Measures and Substitutions

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Common substitutions and alternative ingredients.
Use substitutions in emergency situations, and keep in mind they may not perform like the original ingredient.

 

Ingredient Amount Substitute
Allspice 1 tsp 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp ground cloves
Apple pie spice 1 tsp 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, and 1/8 tsp cardamom
Arrowroot 1 1/2 tsp 1 tbsp flour
1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
Baking powder 1 tsp 1/3 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 tsp baking soda and 1/2 cup sour milk or buttermilk (Decrease liquid called for in recipe by 1/2 cup.)
1/4 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp vinegar or lemon juice used with sweet milk to make 1/2 cup (Decrease liquid called for in recipe by 1/2 cup.)
Bay leaf 1 whole 1/4 tsp crushed
Beau Monde 1 tsp 1 tsp seasoning or seasoned salt
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Mei Yen seasoning
Bread 1 slice dry 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs
1 slice soft bread 3/4 cup soft breadcrumbs
Broth, beef or chicken 1 cup 1 bouillon cube dissolved in 1 cup boiling water
1 envelope powdered broth base dissolved in 1 cup boiling water
1 1/2 tsp powdered broth base dissolved in 1 cup boiling water
Butter 1 cup 7/8 to 1 cup hydrogenated fat and 1/2 tsp salt
7/8 cup lard plus 1/2 tsp salt
1 cup margarine
Buttermilk (sourmilk) 1 cup 1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup whole or skim milk plus 1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar
1 cup milk plus 1 3/4 tsp cream of tartar
Chili sauce 1 cup 1 cup tomato sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp vinegar, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, dash of ground cloves, and dash of allspice
1 cup catsup, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, dashes of ground cloves and allspice
Chives, finely chopped 2 tsp 2 tsp green onion tops, finely chopped
Chocolate, chips semisweet 1 oz 1 oz sweet cooking chocolate
Chocolate, semisweet 1 2/3 oz 1 oz unsweetened chocolate plus 4 tsp sugar
6 oz package 1 cup
Chocolate, unsweetened 1 oz or square 3 tbsp cocoa plus 1 tbsp fat
Cocoa 1/4 cup or 4 tbsp 1 oz (square) unsweetened chocolate (Decrease fat called for in recipe by 1/2 tbsp.)
Coconut cream 1 cup 1 cup whipping cream
Coconut milk 1 cup 1 cup whole or 2% milk
Corn 1 doz ears 2 1/2 cup cooked
Cornmeal, self-rising 1 cup 7/8 cup plain, 1 1/2 tbsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt
Corn syrup 1 cup 1 1/4 cup light brown sugar and 1/3 cup water
7/8 cup honey (Baked goods will brown more.)
Corn syrup, dark 1 cup 3/4 cup light corn syrup and 1/4 cup light molasses
Cornstarch (for thickening) 1 tbsp 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tbsp granular tapioca
Cracker crumbs 3/4 cup 1 cup dry bread crumbs
Cream, heavy
(36% to 40% fat)
1 cup 3/4 cup milk and 1/3 cup butter or margarine (for use in cooking or baking)
2 to 2 1/2 cup whipped
Cream, light
(18% to 20% fat)
1 cup 3/4 cup milk and 3 tbsp butter or margarine (for use in cooking or baking)
1 cup evaporated milk, undiluted
Cream, whipped Chill a 13-oz can of evaporated milk until ice crystals form. Add 1 tsp lemon juice. Whip until stiff.
Dates 1 lb 2 1/2 cup pitted
Dill plant, fresh or dried 3 heads 1 tbsp dill seed
Egg, whole, uncooked 1 large (3 tbsp) 3 tbsp and 1 tsp thawed frozen egg
2 1/2 tbsp sifted, dry whole egg powder and 2 1/2 tbsp lukewarm water
2 yolks and 1 tbsp water (in cookies)
2 yolks (in custards, cream fillings, and similar mixture)
2 whites as a thickening agent
Eggs, uncooked 1 cup 5 large eggs
6 medium eggs
Egg white 1 large (2 tbsp) 2 tsp thawed frozen egg white
2 tbsp sifted, dry egg white powder, and 2 tbsp lukewarm water
1 cup 8 large egg whites
Egg yolk 1 yolk (1 1/2 tbsp) 3 1/2 tbsp thawed frozen egg yolk
2 tbsp sifted, dry egg yolk
1 cup 12 large egg yolks
Fines Herbes 1/3 cup 3 tbsp parsley flakes + 2 tsp dried chervil + 2 tsp dried chives + 1 tsp dried tarragon
