
Tarragon | Fennel seed, dill, basil, marjoram |
Thyme | Italian seasoning, oregano, tarragon, herbs de Provence, dill, savory |
Turmeric | Saffron, annatto powder, dry mustard |
White pepper | Black pepper, peppercorns |
Vegetables and Beans Substitutes
Choose substitutes that are closely related or have a similar texture.
Vegetable Names | Substitutions |
---|---|
Asparagus | Leeks, broccoli, cactus strips |
Bamboo shoot | Asparagus, Jerusalem artichoke, jicama, water chestnuts |
Broccoli | Cauliflower, cabbage, broccolini, brussels sprouts |
Carrot | Parsnips, squash, beet, zucchini, cucumber |
Cauliflower | Broccoli, cabbage, zucchini |
Corn | Corn starch, frozen corn, potato starch, tapioca |
Cucumbers | Zucchini, radish, iceberg lettuce, jicama, squash |
Eggplant/ aubergine | Use other variety of eggplants, zucchini, yellow squash, portobello mushrooms |
Escarole | Arugula, spinach, chard |
Green beans | Cactus strips, asparagus, long bean |
Mango (underripe, green) | Green apple |
Kale | Spinach (English spinach, baby spinach), Collard green, broccoli rabe, mustard green, Swiss chard (rainbow chard/ silverbeet), beet greens, Cassava leaves |
Lettuce | Any green leafy vegetables will do, such as watercress, cabbage, spinach, arugula, etc. |
Mushrooms | Dried mushrooms, Zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, eggplant, garbanzo beans, tofu |
Parsnips | Carrots, turnips, salsify, sweet potatoes, celery roots |
Potato | Sweet potato, cassava, turnips, yam, rutabaga |
Radish | Kohlrabi, turnips, parsnips, jicama, |
Soybean | Green peas, fava bean, lima bean, garbanzo/ chickpeas |
Spinach | Watercress, arugula, lettuce, kale |
Tomato | Red peppers, sun-dried tomato, canned tomatoes |
Watercress | Arugula, spinach, radish sprouts, kale, dandelion flower |
Zucchini/ courgette | Cucumber, eggplant, yellow squash |
Sauces and Condiments Substitutes
Whether looking for healthier swaps or allergic to some ingredients, this list helps you to find the right replacement for your favorite sauce and condiments.
Sauces & Condiments | Substitutions |
---|---|
Aioli | Mayonnaise, yogurt, avocado, pesto |
Anchovy Paste | Worcestershire sauce, fish sauce |
Apple sauce | Yogurt, sour cream, fruit puree (apricot, prune, banana, pineapple), melted butter, oil |
Barbeque sauce | Ketchup + mustard + brown sugar, ketchup + brown sugar + vinegar/lemon juice, chimichurri, ponzu |
Chimichurri sauce | Garlic + cayenne pepper + olive oil + vinegar + black pepper |
Coconut aminos | Liquid aminos, soy sauce, tamari, dried mushrooms, fish sauce, oyster sauce |
Dijon mustard | Yellow mustard, honey mustard, wasabi, dry mustard + water + vinegar |
Fish sauce | Soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, coconut aminos |
Hoisin sauce | Soy sauce, garlic + teriyaki sauce, miso paste, barbeque sauce + molasses, soy sauce + peanut butter, Worcestershire sauce (not for every dish) |
Hummus | Greek yogurt, tahini + yogurt, mayonnaise |
Ketchup | Tomato sauce, tomato sauce + sugar + vinegar, salsa |
Liquid Smoke | Chipotle powder, smoked paprika |
Mayonnaise | Low fat plain yogurt, hummus, avocado, pesto, mustard, olive oil |
Oyster sauce | Hoisin sauce, fish sauce, Worcestershire sauce |
Peanut sauce | Peanut butter, cashew nut butter + tahini |
Pesto | Basil oil, tomato sauce (for red pesto) |
Ponzu sauce | Citrus juice + konbu (seaweed), bonito flakes (katsuobushi), rice vinegar + mirin |
Salsa | Tomato sauce, hot sauce |
Sesame oil | Avocado oil, peanut oil, canola oil, olive oil, walnut oil |
Shrimp paste | Anchovy paste, fish sauce |
Soy sauce | Tamari, liquid aminos, coconut aminos, Worcestershire sauce, fish sauce, miso paste |
Sriracha sauce | Other hot sauces such as tabasco, harissa, sambal oelek, chili paste, peri-peri, crushed chilis |
Steak sauce | Tomato ketchup + Worcestershire sauce |
Sweet soy sauce | Soy sauce + brown sugar/ molasses |
Tabasco sauce | Louisiana hot sauce, Cholula, cayenne pepper |
Tahini | Peanut butter, sunflower seeds butter, almond butter, sesame seeds, Greek yogurt, soy butter |
Tamari | Soy sauce, fish sauce, coconut aminos, miso paste |
Tartar sauce | Mayonnaise/ yogurt + pickle relish + lemon juice + yellow mustard, aioli |
Teriyaki sauce | Soy sauce + brown sugar + honey + ginger + water |
Tomato sauce | Tomato paste, canned tomatoes, ketchup, tomato soup |
Worcestershire sauce | Soy sauce, steak sauce, fish sauce, miso paste, oyster sauce, tamarind paste + white vinegar + soy sauce, sugar + tabasco sauce |
Cooking Oil Substitutes
Oil has a different flavor and smoke point (or burning point). Some oils are very specific in flavor while some others are neutral.
This list helps you to find the right substitutes for each type of oil.
Cooking Oil Types | Substitutions |
---|---|
Avocado oil | Olive oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil |
Canola oil/rapeseed | Sunflower oil, olive oil, safflower oil, avocado oil, coconut oil |
Coconut oil | Avocado oil, almond oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil |
Grapeseed oil | Avocado oil, safflower oil, almond oil, canola oil, sunflower oil |
Olive oil | Sunflower oil, canola oil, peanut oil, walnut oil, ghee, butter |
Rice bran oil | Grapeseed oil, olive oil, canola oil |
Safflower oil | Canola oil, peanut oil, corn oil, sunflower oil |
Sesame oil | Perilla oil, avocado oil, walnut oil, olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, roasted sesame seeds, tahini or sesame paste |
Soybean oil | Canola oil, corn oil, olive oil, safflower oil |
Sunflower oil | Grapeseed oil, canola oil, grapeseed oil, safflower oil, corn oil |
Vegetable Oil | Avocado oil, coconut oil, lard |
Grains, Seeds, Nuts Substitutes
This food category is known for their nutrients and health benefits. But if you can’t find one in your supply, don’t get discouraged and look for the swaps in this list.
Grains/ Seeds/ Nuts | Substitutions |
---|---|
Almonds | Hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, pistachios |
Arborio rice | Carnavoli rice, vialone rice, sushi rice, jasmine rice |
Brazil nuts | Macadamia nuts, almonds, pecans |
Bulgur | Quinoa, couscous |
Candlenuts | Brazil nuts, cashews, almonds |
Cashews | Peanuts, pine nuts, water chestnut, pecan |
Chestnuts / marron | Jackfruit seeds, pecan, hazelnut |
Chia seeds | Flax seeds, linseeds, hemp seeds |
Couscous | Quinoa, brown rice |
Flax seeds | Chia seeds, hemp seeds |
Hazelnuts | Macadamia, almonds, pecans, Brazil nuts |
Macadamia nuts | Almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, Brazil nuts, pecans |
Oat bran | Wheat bran, oatmeal, flaxseed, rice bran, corn bran |
Peanuts | Cashew, almonds |
Pecans | Walnuts |
Pine nuts | Almonds, macadamia nuts, pistachio, walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds |
Pistachios | Pine nuts, blanched almonds |
Poppy seeds | Sesame seeds |
Pumpkin seeds | Sunflower seeds, pine nuts |
Quinoa | Brown rice, couscous, chickpeas, roast cauliflower |
Rice | If you are not a regular rice eater and less sensitive to different fragrance and texture of rice, basically, any rice can substitute other types of rice. You will need to adjust the amount of water and cooking time. Other options are multigrain rice (mix of rice and grains), riced cauliflower, quinoa, couscous |
Sesame seeds | Poppy seeds |
Sorghum | Millet |
Sunflower seeds/ pepitas | Pumpkin seeds, pine nuts |
Walnuts | Pine nuts, pecans, hazelnuts |
Wheat | Amaranth, arrowroot, cornmeal, rye, buckwheat, millet, quinoa, chickpea flour, coconut flour, almond flour, etc. |
Baking Ingredients Substitutes
Nothing can stop you from baking your favorite cookies even when one or two ingredients are not in your hand. Check this list for a little help.
Baking ingredients | Substitutions |
---|---|
Almond flour | Coconut flour, cassava/ tapioca flour, sunflower seed flour, plantain flour |
Arrowroot starch | Cornstarch, flour |
Baking powder | Cream of tartar, vinegar or lemon juice, yogurt, buttermilk, molasses |
Baking soda | Baking powder, potassium bicarbonate + salt, self-rising flour, baker’s ammonia, egg white |
Bread crumbs | Panko, wheat germ, bran/oats, crushed crackers, saltines or pretzels, shredded coconut, riced cauliflower, cornstarch |
Brown sugar | Molasses, molasses + sugar |
Butter | Vegetable shortening, vegetable oils, margarine, lard, applesauce (for baking) |
Cacao powder | Unsweetened chocolate |
Cake flour | All-purpose flour + cornstarch |
Cornstarch | Flour, potato starch, arrowroot flour |
Cornmeal | Corn flour, wheat flour, rice flour |
Corn syrup | Granulated sugar + water |
Cracker crumbs | Bread crumbs, ground oats |
Cream of tartar | Baking powder, lemon juice, white vinegar |
Custard powder | Vanilla pudding mix, cornstarch + vanilla extract + salt |
Flour (self-rising) | All-purpose flour + baking powder + salt |
Gelatin | Agar-agar |
Honey | Sugar + water, corn syrup, maple syrup, agave nectar, molasses |
Margarine | Vegetable shortening, butter, vegetable oil |
Molasses | Brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, granulated sugar + water, applesauce |
Palm sugar | Brown sugar |
Powdered sugar | DIY powdered sugar by blending granulated sugar and cornstarch until a fine powder. Other options are stevia powder |
Raisin | Other dried fruits, such as cranberries, goji berries, dried currants, prunes |
Shortening | Butter, coconut oil, applesauce, olive oil, lard |
Xanthan Gum | Cornstarch, guar gum, chia seeds |
Tapioca flour | Cornstarch, rice flour, potato starch, arrowroot flour, wheat flour |
Vanilla bean | Vanilla extract, vanilla powder, vanilla sugar |
Vanilla extract | Almond extract, maple syrup, bourbon, brandy, rum extract |
Wheat Flour | Chickpea flour, coconut flour, tapioca flour |
Also, check other baking equipment substitutions such as parchment paper.
Sugar and Sweeteners Substitutes
There are plenty of sources for a sweetener for you to pick up from this list when you’re out of sugar.
Sugar and sweeteners | Substitutions |
---|---|
Brown sugar | Molasses, molasses + sugar |
Caster sugar | Brown sugar, honey, muscovado sugar, powdered sugar, molasses, corn syrup |
Corn syrup | Granulated sugar + water |
Golden syrup | Corn syrup, honey, molasses, maple syrup |
Granulated sugar | Brown sugar, agave syrup, honey, molasses, stevia, sucralose, erythritol |
Honey | Sugar + water, corn syrup, maple syrup, agave nectar, molasses |
Molasses | Brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, granulated sugar + water, applesauce |
Palm sugar | Brown sugar |
Powdered sugar | DIY powdered sugar by blending granulated sugar and cornstarch until a fine powder. Other options are stevia powder |
Dairy Products and Plant-based Milk Substitutes
If you are trying to reduce dairy from your diet or prefer low-in-fat ingredients, you will find more alternatives for dairy products in this list.
