The Frugal Kitchen

Cooking Substitutions

We often find we have all the ingredients for a recipe, except one or two. Or, maybe you'd like to find a more healthful ingredient, or one with reduced calories, or perhaps you need to avoid certain substances because of allergies or for special diets. While you will not get the exact results called for when you substitute one ingredient for another, you should get something close - and, perhaps even better.

Cooking Substitutions
 Item  Size  Substitute

Alcoholic Beverages
 Beer  1 Cup  1 cup non-alcoholic beer. OR
 1 cup chicken broth. OR
 1 cup apple cider.
 Brandy  1/4 Cup  1 tsp imitation brandy extract + enough water to equal 1/4 cup.
 Rum  1 Tbsp  1/2 tsp rum extract + enough water to make 1 Tbsp.
 Sherry  2 Tbsp  2 Tbsp Port wine. OR
 2 Tbsp white wine. OR
 2 tsp vanilla. OR
 2 Tbsp apple, orange or pineapple juice.
 Wine, red  1 Cup  1 cup non-alcoholic wine, apple cider, beef broth,
 tomato juice, or water.
 Wine, white  1 Cup  1 cup non-alcoholic wine, white grape juice, apple juice,
 chicken broth or water.

Bread Crumbs
 Bread crumbs  1 Cup  1 cup finely crushed cracker crumbs, matzo meal,
 corn flakes, or oats.
 Cracker Crumbs  1 Cup  1 cup bread crumbs, matzo meal, corn flakes, or oats.

Broth, Stock, Bases
 Broth,
 beef or chicken		  1 Cup  1 bouillon cube + 1 cup boiling water. OR
 1 Tbsp soy sauce + enough water to make one cup. OR
 1 Tbsp browning sauce + enough water to make one cup. OR
 1 cup vegetable broth.
 Stock,
 beef or chicken		  1 Cup  1 Tbsp Better than Bouillion + 1 cup hot water. OR
 1 cube bouillon + 1 cup hot water.
 Chicken base  1 Cup  1 cup canned or homemade broth or stock,
 reduce liquid in recipe by equal amount.

Chocolate
 Chocolate,
 unsweetened		  1 oz  3 Tbsp cocoa powder + 1 Tbsp butter.
 Chocolate,
 semi-sweet		  1 oz.  1/2 oz unsweetened chocolate + 1 Tbsp sugar. OR
 1 oz semisweet chocolate + 1 tsp shortening.
 Chocolate,
 sweet		  4 ozs  1/4 cup cocoa powder +
 1/3 cup sugar +
 3 Tbsp shortening.
 Chocolate Chips    chop a bar of chocolate into small chunks.
 Cocoa  1/4 Cup  1 one ounce square unsweetened chocolate.

 

Citrus
 Lemon juice  1 Tbsp  1 Tbsp bottled lemon juice, lime juice or white vinegar.
 Lemon zest  1 tsp  1 tsp. lime or orange zest or 1/2 tsp. lemon extract.
 Lime juice  1 Tbsp  1 Tbsp lemon or orange juice.
 Lime zest  1 tsp  1 tsp. lemon or orange zest.
 Orange juice  1 Cup  1 cup reconstituted frozen concentrate. OR
 1 cup other citrus juice.
 Orange zest  1 tsp  1 tsp. lemon or lime zest. OR
 1 tsp. finely chopped candied orange peel. OR
 1 tsp orange extract. OR
 1 tsp lemon juice.

Condensed soup
 Cream of  
 Mushroom
 		  14 oz can  1 can condensed golden mushroom. OR
 cream of broccoli. OR
 cream of celery. OR
 cream of chicken soup.

Condiments
 Ketchup  1 Cup  1 cup tomato sauce +
 1 tsp vinegar +
 1 tsp sugar.
 Mayonnaise  1 Cup  1 cup sour cream. OR
 1 cup plain yogurt.
 Mustard,
 prepared		  1 Tbs  1 Tbsp dried mustard +
 1 tsp water +
 1 tsp vinegar +
 1 tsp sugar.
 Soy Sauce  1/2 Cup  4 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce + 1 Tbsp water.

