Questions tagged [substitutions]

Questions about possible substitutions for an ingredient. Please indicate the reason for substitution.

This tag is for questions about possible substitutions for an ingredient. Common reasons for substitution may include:

  • Dietary restrictions (nutrition, allergies, etc.);
  • Unavailability or expense;
  • Personal preference or taste.

Guidelines for substitution questions:

A good substitution question should:

  1. Indicate the reason for the substitution. Allergies, unavailability, and taste are all different problems requiring different solutions.

  2. Have a practical reason behind them. Don't use vague reasons like "healthier" or "better tasting", as these are subjective and do not help to narrow the field of candidates.

  3. Be specific to a single ingredient. We understand that people with allergies or strong food aversions may want to avoid a wide range of similar foods, such as all dairy or all grains. However, it's often not even possible to substitute foods within a category, let alone come up with a single set of substitution rules for the entire category. Keep it simple and focused.

  4. Be specific to a particular recipe or type of recipe. The same ingredient may have many different uses (taste, texture, chemical reactions, etc.) depending on the recipe it is used in.

Substitution questions not following the above guidelines are likely to receive poor answers and may be closed.

1435 questions
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7 answers

How can I tell the difference between a rabbit and a cat?

I received a shipment of prefabricated skinned rabbit last week and the shipment seemed unusual. Rabbits have a very close resemblance to cats once their “hair” and skin have been removed. Is there a telltale sign that I’m working with Bugs Bunny,…
Chef_Code
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2 answers

Why can applesauce be used in place of oil?

In many recipes, mostly desserts, it is suggested that you can substitute oil with applesauce to reduce the fat content. But why applesauce? Is there something special about applesauce or are there other ingredients than can be used?
Brian Ortiz
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5 answers

Could coconut cream be used to create a non-dairy ganache for whipping?

A few days ago I made a batch of profiteroles and éclairs, with a minor twist: For half the profiteroles, instead of chantilly cream I used a whipped ganache made from about 2 parts dark or bittersweet chocolate to 1 part each butter and whipping…
Aaronut
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4 answers

What is the difference between baking soda and baking powder?

And can I use one in place of the other in certain recipes?
thelsdj
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40
votes
12 answers

Why use onions in cooking?

Onions are an ingredient in almost every recipe. I hate the taste(flavour) of them (I know I might be the only one). I always try to avoid eating them and try to pick them out of the food. Seeing that I am the only one in the house that doesn’t like…
user43864
37
votes
6 answers

Can I use cooking sherry instead of red wine in my stew?

So I found some Sherry Cooking Wine ($6 CAD) at my supermarket and I don't want to go and shell out too much money on a real bottle of wine just for a stew, is it possible to use cooking wine like Sherry Cooking Wine as the base of the stew? If it…
IAmNoOne
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3 answers

How did replacing flour in muffins go so wrong?

I had a whole bag of Cocoa Puffs that had gone stale, and thought it would be fun to mess around and see if I could bake something with them. So I aimed for muffins. I more or less based it on a banana muffin recipe I make all the time: 2 1/2 cups…
the-baby-is-you
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36
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2 answers

Mint vs Peppermint

Are mint and peppermint the same thing? Can we substitute one for the other. How can we differentiate between mint and peppermint?
Iqra Amanat
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34
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4 answers

Does it matter what kind of sugar is used in baking?

The baking recipes I use specify many kinds of sugar e.g. caster, raw, white, soft etc. Generally, I always just use raw sugar, mainly for convenience. Does it really make a difference?
rbrayb
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8 answers

What can I use for a Crème brûlée if I don't have a blow torch?

I've always wanted to make a Crème brûlée but I don't have a blow torch to burn the top with. Is there anything else I can use to get that nice crunchy caramel on top?
lomaxx
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4 answers

When is a cooking oil not appropriate to substitute for another?

Frequently recipes call for a particular kind of oil for making use of certain characteristics (taste, heat tolerance, health, etc.). It's well known you can substitute cooking oils in most cases (vegetable oil for canola oil). Are there…
JYelton
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31
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5 answers

What should I use for old recipes that call for 'buttermilk'?

Old-school buttermilk is the milk left after churning butter and is not today's 'cultured buttermilk'. A recent answer to the question about what to use for 'sweet milk' mentions : Buttermilk was what was left after the soured milk had been churned…
Joe
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16 answers

Best meat replacements for a vegetarian/vegan?

Let's compile a list of vegetarian/vegan meat replacements. Generic replacements: Seitan Tofu Tempeh Quorn Quorn Vegan Alternatives Paneer TVP Commercial fake meats: Tofurky (Roasts, Sausages, Deli Slices) Lightlife Morningstar Worthington…
Zepplock
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30
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9 answers

What are some good substitutes for salt for those on low sodium diets?

I try to keep my sodium intake fairly low to ensure that my blood pressure doesn't get too high. Salt is such a common part of cooking, and it's especially difficult to cook Asian-style food without a lot of salt due to its reliance on salty sauces…
LeopardSkinPillBoxHat
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29
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4 answers

How much to reduce salt when using salted butter in place of unsalted butter

I normally don't keep unsalted butter on hand since I use it so seldom. So when a recipe calls for salt and unsalted butter among its ingredients would it be alright to use salted butter and reduce the amount of salt? And if so, by how much should…
Don O'Donnell
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