Dairy products | Substitutions |
---|---|
Almond milk | In principle, other kinds of plant-based milk can replace each other. You just need to find one which satisfies your palate. The options are endless. Soy milk, oat milk, rice milk, hazelnut milk, cashew milk, quinoa milk, coconut milk, etc. |
Butter | Margarine, ghee (clarified butter), nut butter, coconut oil, olive oil, for baking (applesauce, avocado, Greek yogurt) |
Brie cheese | Camembert cheese, Reblochon cheese |
Buttermilk | Regular milk + lemon juice/ vinegar |
Camembert cheese | Brie, Reblochon cheese |
Cheddar cheese | Colby cheddar, Monterey Jack cheese |
Crème Fraiche | Sour cream, mascarpone, unflavored full-fat Greek yogurt, crema Mexicana, sour cream + heavy cream |
Coconut milk | Rice milk, almond milk, creamy evaporated milk, natural yogurt |
Coconut cream | Light cream + coconut extract, heavy cream, Greek yogurt + coconut extract/flakes + honey |
Cottage cheese | Ricotta cheese, Greek yogurt, Fromage Blanc, Tofu, Egg white |
Cream (half-and-half) | Milk + butter, milk + cream, non-dairy creamer |
Cream (heavy) | Whole milk or half-and-half + butter, whipping cream, coconut milk, coconut cream |
Cream cheese | Neufchatel cheese, mascarpone, coconut cream cheese, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, quark |
Dulce de leche | Caramels, sweetened condensed milk |
Edam cheese | Gouda cheese, Cheddar cheese, Gruyere cheese, Emmental cheese |
Emmental cheese | Gruyere cheese, Provolone cheese, Swiss cheese |
Evaporated milk | Milk, cream, soy milk, coconut milk, powdered milk, nut milk (almond/cashew/hazelnut milk) |
Farmer’s Cheese | Ricotta, paneer, goat cheese |
Feta cheese | Goat cheese, Queso Fresco cheese, Tofu, Ricotta, Halloumi, Mozzarella |
Gouda cheese | Edam cheese, cheddar cheese, Gruyere cheese |
Ghee | Butter, olive oil, canola oil, soybean oil, coconut oil, sunflower seed oil |
Gruyere cheese | Emmental cheese, Appenzeller cheese, Jarlsberg cheese, Beaufort cheese, Raclette cheese |
Halloumi cheese | Queso Fresco/ Queso Blanco cheese, Tofu, Feta cheese |
Mascarpone | Cream cheese, Ricotta cheese, Greek yogurt, Cottage cheese, Clotted cream |
Monterey Jack Cheese | Gouda cheese, Edam cheese, Parmesan cheese, Colby cheese, Cheddar Cheese |
Mozzarella | Provolone cheese, Queso Oaxaca cheese, young Cheddar/ Gouda cheese |
Parmesan cheese | Grana Padano cheese, Pecorino Romano cheese, Asiago cheese |
Ricotta cheese | Cottage cheese, mozzarella, goat cheese, mascarpone, cream cheese, tofu, Fromage blanc |
Sour cream | Yogurt, cottage cheese, kefir cream, fresh cream, buttermilk, cashew nuts, soy milk, coconut milk |
Sweetened condensed milk | Evaporated milk + sugar, powdered milk + sugar + water |
Swiss cheese | Emmental cheese, Gruyere cheese, Jarlsberg cheese |
Heavy whipping cream | Heavy cream |
Whole milk | Coconut milk, plain yogurt, almond milk, soy milk, oat milk |
Yogurt | Buttermilk, sour cream, soured milk |
Alcoholic Products and Vinegar Substitutes
Whether looking for non-alcoholic alternatives or running low on what you need, in this list you’ll find options for the most common alcoholic and vinegar used for cooking or making beverages.