Dairy
 Butter, salted  1 Cup  7/8 cup vegetable oil + 1/2 tsp salt. OR
 7/8 cup lard + 1/2 teaspoon salt. OR
 1 cup shortening + 1/2 teaspoon salt.
 Butter, unsalted  1 Cup  7/8 cup vegetable oil. OR
 7/8 cup lard. OR
 1 cup shortening.
 Buttermilk  1 Cup  1 cup plain yogurt. OR
 1 Tbsp white vinegar or lemon juice and
 enough milk to equal 1 cup, let stand for
 a few minutes. 
 Cheddar cheese,
 shredded		  1 Cup  1 cup shredded Colby. OR
 1 cup shredded Monteray Jack.
 Condensed milk,
 sweetened		  14 oz can  1/2 cup water +
 3/4 cup sugar +
 1 1/8 cup dry milk powder,
 bring to boil in saucepan and simmer,
 stirring constantly, until thickened,
 about 20 minutes.
 Cottage cheese  1 Cup  1 cup farmer's cheese. OR
 1 cup ricotta cheese.
 Cream,
 half and half		  1 Cup  7/8 cup whole milk +
 2 Tbsp melted unsalted butter.
 Cream,
 heavy		  1 Cup  1 cup evaporated milk. OR
 2/3 cup whole milk + 1/3 cup melted unsalted butter.
 Cream,
 light		  1 Cup  1 cup evaporated milk. OR
 3/4 cup milk + 3 Tbsp butter.
 Crème fraiche  1 Cup  1 cup sour cream. OR
 1 cup whipping cream + 1 Tbsp buttermilk or yogurt. OR
 1/2 cup whipping cream + 1/2 cup sour cream. OR
 1 cup mascarpone cheese.
 Egg  1  1 Heaping Tbsp Sour Cream. OR 
 2 1/2 Tbsp powdered egg + 2 1/2 Tbsp water. OR
 1/4 cup liquid egg substitute. OR
 1/4 cup silken tofu. OR
 3 Tbsp mayonnaise. OR
 half a banana mashed with 1/2 tsp baking powder.
 Evaporated milk  1 Cup  1 cup light cream.
 Farmer's cheese  8 oz  8 oz cottage cheese, drained. OR
 8 oz cream cheese, drained.
 Milk, nonfat  1 Cup  1/3 cup powdered milk + 3/4 cup water.
 Milk, powdered dry,
 reconstituted		  1 Cup  (for bread dough) scald 1 cup nonfat milk.
 Milk, whole  1 Cup  1 cup rice milk. OR
 1 cup soy milk. OR
 1 cup water. OR
 1 cup juice. OR
 1/2 cup evaporated milk + 1/2 cup water. OR
 1 cup reconstituted dry milk + 2 tsp margarine or butter. OR
 1 cup skim milk + 1 Tbsp melted butter.
 Parmesan cheese,
 grated		  1 Cup  1 cup grated Asiago. OR
 1 cup grated Romano.
 Ricotta cheese  1 Cup  1 cup cottage cheese. OR
 1 cup silken tofu.
 Sour cream  1 Cup  1 cup plain yogurt.
 Sour milk  1 Cup  1 Tbsp vinegar or lemon juice + enough milk
 to make 1 cup, let stand 5 minutes to thicken.
 Yogurt, plain  1 Cup  1 cup sour cream, buttermilk, sour milk, or creme fraiche. OR
 1 cup heavy whipping cream + 1 Tbsp lemon juice.

Flour, Baking Powder, Baking Soda
 Flour, all-purpose  1 Cup  1 cup + 2 Tbsp cake flour.
 Flour, bread  1 Cup  1 cup all purpose flour + 1 tsp vital wheat gluten.
 Flour, cake  1 Cup  1 cup minus 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour.
 Flour, self rising  1 Cup  7/8 cup all-purpose flour +
 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder +
 1/2 tsp. salt.
 Baking mix  1 Cup  1 cup pancake mix.
 Baking powder  1 tsp  1/2 tsp. cream of tartar +
 1/4 tsp. baking soda +
 1/4 tsp. cornstarch.
 Baking soda  1/2 tsp  2 tsp. baking powder and replace
 the acidic liquid in recipe with non-acidic liquid.

