What to do when you’re out of an ingredient

Running to the store isn’t always an option. You could borrow from a neighbor, perhaps… Somethings can be swapped out while still achieving good results.

Substitutions & Conversions for Common Food Items

1 cup Buttermilk = 1 cup Milk + 1 Tbs. vinegar or lemon juice
1 cup Heavy Cream = 3/4 cup milk + 1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup Half-n-Half = 7/8 cup milk + 1-1/2 Tbs. melted butter
12 oz can evaporated milk = 1 cup Instant Dry Powdered Milk + 1-1/3 cup Water
1/2 cup Brown Sugar = 1/2 cup granulated sugar + 2 Tbs molasses
Powdered Sugar: 1 cup = Whir 7/8 cup granulated sugar + 1 Tbs cornstarch in blender
1 Tbs. mustard = 1 tsp. dry mustard
3 medium bananas = 1 cup mashed
1 lb. butter = 2 cup or 4 sticks
2 cup sugar = 1lb
2/3 cup honey = 1 cup sugar plus 1/3 cup water cooked down to 2/3 cup
1/2 cup corn syrup = 1 cup sugar plus 1/2 cup water cooked down to 1/2 cup
1 Tbs. baking powder = 1/2 Tbs. cream of tartar plus 1/4 Tbs. baking soda
1 cup cake flour = 1 cup flour, minus 2 T, plus 2 Tbs corn starch
1 cup self rising flour = 1 cup flour plus 1 tsp. baking powder and 1/2 Tbs. salt
1 fresh clove garlic = 1 Tbs. garlic salt or 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
Juice of 1 lemon = 3 T.
Juice of 1 orange = 1/3 cup to 1/2 c.
15 oz can tomato sauce = 6 oz can of paste plus water to make 15 oz.
1 box of powdered sugar = 3-3/4 c.
1 cup sweet milk = 1 cup buttermilk plus 1/2 Tbs. b. soda
1 cup buttermilk = 1/2 cup plain yogurt plus 1/2 cup milk
1 cup butter milk or sour milk = 1 tsp. vinegar and fill with milk to 1 cup mark
1 cup fruit juice = 1 cup spicy brew tea
1 cup beef stock = 1 cup water plus 2 tsp. soy sauce
1 cup sugar for baking = 1/2 cup honey plus 2 Tbs. flour
1 egg ( for a cake) = 2 Tbs. mayonnaise (for each egg)
1 square unsweetened chocolate = 3 Tbs. cocoa plus 1 Tbs. butter
1/2 cup butter = 7 Tbs. shortening
Cake Flour: 1 pound = 4 3/4 cups
Cake Flour: 1 cup sifted = 7/8 cup sifted all-purpose flour
All-purpose Flour: 1 pound = 4 cups
Oil: 2 cups = 1 pound fat
Orange:1 medium-sized = 6 to 8 tablespoons juice
Raisins: 1 pound = 2 3/4 cups
Rice: 1 pound = 2 cups uncooked
Rice: 2 cups uncooked = 6 cups cooked
Sugar, Granulated: 1 pound = 2 cups
Sugar, Brown, packed: 1 pound = 2 1/4 cups
Sugar, Confectioner’s: 1 pound = 3 1/2 to 4 cups
Tomato sauce: 2 cups = 3/4 cup tomato paste plus 1 cup water
Yeast, Active dry: 1 package = 1 tablespoon
Yeast, Active dry: 1 package = 1 cake compressed