Saturday Share: Ingredient Substituions in Cooking

Isn’t it aggravating when you decide to cook something and discover you don’t have all the right ingredients?

Rather than abandon that particular dish you want to serve, you can substitute something else for what your pantry or refrigerator lacks.

Yes, you really can substitute other products for what may be missing–without a loss in flavor or texture.

Here’s a handy Ingredient Substitutions Chart I keep in my kitchen binder. I hope it will help you with your cooking too.

If Recipe Calls For This = Try This As a Substitution

1 square of chocolate which is 1 ounce of chocolate = 3-4 tbsp.cocoa powder +1/2 tbsp. melted, but not hot, butter

1 tbsp. of cornstarch = 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour

1 cup of sifted cake flour = 1 cup minus 2 tbsp. of sifted all-purpose flour

1 cup of self-rising flour = 1 and 1/2 tsp. baking powder + 1/2 tsp. salt placed in a measuring cup with all-purpose flour added to measure 1 cup.

1 tsp. baking powder = 1/4 tsp. baking soda + 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 cup sour milk or buttermilk = 1 cup whole milk + 1 tbsp. mild vinegar or lemon juice. Stir and let set for a couple of minutes for it to clabber.

1 cup whole milk = 1 cup sour milk or buttermilk + 1/2 tsp. baking soda (I’ve not tried this, but my mom said it works.)

1 cup whole milk = 1/2 cup evaporated milk + 1/2 cup water or 1 cup dried milk power + 1 tbsp. melted, but not hot, butter

1 cup heavy cream or sour cream = 1/3 cup butter and 2/3 cup milk

3/4 cup cracker crumbs – 1 cup soft bread crumbs

1 tbsp. fresh herbs = 1 tsp. dried herbs

2 ounces compressed yeast = 3 (1/4 ounce) packets of dry yeast

1 tbsp. dried minced onion powder = 1 small fresh onion

1 tablespoon “yellow” mustard = 1 tsp. dry mustard

1/8 tsp. garlic powder = 1 small garlic clove

3 medium bananas = 1 cup mashed bananas

10 miniature marshmallows = 1 large marshmallow

1 cup tomato juice = 1/2 cup tomato sauce + 1/2 cup water

Takeaway Truth

Hope you find this helpful because it beats rushing to the store to buy something.