Fruit & Nuts
 Almonds  1 Cup  1 cup macadamia nuts. OR
 1 cup hazelnuts.
 Currants  1 Cup  1 cup raisins. OR
 1 cup chopped dates. OR
 1 cup other dried berries or cherries.
 Hazelnuts  1 Cup  1 cup macadamia nuts. OR
 1 cup almonds.
 Macadamia nuts  1 Cup  1 cup almonds. OR
 hazelnuts.
 Raisins  1 Cup  1 cup dried currants. OR
 1 cup dried cranberries. OR
 1 cup dried chopped prunes.
 Cranberries  1 Cup  1 cup raisins. OR
 1 cup dried currants. OR
 1 cup dried chopped prunes.

Grains & Cereals, Cooked
 Barley  1 Cup  1 cup cooked rice. OR
 1 cup cooked bulgur.
 Bulgur  1 Cup  1 cup cooked rice. OR
 1 cup cooked barley.
 Rice, white  1 Cup  1 cup cooked brown or wild rice. OR
 1 cup cooked bulgur. OR
 1 cup cooked barley.
 Rice, brown  1 Cup  1 cup cooked white or wild rice. OR
 1 cup cooked bulgur. OR
 1 cup cooked barley.
 Rice, wild  1 Cup  1 cup cooked brown or white rice. OR
 1 cup cooked bulgur. OR
 1 cup cooked barley.
 Wheat berries  1 Cup  1 cup cooked bulgur. OR
 1 cup cooked barley. OR
 1 cup cooked rice.
 Wheat,
 ground (Farina)		  1 Cup  1 cup cooked oatmeal. OR
 1 cup cooked brown rice.

Herbs and Spices
 Allspice  1 tsp  1/2 tsp cinnamon +
 1/4 tsp ginger +
 1/4 tsp cloves.
 Chervil  1 Tbsp  1 Tbsp fresh parsley.
 Herbs, fresh  1 Tbsp  1 tsp. of the same dry herb.
 Hot Pepper  
 Sauce		  1 tsp  3/4 tsp cayenne pepper +
 1 tsp vinegar.
 Lemongrass,
 2 stalks		  1 Tbsp  1 Tbsp lemon zest.
 Mace  1 tsp  1 tsp nutmeg.
 Mint, fresh  1 Cup  4 Tbs dried mint leaves.
 Mustard, yellow  1 tsp  1 tsp. ground mustard.
 Parsley  1 Cup  1/4 cup deied parsley. OR
 1 cup fresh chopped chervil.
 Poultry 
  seasoning		  1 tsp  1/2 tsp. ground sage +
 1/4 tsp. ground thyme +
 1/4 tsp. ground rosemary.
 Pumpkin pie
 spice		  1 tsp  1/2 tsp. cinnamon +
 1/4 tsp. ginger +
 1/8 tsp. nutmeg +
 1/8 tsp. cloves.
 Saffron  1/4 tsp  1/4 tsp turmeric.
 Ginger Root  1 Tbsp  1 Tbsp rinsed and chopped candied ginger. OR
 1 1/2 tsp. dry ground ginger + 1/2 tsp. lemon juice.
 Vanilla Bean  1 pod  2 tsp vanilla extract.

Meat
 Bacon    an equal amount of Canadian bacon or pancetta.
 Canadian bacon    an equal amount of bacon or pancetta.
 Pancetta    an equal amount of shaved ham.
 Pepperoni    an equal amount of salami.
 Salami    an equal amount of pepperoni.

Onion & Garlic
 Garlic,
 finely chopped		  1 clove  1/8 tsp. garlic powder. OR
 1/2 tsp granulated garlic. OR
 1/4 tsp. instant minced garlic. OR
 1/2 tsp garlic salt and reduce salt in recipe.
 Leeks  1 Cup  1 cup chopped onions. OR
 1/4 cup dried minced onion. OR
 1 cup chopped green onions. OR
 1 cup chopped shallots.
 Onion, chopped  1 Cup  1 cup chopped green onions. OR
 1 cup chopped leeks. OR
 1 cup chopped shallots. OR
 1/4 cup dried minced onion. OR
 1/4 cup onion powder.
 Shallots  1 Cup  1 cup chopped onions. OR
 1 cup chopped leeks. OR
 1 cup chopped green onions. OR
 1/4 cup dried minced onion. OR
 1/4 cup onion powder.

