A Very Handy Guide to the Most Popular Ingredient Substitutions

If you've ever started cooking a recipe with the best of intentions, only to discover halfway through that you simply don't have one of the key ingredients it calls for, know that you're not alone. This is timeless tale, whether you're a pro chef or a home cook, but our editors have done the hard work—we're talkin' research, crowd-sourcing, and lots of testing—to find the very best substitutes for 21 common ingredients. Below, you'll find swap in for baking powder, molasses, cornstarch, coriander, and so many other ingredients.

1. Worcestershire Sauce

You can find Worcestershire sauce on the ingredients list for any numbers of recipes—from steak sauce to meatloaf. Luckily, if you don't have this punchy pantry staple stocked, there are 34 substitutes you can swap in, like fish sauce, soy sauce, or sherry vinegar.

2. Shortening

Ultra-flaky pie crust, classic cornbread, oatmeal cookies—if you're baking something, there's a good chance you're going to need shortening. If you don't have any, there are more than a few substitutes that'll work nicely. Think: coconut oil, butter, and margarine, just to name a few.

3. Evaporated Milk

If you're gearing up to make Tangy Tres Leches Cake, then you realize you're missing the evaporated milk the recipe calls for, don't sweat it. There are at least five workable substitutes, from non-dairy milk to half-and-half.

4. Buttermilk

Few things are worse than waking up in the mood for pancakes or waffles, only to discover you don't have any buttermilk in the fridge. On the flip side: Few things are better than realizing you can make a simple swap with just milk plus lemon juice or vinegar.

5. Molasses

A syrupy byproduct of sugar processing, molasses can be substituted for a couple of ingredients you might already have on hand—you'll just want to keep in mind that the flavor will shift toward the ingredient you swap in. For example, honey is lighter in color and milder in flavor.

6. Maple Syrup

Speaking of syrupy things, maple syrup is another ingredient that can feel sorely missed when you really need it (like at breakfast, for example). Good news: You can make a substitute in a pinch with brown sugar, water, lemon juice, and cinnamon.

7. Cornstarch

Cornstarch gets used dozens of ways in cooking and baking (think: a thickener for fruit pie filling and a slurry for soups, for starters). The best swap depends on what you're making, which gets broken down here:

8. Vanilla Extract

Did you know the best substitute for vanilla extract could very well be sitting right in your bar cart right now? Yep, that's right.

9. Soy Sauce

"Soy sauce adds a salty, fermented, umami boost to whatever it’s seasoning," writes former Food Editor Emma Laperruque. You don't need to miss out on that extra burst of flavor just because you don't have it—there are eight very good substitutes you can use, like tamari or liquid aminos.

10. Eggs

It might seem impossible to swap out eggs in a recipe, be it savory or sweet, but it's not. Here are nine different options to get started:

11. Thyme

There are a handful of thyme substitutes that take no time at all—as a matter of fact, many of them are most likely in your pantry right this second. Looking at you, oregano.

12. Heavy Cream

Just because you don't have any heavy cream doesn't meany creamy pastas, desserts, and the like are out of reach. Take a look and see if you've got one of these replacements handy:

13. Self-Rising & Cake Flour

We've seen lots of questions about flour substitutes pop up on the community Hotline in the last few weeks. Thankfully, when it comes to making a substitute for cake flour or self-rising flour, the whole thing is a cinch.

14. Broth

A flavorful broth brings together soups, pastas, and many other dishes like no other—but there are plenty of equally satisfying swaps you can use without sacrificing taste, from dried mushrooms to wine.

15. Parmesan Cheese

If you think a flurry of grated Parm is essential to finishing off any pasta dish, but find yourself out of stock (the horror!), try this handy substitute:

16. Fish Sauce

While fish sauce may not be typically hard to find online or at grocery stores, vegetarians and vegans avoid it for obvious reasons. Whether you're having trouble sourcing it or don't eat it, we've got you covered:

17. Bread Crumbs

Maybe you're out of bread crumbs or don't have what you need to make 'em from scratch. But fear not—there are nine things you can replace them with, from crushed chips to nuts and seeds.

18. Lemon Zest

The zest is where you get all those wonderful citrus aromas from, and finding a decent substitute can be a challenge. But it is possible—yes, you can!—here's how:

19. Simple Syrup

You'll see simple syrup pop up in all sorts of cocktail recipes—its sweetness balances out the boozy zing of spirits. But if you've got agave in the pantry, then you've got an A+ substitute.

20. Coriander

Whether you're looking to sub the seeds (coriander) or leaves (cilantro) of this popular plant, we've got a handful of swap ideas to help you whip up flavorful chili, zippy marinades, and bright herb blends in no time.

21. Baking Powder

First thing's first: Baking powder and baking soda can not be used interchangeably. That said, we've got six other substitutes you can use successfully in any baked good, from yogurt to homemade baking powder.

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What are your go-to ingredient substitutions? Tell us in the comments below!