Courtesy of
FOOD REFLECTIONS
Newsletter University
of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County
and one other source identified in context below
She
laughed as she told the story on herself, but you could tell she was disappointed.
She had baked fruit breads as gifts for her friends. She hadn't done much baking
and this was a real labor of love. The gifts were never given.
It
was such a small amount of an ingredient she was missing. And it was late. She
wanted to get her baking done. Surely it couldn't matter. But it did.
The next time (if
there was a next time!) she'd know to add the baking powder to the recipe.
Often for lack
of an ingredient, a recipe is ruined or an extra trip to the store is required.
Sometimes, you need to buy a large container of an ingredient for just a teaspoon
or two needed in a recipe.
To
the rescue: ingredient substitutions! Several Internet discussion groups
of dietitians, home economists, chefs and other food professionals were asked
their most helpful ingredient substitutions, favorite Internet links and other
food substitution resources they find useful. The response was tremendous! Read,
enjoy and benefit from their suggestions.
Basic
Ingredient Substitutions
Here
are some of the suggestions cited most frequently. The substitution tips for which
there was the most general consensus and which used the most common ingredients
are listed. Following these suggestions are several Internet and book resources
that give MANY, MANY additional substitution ideas.
Your
final product made with the substituted ingredient may differ slightly from the
original food, but still be acceptable in flavor, texture and appearance.
Apple
Pie Spice Amount: 1 teaspoon Substitute:
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon plus 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg plus 1/8 teaspoon cardamom
Baking
Powder, Double-Acting Amount: 1 teaspoon Substitute: 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 5/8
teaspoon cream of tartar
Baking
Soda There is NO substitute for baking soda
Butter Amount: 1 cup Substitute: -
1 cup margarine(Note
from Chet: I never use margarine)
-
1 cup vegetable shortening (for baking)
-
An equal amount of oil can be substituted for a similar portion of MELTED butter
if the recipe specifies using MELTED butter.
TIP
1: According to the National Association of Margarine Manufacturers, you can tell
"if the product is regular margarine by checking the Nutrition Facts: a one tablespoon
serving will have 100 calories." Products that contain less than 80 percent fat
often give the fat percentage on the front of the package.
If
the margarine is labeled "light," "lower fat," "reduced fat," "reduced calorie/diet"
or "fat-free" or is called a "vegetable oil spread," you may be less successful
substituting it for butter OR for regular margarine in baking and in some cooking
procedures. These products are higher in water and lower in fat content and won't
perform in the same way as regular butter or margarine.
For
additional information about using the various forms of margarine in recipes,
check the Web site of the National Association of Margarine Manufacturers: www.margarine.org/howtousemargarine.html
TIP
2: There
is no standard procedure to substitute liquid oil for solid shortening in cooking.
Oil is 100 percent fat, while butter, margarine and other solid shortenings are
lower in fat on a volume-for-volume basis.
Also,
for some recipes, solid shortening helps incorporate air into the batter when
it is whipped with other ingredients such as sugar and eggs. If you try to whip
these ingredients with oil, your baked product is likely to be more compact and
oily in texture. Your most successful substitution occurs if your recipe calls
for MELTED butter, in which case you can usually substitute an equal amount of
oil.
Buttermilk Amount: 1 cup Substitute: 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar
plus enough regular milk to make 1 cup (allow to stand 5 minutes)
Chili
Sauce Amount: 1 cup Substitute:
1 cup tomato sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon
cinnamon, dash of ground cloves and dash of allspice
Chocolate,
Unsweetened Amount: 1 ounce Substitute:
3 tablespoons cocoa plus 1 tablespoon butter or regular margarine or vegetable
oil
TIP:
Liquids thickened with cornstarch will be somewhat translucent while flour gives
a more opaque appearance. Cornstarch will thicken a liquid almost immediately.
A flour-based sauce or gravy must be cooked longer to thicken and will have a
floury taste if undercooked. Joy of Cooking cookbook (Scribner, 1997) advises
when using flour as a substitution for cornstarch in sauces and gravies, that
you simmer it for about 3 minutes AFTER it has thickened to help avoid a raw taste
of flour.
Cornstarch-thickened
liquids are more likely to thin if overheated or cooked too long. Regardless of
whether you use cornstarch or flour, mix it with a little cold water or other
cold liquid, about two parts liquid to one part thickener, before adding it to
the rest of the liquid . (Note: when you mix flour with fat to make a roux for
use as a thickener, you would not dissolve it in liquid first.)
Cream,
Whipping Amount:1 cup unwhipped Substitute:
If you wish to use a commercial pre-whipped whipped cream or whipped cream
substitute rather than whip your own cream, use the guideline that 1 cup UNWHIPPED
whipping cream expands to 2 cups when WHIPPED. For example, if your recipe called
for 1 cup of cream to make whipped cream, you could substitute 2 cups of an already
whipped product.
Cream
of Tartar Amount:1 teaspoon Substitute:
2 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar.
Egg Amount: 1 whole egg Substitute: -
1/4 cup egg substitute (examples include: Egg Beaters, Second Nature, Scramblers);
check label for specific directions
-
2 tablespoons mayonnaise (suitable for use in cake batter). NOTE: If you type
"mayonnaise cake recipe" into your favorite Internet search engine, you'll find
several recipes for cakes made with mayonnaise and NO eggs. This may help you
decide if this substitution will work for your cake.
-
1/2 teaspoon baking powder plus 1 tablespoon vinegar plus 1 tablespoon liquid
(for baking use only)
-
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
-
1/2 a banana mashed with 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
-
1 tablespoon powdered flax seed soaked in 3 tablespoons water
-
1 tablespoon soy flour plus 1 tablespoon water
TIP:
If you don't use eggs very often, you may find it helpful to keep some powdered
eggs on hand.
Flour,
All-Purpose White Flour Amount: 1 cup Substitute: 1/2 cup whole wheat flour plus 1/2
cup all-purpose flour.
TIP:
It's generally recommended that you replace no more than half the all-purpose
white flour with whole wheat flour. Too much whole wheat flour in a recipe calling
for all-purpose flour might result in a reduced volume and a heavier product.
Flour,
Cake Amount: 1 cup Substitute:
1 cup minus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Flour,
Self-Rising Amount: 1 cup Substitute:
1 cup minus 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour plus 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
and 1/2 teaspoon salt
Garlic Amount: 1 small clove Substitute: -
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder or - 1/8 teaspoon
instant minced garlic or - 1/4 teaspoon garlic
salt (reduce salt in recipe by 1/8 teaspoon)
Marshmallows,
Miniature Amount: 1 cup Substitute:
10 large marshmallows
Mayonnaise
(for use in salads and salad dressings) Amount:1
cup Substitute: -
1 cup sour cream - 1 cup yogurt -
1 cup cottage cheese pureed in a blender - Or
use any of the above for part of the mayonnaise
Onion Amount: 1 small or 1/4 cup chopped, fresh onion
Substitute: 1 tablespoon instant minced onion
TIP:
Dried onion may be added directly to moist foods such as soups, gravies, sauces
and salad dressings. You may need to rehydrate it with a little water before adding
it to drier foods. Check package directions -- one brand advises adding an equal
amount of water and letting the dried onion stand 5 to 10 minutes.
Pasta
(substituting one for another) Amount: 4 cups COOKED Substitute:The National Pasta Association suggests
these substitution ratios. Check www.ilovepasta.org/faqs.html#Q10
for more information.
-
8 ounces of UNCOOKED elbow macaroni, medium shells, rotini, twists, spirals, wagon
wheels, bow ties, mostaccioli, penne, radiatore, rigatoni, spaghetti, angel hair,
linguine, vermicelli and fettuccine all produce about 4 cups COOKED pasta
-
Use about twice as much UNCOOKED egg noodles to provide 4 cups COOKED pasta. Approximately
8 ounces UNCOOKED egg noodles equal 2 1/2 cups COOKED noodles.
Pumpkin
Pie Spice Amount: 1 teaspoon Substitute:
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon plus 1/4 ground teaspoon ginger plus 1/8 teaspoon ground
allspice plus 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Rice Amount: Any amount Substitute: Most rice products will substitute
for each other on a fairly equal basis in recipes; however, their cooking times
and the amount of liquid needed may vary. If possible, choose a rice with a comparable
grain length for the closest match. Visit the USA Rice Federation's Rice Cafe
to learn more about cooking with the different forms of rice: www.ricecafe.com
Rum Amount: any amount Substitute: 1 part rum extract plus 3 parts water.
For example: for 1/4 cup rum, substitute 1 tablespoon rum extract plus 3 tablespoons
water.
Shortening Amount: 1
cup Substitute:1 cup softened
butter OR 1 cup margarine minus 1/2 teaspoon salt from recipe.
Sugar,
Confectioners' or Powdered Amount: 1 cup Substitute: 1 cup granulated sugar plus 1 tablespoon
cornstarch; process in a food processor using the metal blade attachment until
it's well blended and powdery.
