What to do if you don't have lemon extract

Karen Craddock
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  • 6 Comments

6 Comments

Nancy January 16, 2018
Think outside the lemon flavor box.
Whether sweet or savory dish, use another flavor that might go with the rest of the recipe, like:
* Rosewater or orange blossom water
* Any brandy or liqueur
* Nut flavor extract (almond, walnut, etc)
* fruit (date, pomegranate, etc) or tree syrup (maple, birch, etc).
 
Shae T. January 16, 2018
You can try orange extract or vanilla extract or orange juice. Here is the list of substitute of lemon extract: https://foodgear.org/substitute-for-orange-extract/
 
petitbleu May 19, 2013
I would agree that lemon zest is your best option. Lemon oil is okay, but it has a "flat" flavor--no brightness or zing. I almost always add extra lemon zest to recipes where I want to add a tangy kick. Be liberal with it. It's unlikely you'll use too much.
 
dymnyno May 19, 2013
Sometimes I use my homemade limoncello.
 
boulangere May 19, 2013
What are you making? If you have lemons, the zest would be a perfect substitution. How much extract does your recipe call for? I would probably sub half the amount with zest, and be sure to grate off only the bright yellow surface (the white pith is bitter).
 
Monita May 19, 2013
Cook's thesaurus had this advice about lemon extract: Substitutes: lemon zest (1 teaspoon extract = 2 teaspoons zest) OR oil of lemon (One part flavoring oil is roughly equivalent to four parts extract, but this may vary according to the products used. To be safe, begin by substituting 1/8 teaspoon of oil per teaspoon of extract, then add more drops of oil until you're satisfied with the flavor.) OR orange extract OR vanilla extract OR lemon-flavored liqueur (Substitute 1 or 2 tablespoons liqueur for each teaspoon of extract)


 
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