Ingredient substitutions
Out of something, or cooking around an allergy? Here is what to use instead, how much, and what changes in the dish: texture, rise and flavor. 81 ingredients, 270 swaps, each explained in plain words by our kitchen.
Swaps by need
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label. Swaps marked for an allergy fix one ingredient; check the rest of the recipe too.
Eggs and dairy
- EggsTry: flax egg; chia egg; unsweetened applesauce
- ButterTry: plant-based butter sticks; refined coconut oil; vegetable oil
- MilkTry: unsweetened soy milk; unsweetened oat milk; unsweetened almond milk
- ButtermilkTry: milk + lemon juice or vinegar; plain yogurt + milk; plain kefir
- Heavy creamTry: half-and-half; milk + melted butter; full-fat coconut milk
- Half-and-halfTry: milk + heavy cream; whole milk + melted butter; plain oat or soy creamer
- Sour creamTry: plain Greek yogurt; crème fraîche; cottage cheese, blended
- Yogurt and Greek yogurtTry: sour cream; plant-based yogurt; Greek yogurt + milk
- Cream cheeseTry: Neufchâtel; mascarpone; ricotta or cottage cheese, blended
- ParmesanTry: Pecorino Romano; Grana Padano; nutritional yeast
- CheddarTry: Colby or Colby Jack; Monterey Jack; Gouda or Gruyère
- RicottaTry: cottage cheese; firm tofu, mashed; mascarpone
Butter and oils
Sugar and sweeteners
- SugarTry: less sugar; brown sugar; coconut sugar
- Brown sugarTry: white sugar + molasses; white sugar; light and dark brown sugar
- Powdered sugarTry: homemade powdered sugar
- HoneyTry: maple syrup; agave syrup; light corn syrup or golden syrup
- Maple syrupTry: honey; agave syrup; pancake syrup
- Corn syrupTry: golden syrup; honey; brown rice syrup
Baking basics
- Baking powderTry: baking soda + cream of tartar; baking soda + buttermilk or yogurt; self-rising flour
- Baking sodaTry: baking powder
- CornstarchTry: all-purpose flour; arrowroot; potato starch
- YeastTry: active dry yeast; instant yeast
- Cocoa powderTry: natural and Dutch-process cocoa; unsweetened chocolate; carob powder
- Chocolate and chocolate chipsTry: semisweet and bittersweet; chopped bar chocolate for chips; chips for bar chocolate when melting
- Vanilla extractTry: vanilla bean paste; vanilla bean; alcohol-free vanilla
- Cream of tartarTry: lemon juice or white vinegar; baking powder (when the recipe also uses baking soda)
Flour, oats and crumbs
- All-purpose flourTry: gluten-free 1:1 baking flour; bread flour; whole wheat flour
- Bread flourTry: all-purpose flour; all-purpose flour + vital wheat gluten
- Cake flourTry: all-purpose flour + cornstarch
- Self-rising flourTry: all-purpose flour + baking powder + salt
- BreadcrumbsTry: panko and dry breadcrumbs; crushed crackers or cornflakes; rolled or quick oats
- OatsTry: quick oats; rolled oats
Citrus, vinegar, wine and broth
- Lemon juiceTry: lime juice; bottled lemon juice; white wine vinegar or white vinegar
- Lime juiceTry: lemon juice; bottled lime juice; rice vinegar or white vinegar
- Citrus zestTry: another citrus zest; dried citrus peel; lemon or orange extract
- White wineTry: broth + vinegar or lemon juice; dry vermouth; white grape juice + vinegar
- Red wineTry: beef or mushroom broth + red wine vinegar; unsweetened grape, pomegranate or cranberry juice + broth; non-alcoholic red wine
- VinegarTry: lemon or lime juice; another wine vinegar; white wine vinegar or lemon juice
- BrothTry: bouillon cube, powder or paste + water; water + extra seasoning; vegetable broth
Sauces, spreads and condiments
- Soy sauceTry: tamari; coconut aminos; regular soy sauce
- Worcestershire sauceTry: soy sauce + vinegar; vegan Worcestershire
- Fish sauceTry: soy sauce + lime; vegan fish sauce
- Oyster sauceTry: vegetarian mushroom "oyster" sauce; hoisin + soy sauce
- MayonnaiseTry: plain Greek yogurt; egg-free (vegan) mayo; sour cream
- MustardTry: another prepared mustard; dry mustard
- Tomato pasteTry: tomato sauce or passata; ketchup
- Canned tomatoesTry: whole peeled tomatoes, crushed; whole peeled tomatoes, chopped; crushed tomatoes, blended smooth
- Peanut butterTry: sunflower seed butter; almond or cashew butter; soy nut butter
- TahiniTry: sunflower seed butter; cashew or almond butter; Greek yogurt + a little sesame oil
- NutsTry: another nut; toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds; leave them out, or use chocolate chips or toasted oats
Onions, garlic, ginger and chiles
- GarlicTry: garlic powder; jarred minced garlic; fresh garlic
- OnionTry: another onion; shallots; leeks
- ShallotsTry: yellow or red onion; green onion whites
- Green onionsTry: chives; shallot or red onion; leeks
- GingerTry: ground ginger; ginger paste (jar or tube); fresh ginger
- JalapeñosTry: poblano or Anaheim pepper; canned diced green chiles; red pepper flakes
Fresh and dried herbs
- BasilTry: dried basil; spinach or arugula + parsley (for pesto); fresh mint or oregano
- ParsleyTry: dried parsley; cilantro; celery leaves or chervil
- CilantroTry: dried cilantro; flat-leaf parsley + lime zest; Thai basil or mint
- ThymeTry: dried thyme; fresh oregano or marjoram; fresh rosemary
- RosemaryTry: dried rosemary; fresh thyme; fresh sage
- OreganoTry: dried oregano; fresh marjoram; fresh thyme or basil
- DillTry: dried dill; fennel fronds; fresh tarragon
- SageTry: dried sage; fresh thyme + a little rosemary; fresh sage
- ChivesTry: dried chives; green onion tops; fresh chives
- MintTry: dried mint; fresh basil; fresh mint
Salt and spices
- SaltTry: salt by weight; kosher salt; table salt or fine sea salt
- PaprikaTry: smoked paprika; chili powder; sweet paprika + a pinch of chipotle or cumin
- Cayenne pepperTry: red pepper flakes; hot sauce; chipotle powder or hot paprika
- Red pepper flakesTry: cayenne; hot sauce or chili crisp; a fresh hot chile
- Chili powderTry: homemade blend; ancho chile powder
- CuminTry: ground coriander; chili powder; caraway seeds, ground
- Italian seasoningTry: homemade blend; Herbes de Provence; dried oregano alone
- Garam masalaTry: quick homemade blend; curry powder
- CinnamonTry: pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice; ground allspice or nutmeg
- NutmegTry: ground mace; pumpkin pie spice or allspice
Meat and poultry
Swap pages show the Simmerbee recipes that use each ingredient, 342 recipes in all. On any recipe, tap Swaps next to an ingredient, or ask in hands-free cook mode: “What can I use instead of buttermilk?”