Q. It seems like every time I start to make a recipe, I find that I'm missing one small but crucial ingredient. Is there a list of food substitutions that could save my meals?

yogurt
©2007 Ruben Joye
Yogurt makes a great substitute for
buttermilk or sour cream.

A. No need to panic when you find you're without an ingredient to complete a recipe. Try these emergency substitutions:

When a recipe calls for:
Substitute:
Arrowroot, 1 tablespoon
Cornstarch, 2 teaspoons
Bread crumbs, 1 cup
Cracker crumbs, 1 cup
Buttermilk or sour cream, 1 cup
Plain yogurt, 1 cup
Corn syrup, 1 cup
White or brown sugar, 1-1/4 cups, plus 1/4 cup liquid*
Half-and-half, 1 cup
7/8 cup milk plus 1-1/2 tablespoons butter
Egg yolk, 2 yolks
Egg, 1 whole
Garlic, 1 clove
Garlic powder, 1/8 teaspoon
Ginger, 1 tablespoon
Ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon
Honey, 1 cup
Sugar, 1-1/4 cups, plus 1/4 cup liquid*
Vinegar, 1 teaspoon
Lemon juice, 2 teaspoons

*Whatever liquid is called for in the recipe.

For more helpful cooking tips, see: