no. 9.329 |
Ingredient Substitutions
by P. Kendall 1 (4/08)Quick Facts...
- It is sometimes more convenient to substitute an ingredient than it is to go out and purchase the necessary ingredient.
- When substituting ingredients, take into account the differences in taste, moisture content, texture and weight.
- When substituting for sugar and flour, consider the differences in sweetening and thickening power.
- Understand the physical and chemical properties of all ingredients.
- Measuring accurately will help avoid disappointment.
How many times have you been ready to cook and found you were out of a certain ingredient? Sometimes it is inconvenient to run out and purchase the necessary ingredient -- it's easier to use a similar product as a replacement. There are, however, several factors to consider when substituting ingredients. Take into account differences in flavor, moisture, texture and weight.
Substitutions with an acid factor, such as molasses, need to be neutralized to avoid changes in the flavor and texture of the product. Differences in sweetening and thickening power need consideration in sugar and flour substitutions. To help avoid disappointments when substituting ingredients, understand the physical and chemical properties of all ingredients. Measure accurately.
Table 1 gives substitutes that may be used to get a finished product similar to the original. The following abbreviations are used:
tsp = teaspoon
Tbsp = tablespoon
oz = ounce
lb = pound
| Table 1: Ingredient equivalents. | ||
| Ingredient | Amount | Substitutions |
|---|---|---|
| Allspice | 1 tsp |
|
| Apple pie spice | 1 tsp |
|
| Arrowroot, as thickener | 1 Tbsp |
|
| Baking powder, double acting |
1 tsp |
|
| Bay leaf, crushed | 1 tsp |
|
| Brandy | 1/4 cup |
|
| Bread crumbs dry |
1/4-1/3 cup |
|
| soft | 1/2-3/4 cup |
|
| Broth, beef or chicken | 1 cup |
|
| Butter | 1 cup |
|
| Catsup | 1 cup |
|
| Chili Sauce | 1 cup |
|
| Chives, finely chopped | 1 Tbsp |
|
| Chocolate, unsweetened | 1 oz |
|
| semisweet | 1-2/3 oz |
|
| Chocolate chips, semisweet, melted | 6 oz pkg (2/3 cup) |
|
| Coconut, grated, dry | 1 Tbsp |
|
| Coconut milk | 1 cup |
|
| Coconut cream | 1 cup |
|
| Cornstarch | 1 Tbsp |
|
| Corn syrup | 1 cup |
|
| Cracker crumbs | 3/4 cup |
|
| Cream: half & half (10-12% fat) |
1 cup |
|
| coffee (20% fat) | 1 cup |
|
| heavy (36-40% fat) | 1 cup |
|
| sour | 1 cup |
|
| whipped cream | 2 cups |
|
| Cream of tartar | 1/2 tsp |
|
| Dill, fresh | 1 head |
|
| Eggs whole, large |
1 egg (3 1/3 Tbsp) |
|
| whites | 1 egg white (2 Tbsp) |
|
| yolks | 1 egg yolk (1 1/3 Tbsp) |
|
| Flour, pastry |
1 cup |
|
| cake | 1 cup |
|
| white, all-purpose for thickening |
1 Tbsp |
|
|
white, all-purpose Note: Specialty flours added to yeast bread recipes will result in a reduced volume and heavier product. |
1 cup |
|
| white, all-purpose, self-rising |
1 cup |
|
| Garlic | 1 clove, small |
|
| Gelatin, flavored | 3-oz package |
|
| Ginger, candied or raw | 1 Tbsp |
|
| Herbs, fresh | 1 Tbsp |
|
| Honey | 1 cup |
|
| Horseradish, grated fresh | 1 Tbsp |
|
| Italian seasoning | 1 tsp |
|
| Lemon, whole | 1 lemon |
|
| juice | 1 tsp |
|
| grated rind or peel | 1 tsp |
|
| Lemon grass | 1 Tbsp |
|
| Maple sugar, grated | 1 Tbsp 1/2 cup |
|
| Maple syrup | about 2 cups |
|
| Marshmallows, miniature | 1 cup |
|
| Mayonnaise (for use in salads and salad dressings) |
1 cup |
|
| Milk, buttermilk or sour |
1 cup |
|
| skim | 1 cup |
|
| whole | 1 cup |
|
| sweetened condensed | 1 cup |
|
| Mint leaves, fresh chopped | 1/4 cup |
|
| Molasses | 1 cup |
|
| Mushrooms, fresh | 1 lb |
|
| Mustard, dry | 1 tsp |
|
| Nuts | 1 cup |
|
| Oil (for sauteing) | 1/4 cup |
|
| Onion | 1 small |
|
| Onion powder | 1 tsp |
|
| Orange | 1 medium |
|
| Orange peel, dried | 1 Tbsp |
|
| Parsley, fresh | 1 Tbsp |
|
| Pepper, white | 1 tsp |
|
| Peppers, green or red bell, dried | 1 Tbsp |
|
| Pimento | 2 Tbsp, chopped |
|
| Pumpkin pie spice | 1 tsp |
|
| Rennet | 1 tablet |
|
| Rice | 1 cup cooked |
|
| Rum | 1/4 cup |
|
| Shortening, melted | 1 cup |
|
| solid | 1 cup |
|
| Sour cream, commercial | 1 cup |
|
| Sugar, brown | 1 cup |
|
| confectioners or powdered | 1 cup |
|
| granulated | 1 cup |
|
| noncaloric solution | 1/8 tsp 2 Tbsp |
|
| noncaloric grains | 1/4 tsp 1/4 cup |
|
| Tapioca, quick-cooking | 1 1/2-2 Tbsp |
|
| quick-cooking for thickening | 1 Tbsp |
|
| Tomatoes, fresh | 2 cups, chopped |
|
| packed | 1 cup |
|
| canned | 1 cup |
|
| Tomato juice | 1 cup |
|
| Tomato sauce | 2 cups |
|
| Tomato soup | 1 10 3/4 oz. can |
|
| Vanilla bean | 1/2 bean |
|
| Worcestershire sauce | 1 tsp |
|
| Yeast, active dry (1/4 oz) | 1 package |
|
| Yogurt | 1 cup |
|
| * For conversion to metrics, use the following equivalents:
1 tsp = 5 milliliters 1 lb = .45 kilograms 1 Tbsp = 15 milliliters 1 cup = .24 liters 1 oz = 28 grams |
||
1 Colorado State University Extension foods and nutrition specialist and professor, food science and human nutrition. 9/98. Reviewed 4/08.
Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating. CSU Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned.
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Updated Monday, August 29, 2011