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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Is there an alternative to condensed milk?

In Denmark we don't have condensed milk in our regular stores and I've actually only seen it in an UK-import store a few years ago. Is there an alternative to it or can you craft it with regular cooking equipment?
cyberzed
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Is there a substitute for tahini in hummus?

If I don't have tahini is there anything similar to use to make hummus?
fryguybob
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7 answers

What to use instead of cling film to wrap pastry

I'm trying to stay away from single use plastics for the environment. The only kitchen thing I have not yet managed to find a substitute for is wrapping pastry in cling film to let it rest in the fridge before rolling and baking. What can I use…
user141592
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votes
5 answers

Powdered milk in bread recipe

I have a book with several bread recipes that call for 1-2 tablespoons of powdered milk. This isn't something I usually use and I was thinking substituting it with normal milk, and putting less water to compensate for the added liquid. Would this be…
Rox
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4 answers

Substituting garlic powder for garlic salt?

I love using garlic powder but I also see recipes call for garlic salt. I thought that you could just add garlic powder instead of garlic salt (which of course is sold separately!) and then just add some actual salt if necessary. What is the…
Kryptic
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6 answers

When, if ever, are dried herbs preferable to fresh herbs?

Sometimes I see a recipe call for dried herbs. If I have access to fresh herbs, should I go for fresh herbs instead? Is there any benefit in using dried herbs with some recipes?
user73
25
votes
13 answers

What is a substitute for red or white wine in a recipe?

If someone cannot or will not use wine for cooking, what would be a good substitute? Question applies to both red and white wine.
JustRightMenus
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7 answers

What is a substitute for mascarpone cheese?

I've found mascarpone cheese can be pricey. What would be a good (in taste and price) substitute?
JustRightMenus
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15 answers

Keep milk (or milk alternative) for a day without a fridge

I like to drink my coffee with milk, but my new place of work has no refrigerator I can use. Is there any milk or milk-substitute I can use that will not taste funny around 15 o'clock, when I remove it from my home fridge at 8? What if I buy 1L of…
Ivana
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6 answers

How can I make this antique ginger wine recipe using ingredients available today?

I have this old family ginger wine recipe, but some of the ingredients are hard to find or may not exist any more... Essence of Ginger 12mls Tincture of Capsicum 9mls Essence of Lemon 5mls Solution of Burnt Sugar 25mls 2 1/2 lb sugar 1 oz Tartaric…
Rich
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6 answers

What exactly is apple cider?

What exactly is apple cider? I've been using Apple Bandit Cider for some recipes in which I needed to reduce the cider. However the Apple Bandit Cider is like a low-alcohol fresh cider/beer kind of drink. And I recently heard that this is an…
Remco Vink
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9 answers

What can I substitute for Kaffir Lime Leaves?

Kaffir Lime Leaves seem to be a common ingredient in Thai food, particularly coconut based dishes. I have never seen them in Atlanta, and I've looked (farmers market, whole foods, normal grocery, but not an Asian grocery store). What is the flavor…
yossarian
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6 answers

Buttermilk substitute?

I've got a recipe that calls for some buttermilk, but none on-hand. Is there some way I could use some common ingredient(s) as a substitute?
Donut
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8 answers

What is ground beef?

I keep hearing about Ground Beef, but I'm from Australia and I've never actually seen it before. Is it the same thing as Minced Beef? Or different? Is Minced beef an acceptible substitute if they're not the same thing?
Mark Henderson
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11 answers

What is a good pine nut substitute for pesto?

I'm allergic to pine nuts, is there another nut I can use to make pesto?
Sam Bee
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