Tomato
Juice Amount: 1 cup Substitute:
1/2 cup tomato sauce plus 1/2 cup water
Tomato
Soup Amount: 10 3/4 ounce can Substitute:
1 cup tomato sauce plus 1/4 cup water
Wine,
Red Amount: Any Substitute: The same amount of grape juice or
cranberry juice
Wine,
White Amount: Any Substitute:The
same amount of apple juice or white grape juice
1 1/8 cup butter
(decrease salt in recipe by 1/2 tsp.)
Sour Cream
1 cup
3/4 cup buttermilk
and 1/3 cup butter or margerine
1 cup plain yogurt
3/4 cup milk, 3/4
tsp. lemon juice, and 1/3 cup butter or margerine
Spearmint, Dried
1 Tbls.
1/4 cup fresh chopped
mint
Sugar,
Brown
1 cup packed
1 cup granular sugar
1 Lb.
2 1/2 cups firmly
packed
Sugar, powdered
1 Lb.
2 3/4 cups
Sugar,
granulated
1 Lb.
2 1/4 cups
1 tsp.
1/8 tsp. non-caloretic
sweetener solution
1 cup
1 1/2 cup corn syrup
(decrease liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup)
1 1/3 cup molasses
(decrease liquid in recipe by 1/3 cup)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup brown sugar,
firmly packed
3/4 cup honey (decrease
liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup; for each cup of honey used, add 1/2 tsp. baking soda)
Tapioca, granular
1 Tbls.
2 Tbls. pearl tapioca
Tomato Juice
1 cup
1/2 cup tomato sauce
and 1/2 cup water
Worcestershire Sauce
1 tsp.
1 tsp. bottled steak
sauce
Yogurt, Plain
1 cup
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup cottage cheese,
pureed
1 cup sour cream
Ingredient Substitution Internet Links
For MORE ingredient
substitution ideas, check these Internet links to materials developed by educational
organizations or recommended by various food and nutrition educators. For easy
access to these links, bookmark this FOOD REFLECTIONS article (lancaster.unl.edu/food/ftfeb01.htm).
For STILL
MORE substitution ideas, put the words "food substitutions" or "ingredient substitutions"
into your favorite Internet search engine.
As
you check out these links, be aware that an ingredient may not substitute for
ALL the functions of another. For example, as you learned earlier, it's best to
substitute an oil for a solid shortening such as butter ONLY when the recipe calls
for a MELTED form of the solid shortening. If you're uncertain if the substitution
will work and you haven't started mixing things together, you might consider making
something else. Or making a quick run to the store.
(NOTE:
The following links are provided for your general information. The information
provided via these sites has not been formally evaluated and inclusion of these
links does not constitute an endorsement of any organization. Nor is disapproval
implied of sites not mentioned. The links provided are maintained by their respective
organizations and they are solely responsible for their content and policies.)
The "Yield
Equivalencies" section of this sheet from Kansas State University Cooperative
Extension Service is especially helpful if your recipe calls for a specific weight
and you would like to know the equivalent amount as measured in cups of the food.
If you have an older recipe that calls for an amount like a number 2 or number
303 can, check the "Common Can Sizes" chart at the end of this publication for
an equivalent weight and amount in cups.
Virginia
Cooperative Extension's site is especially helpful in giving suggestions on reducing
the fat, sodium and sugar in foods and instead using herbs and spices for flavor.
Utah State
University Cooperative Extension has a chart providing basic ingredient substitutions.
It also provides an equivalent measures section at the end.
NOTE:
This publication requires Adobe Acrobat Reader software to read -- if you don't
have this on your computer, a free version is available at:www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html
Colorado
State University Cooperative Extension has a table providing basic ingredient
substitutions.
Check the
"Spice Encyclopedia" and "Spice Useage Tips" If you don't have the spice specified
in a recipe, these may give you ideas of spices you could substitute.
If you've
never heard of one of the ingredients in a recipe and have no idea of what you
could substitute, this online food dictionary of more than 4,000 items from Epicurious
may help you out.
Visit this
site to access links to food companies and organizations, an ingredient glossary
and an "Ask the Experts" (under "Educator Resources").
Ingredient
Substitution Books
The
following books and cookbook were cited most frequently as sources of ingredient
substitution information. Several other cookbooks may also provide basic ingredient
substitution charts. Sometimes, you'll find information on substituting foods
in a section or sections of a cookbook where the major ingredients featured in
the recipes are described.
Resnik,
Linda and Brock, Dee. Food FAQs -- Substitutions, Yields and Equivalents.
Tyler, Texas: FAQs Press. 2000.
American
Home Economics Association. Handbook of Food Preparation. 9th edition.
1993. There is a chart in this book on ingredient substitutions.
Rombauer,
I., and Becker, M.R. Joy of Cooking. New York: Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc.
Older editions prior to the new 1997 version have an extensive chart of ingredient
substitutions.
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