Shortening and Oils
 Fats for baking  1 Cup  1 cup of applesauce or fruit puree.
 Butter, salted  1 Cup  7/8 cup vegetable oil plus 1/2 tsp salt. OR
 7/8 cup lard plus 1/2 teaspoon salt. OR
 1 cup shortening plus 1/2 teaspoon salt.
 Butter, unsalted  1 Cup  7/8 cup vegetable oil. OR
 7/8 cup lard. OR
 1 cup shortening.
 Lard  1 Cup  1 cup butter, margarine, or shortening. OR
 7/8 cup vegetable oil.
 Shortening  1 Cup  1 cup butter, margarine, or lard. 
 Do not substitute oil for shortening.
 Vegetable Oil  1 Cup  1 cup melted butter, margarine, shortening, or lard.

Sweeteners
 Brown sugar,
 packed		  1 Cup  1 cup granulated sugar +
 1/4 cup molasses or dark corn syrup
 and decrease the liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup. OR
 1 cup white sugar or 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar.
 Confectioners 10x
 Powdered sugar		  1 Cup  Put 1 cup granulated sugar +
 1/2 tsp cornstarch into blender.
 Measure out 1 cup powdered sugar.
 Corn syrup,
 light 		 1 Cup  1 cup granulated sugar + 1/4 cup water. OR
 1 cup honey. OR
 1 cup light treacle syrup.
 Corn syrup, 
 dark 		 1 Cup  1 cup light corn syrup. OR
 3/4 cup light corn syrup + 1/4 cup molasses. OR
 1 cup maple-flavored syrup.
 Honey  1 Cup  1 cup light treacle syrup. OR
 3/4 cup dark corn syrup + 1/2 cup granulated white sugar. OR
 3/4 cup maple syrup + 1/2 cup granulated white sugar. OR
 3/4 cup light molasses + 1/2 cup granulated white sugar. OR
 1 1/4 cup sugar + 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar +
 1/4 cup liquid called for in recipe.
 Light brown
 sugar		  1 Cup  1/2 cup dark brown sugar + 1/2 cup white sugar.
 Maple Syrup  1 Cup  1 cup honey, treacle or dark corn syrup. OR
 3/4 cup brown sugar heated to dissolve in 1/4 cup liquid.
 Molasses  1 Cup  1 cup honey, dark corn syrup or maple syrup. OR
 3/4 cup brown sugar heated to dissolve in 1/4 cup liquid.
 Sugar, white  1 Cup  1 cup firmly packed brown sugar. OR
 1 1/4 cup confectioner's powdered sugar. OR
 3/4 cup honey. OR
 3/4 cup corn syrup.
 Treacle  1 Cup  1 cup corn syrup (light or dark). OR
 1 cup light molasses.

Thickeners & Stabilizers
 Arrowroot  1 Tbsp  1 Tbsp cornstarch, potato starch, or rice starch. OR
 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour.
 Cornstarch  1 Tbsp  2 Tbsp all-purpose flour. OR
 1 Tbsp potato or rice starch. OR
 1 Tbsp arrowroot. OR
 4 tsp. instant tapioca.
 Cream of tartar  1 tsp  2 tsp white vinegar or lemon juice.

Tomatoes
Tomatoes, canned  1 Cup  1 1/3 cup fresh cut-up tomatoes; simmered 10 minutes.
Tomato juice  1 Cup  1/2 cup tomato sauce + 1/2 cup water.
Tomato paste  1/2 Cup  1 cup tomato sauce cooked until reduced by 1/2.
Tomato sauce  2 Cup  3/4 cup tomato paste + 1 cup water.

Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar  1 Cup  1 cup white vinegar.
Balsamic vinegar  1 Cup  1 Tbsp sherry or cider vinegar.
White vinegar  1 Cup  1 cup apple cider vinegar. OR
 3/4 cup lemon juice. OR
 1 1/2 cups white wine.

Yeast
 Instant Yeast  .25 oz
 package		  2 1/2 tp active dry yeast. OR
 2 1/2 tsp rapid rise yeast. OR
 1 cake compressed yeast.

User Comments

Have something to say?