Alcoholic Products | Substitutions |
---|---|
Amaretto | Almond extract |
Apple cider vinegar | Lemon/ lime juice, rice wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, sherry vinegar |
Balsamic vinegar | Apple cider vinegar + brown sugar, red wine vinegar + sugar/ honey |
Beer | Ginger ale, white grape juice, chicken/ beef broth, mushroom stock, coke |
Bourbon | Vanilla extract + water |
Brandy | Brandy extract + water, apple juice, white grape juice |
Champagne | Ginger ale, sparkling white grape juice |
Coffee liqueur | Espresso, instant coffee, coffee extract |
Kirsch | Cognac, cherry juice, fruit brandy, vodka + cherries, white wine, applesauce |
Mirin | Dry sherry, sweet marsala wine, dry white wine, rice vinegar, Japanese sake (add sugar) |
Marsala wine | Dry sherry, Madeira, White wine + brandy, White grape juice, Pinot Noir |
Port wine | Grape juice, apple juice |
Red wine vinegar | Red wine, sherry vinegar, red wine + white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, lime or lemon juice |
Rice wine | Dry sherry, Japanese sake, Gin, White wine, white grape juice, Shaoxing wine |
Rice wine vinegar | Apple cider vinegar + sugar |
Rum | Rum extract + water/ pineapple juice, bourbon |
Sake | Dry sherry, Chinese rice wine |
Shaoxing Wine | Sake, dry sherry, mirin |
Sherry | Marsala wine, port wine |
Sherry vinegar | Red/ white wine |
White vinegar | Lemon juice, white wine |
White Wine | Red wine, rice wine, white wine vinegar |
White wine vinegar | Rice wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, white wine vinegar, cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, white vinegar |
Wine | Broth (chicken, beef, vegetable), fruit juice + water/ vinegar |
Beverages
Easily swap a missing ingredient for your beverage without compromising the final taste with the help of this list.
Beverage | Substitutions |
---|---|
Grenadine syrup | Pomegranate molasses, raspberry syrup, cherry juice, crème de cassis, strawberry daiquiri, syrup, cranberry juice cocktail concentrate |
Lemon juice | Lime juice, vinegar, white wine |
Lemon zest | Lemon extract, lemon juice |
Lime juice | Lemon juice, vinegar, white wine |
Orange juice | Other citrus juice (grapefruit, lemon juice), orange concentrate/ extract + water, |
Orange zest | Orange extract, orange juice |
Soda water | Sparkling water, coconut water, water + lemon juice, fruit-infused water |
Meat, Poultry, and Fish
The alternatives for this category include animal-based and plant-based ingredients. Some are out of your regular food item, such as jackfruit and breadfruit. But, these are worth trying to expand your plant-based alternatives.
Ingredients | Substitutions |
---|---|
Bacon | Turkey bacon, vegetarian bacon, mushroom, tofu, tempeh |
Beef broth/ chicken broth | Chicken broth, bouillon cubes, vegetable broth, beer or wine, soy sauce, liquid aminos |
Egg | Powdered egg substitute + water, flaxseed soaked in water, banana + baking powder |
Ground meat | Ground meat can be used interchangeably, such as beef, pork, chicken, turkey.Sausage (remove the case) |
Ham | Smoked bacon, smoked sausage, turkey ham, seitan |
Herring | Sardines, mackerel |
Meat | Soy-based substitutes (tempeh, tofu), mushrooms, fruit-based substitutes (jackfruit, breadfruit), eggplants, seitan |
Salmon | Tuna, mahi-mahi, swordfish |
Conclusion
Whether out of what you need or due to personal reasons, there are times when we need to find alternative ingredients for cooking. Bear in mind that each ingredient has specific functions in a recipe. Look for alternatives that resemble or have similar properties to create the closest final result.
Hopefully, this article and other articles on our Fitibility website help you to decide which substitutes to use for a recipe. Missing an ingredient is no more an excuse to stop cooking. With substituted items, who knows you might come up with a new family favorite?
Up Next: Food Shelf Life and Storage Guide

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