Facts on Ingredient Substitution

Missing an ingredient for a recipe doesn't mean a ruined recipe or a trip to the grocery store. Many common ingredients can be substituted in a recipe without compromising the basic taste or composition of the final product. Knowing how to substitute ingredients can save time and frustration when cooking. Additionally, ingredients can be substituted to make a recipe healthier or replace an unwanted item.

Function

Ingredients such as sugar, flour, eggs, baking powder, salt or cream of tartar are often necessary to make a recipe successful. Consult an ingredient substitution chart before replacing any of these key ingredients.

Considerations

Spices are the easiest ingredient to substitute, as altering the spices will typically only change the flavor and not the chemical composition of a given recipe.

Warnings

Some ingredient substitutions may alter the texture, moisture content or weight of the final product. Measure all ingredients carefully to reduce the potential impact of an ingredient substitute.

Benefits

Replacing whole eggs with egg whites, whole milk with skim milk, butter or lard with margarine and sugar with honey or a low-calorie sweetener will reduce the amount of fat and calories in a recipe.

Quantities

Maintain the same quantity of ingredients in a substitution. For example, if a recipe calls for 1 tsp. of allspice, ½ tsp. of cinnamon and ½ tsp. of cloves can be used.

Resources

• List of Specific Substitutions and Amounts
• Guide to Lower-Fat and -Calorie Substitutions

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