Cooking Tools

Ingredient Substitution Reference

Search for a common ingredient to find a reliable substitute for it — handy when you're out of something mid-recipe.

Search an ingredient

Buttermilk (1 cup)

→ 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar, rest 5 min

Egg (1, for baking)

→ ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce, or 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water

Butter (1 cup)

→ 1 cup vegetable oil (¾ cup for baking) or margarine

Brown sugar (1 cup)

→ 1 cup white sugar + 1 tbsp molasses

Sour cream (1 cup)

→ 1 cup plain yogurt

Heavy cream (1 cup)

→ ¾ cup milk + ⅓ cup melted butter

Self-rising flour (1 cup)

→ 1 cup all-purpose flour + 1½ tsp baking powder + ¼ tsp salt

Cake flour (1 cup)

→ 1 cup all-purpose flour minus 2 tbsp, + 2 tbsp cornstarch

White wine (cooking, 1 cup)

→ 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth + 1 tbsp lemon juice

Honey (1 cup)

→ 1¼ cups sugar + ¼ cup water

Cornstarch (1 tbsp, for thickening)

→ 2 tbsp all-purpose flour

Baking powder (1 tsp)

→ ¼ tsp baking soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar

Fresh garlic (1 clove)

→ ⅛ tsp garlic powder

Fresh herbs (1 tbsp)

→ 1 tsp dried herbs

How to use this tool

Will every substitute taste and behave exactly the same?+

No — these are commonly recommended swaps that work well in most recipes, but texture or flavor can shift slightly depending on the dish.