How many times have you come home from the grocery store only to realize that you’ve missed the key ingredient for a recipe you’re making? Guests are on the way, and you don’t have time to head back out into the world.
What can you do?
With some creativity and know-how, there are actually quite a few things you can swap out to keep your cooking intact—here are six of our favorite examples.
Use Different Egg Substitutes
There are many different ingredients that can be used for the incredible, edible egg—even if they don’t do it perfectly. For every egg you need, simply mash up half a banana, use a quarter cup of unsweetened applesauce, or mix one tablespoon of ground flaxseed with three tablespoons of water. Your baked goods might turn out a little different, but hey, at least you’ll have a tasty banana bread to show for it!
Try Alt Milks
Got milk? You don’t? You might find that almond milk, soy milk, or even coconut milk can still do the trick. Coconut milk is the ingredient that will change the flavor profile the most, so keep that in mind. But depending on the recipe, it might still end up delicious! Otherwise, almond milk and soy milk are often just as good for certain applications, even if they don’t offer the same level of creaminess.
Swap in Vegetable Oil for Butter
Using vegetable oil instead of butter is the first swap that you probably won’t notice. That’s true mostly for cooking, but could be less true for baking. You can also use coconut oil instead of butter, but again, that’ll potentially give what you’re making too distinct of a flavor that fights instead of helps.
Oodles of Zoodles
It’s unlikely that you have zucchini but not pasta—unless you’re growing it at home, then you probably constantly have zucchini you’re trying to get rid of. But regardless, if you want a low-carb alternative, zoodles are the best pick! You’ll need a separate kitchen gadget to make it work, but it’s still an excellent option if you want to add more veggies to your diet.
Worst-Case Scenario? Worcestershire for Soy Sauce
You might be noticing a trend here: these substitutes aren’t perfect. And probably the most obvious example of that is worcestershire and soy sauce. The profiles are pretty different, so adding worcestershire to a stir fry seems like blasphemy. But if you’re in a situation where you’re mid-cooking and realize you’re out, worcestershire will still give you that umami flavor you’re after.
Use Honey or Maple Syrup Instead of Sugar
Our final entry is not just the closest to the original ingredient—it can actually improve your food by adding depth! You can easily swap in honey or maple syrup for sugar. Just remember, for every cup of sugar, use about three-quarters of a cup of honey or syrup, and reduce the liquid in your recipe by a couple of tablespoons. Your cake might be a bit more “sticky sweet,” but who is gonna complain about that?
20 Shocking Cooking Facts That Will Change Your Kitchen Forever
Cooking is a journey filled with surprises; sometimes, the most surprising truths are the hardest to swallow.
From debunking culinary myths to rethinking kitchen practices, here are 20 facts that might make you rethink your approach to food and cooking.
20 Shocking Cooking Facts That Will Change Your Kitchen Forever
10 Grocery Store Foods Linked to Memory Loss
Medical research shows that your diet has the potential to affect your mental function and overall brain health. We often focus on foods that affect our internal health but rarely give attention to the impact food has on our brains. Our brain uses 20-30% of the calories we consume.
While you may have an idea of foods that promote brain health, you may be surprised to find out that some foods you’re consuming could be affecting your focus and memory.
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