Flour, all-purpose (for thickening) 1 tbsp 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch, arrowroot starch, potato starch, or rice starch
1 tbsp granular tapioca
1 tbsp waxy rice flour
2 tbsp browned flour
1 1/2 tbsp whole wheat flour
1/2 tbsp whole wheat flour and 1/2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tbsp quick-cooking tapioca
Flour, all-purpose 1 cup sifted 1 cup and 2 tbsp cake flour
1 cup rolled oats, crushed
1/2 cup cornmeal or soybean flour and 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal, bran, rice flour, or whole wheat flour and 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour or bran flour and 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup rye or rice flour
1/4 cup soybean flour and 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 lb 4 cup sifted
3 1/3 cup, unsifted
Flour, cake 1 lb 4 3/4 cup
1 cup sifted 1 cup minus 2 tbsp sifted all-purpose flour (7/8 cup)
Flour, self-rising 1 cup 1 cup minus 2 tsp all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt
Note: Substitutes for white flours added to most baked goods will result in a reduced volume and a heavier product. Substitute no more than 1/4 of white flour in a cake to ensure success. In other recipes, you can substitute whole wheat flour for 1/4 to 1/2 of white flour.
Fruit, fresh, cut up 1 1/2 cups 16 oz can, drained
Garlic 1 clove, small 1/8 tsp garlic powder
Garlic salt 1 tsp 1/8 tsp garlic powder plus 7/8 tsp salt
Gelatin, flavored 3 oz 1 tbsp plain gelatin and 2 cup fruit juice
Ginger 1/8 tsp 1 tsp candied ginger rinsed in water to remove sugar, then finely cut
1 tbsp raw ginger
Herbs, fresh 1 tbsp, chopped 1/2 tsp dried crushed herbs
Honey 1 cup 1 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water
Horseradish 1 tbsp 2 tbsp bottled fresh
Ketchup 1 cup 1 cup tomato sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 2 tbsp vinegar (for use in cooking)
Lemon juice 1 tsp juice 1/2 tsp vinegar
Lemon peel, dried 1 tsp 1 to 2 tsp grated fresh lemon peel
grated peel of 1 medium lemon
1/2 tsp lemon extract
Lime 1 medium 1 1/2 to 2 tbsp juice
Maple sugar (grated and packed) 1/2 cup 1 cup maple syrup
1 tbsp 1 tbsp white, granulated sugar
Marshmallows, miniature 1 cup 8-10 regular
Mayonnaise (for salad dressings) 1 cup 1/2 cup yogurt and 1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 cup cottage cheese pureed in a blender
Mei Yen seasoning 1 tsp 1 tsp Beau Monde seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
Milk, buttermilk (or sour) 1 cup 1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup minus 1 tbsp sweet milk and 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar (Allow to stand 20 minutes at room temperature.)
1 cup sweet milk and 1 3/4 tsp cream of tartar
Milk, skim 1 cup 4 to 5 tbsp non-fat dry milk powder and enough water to make 1 cup or follow manufacturer’s directions
1/2 cup evaporated milk and 1/2 cup water
Milk, sweetened condensed 1 can (about 1 1/3 cup) Heat the following ingredients until sugar and butter are dissolved: 1/3 cup plus 2 tbsp evaporated milk, 1 cup sugar, and 3 tbsp butter or margarine.
Add 1 cup plus 2 tbsp dry milk to 1/2 cup warm water. Mix well. Add 3/4 cup sugar and 3 tbsp melted butter or margarine. Stir until smooth.
Milk, whole 1 cup 1 cup reconstituted non-fat dry milk (Add 2 tbsp butter or margarine, if desired.)
1/2 cup evaporated milk and 1/2 cup water
4 tbsp whole dry milk and 1 cup water (or follow manufacturer’s directions)
1 cup fruit juice or 1 cup potato water (for use in baking)
Mushrooms, fresh 1 lb 2 to 3 cup whole
3 oz dried
5 cup sliced
1 10-oz can (8 oz, drained weight)
Mushrooms, canned 4 oz 2 cup sliced fresh
6 tbsp whole, dried mushrooms
Mustard, dry 1 tsp 1 tbsp prepared mustard
Onion, fresh 1 small rehydrate 1 tbsp instant minced onion
Onion powder 1 tbsp 1 medium onion, chopped
4 tbsp fresh chopped onion
Onions 1 lb 3 large onions
2 to 2 1/2 cup chopped
Orange peel, dried 1 tbsp 2 to 3 tbsp grated orange peel
grated peel of 1 medium orange
2 tsp 1 tsp orange extract
Parsley, dried 1 tsp 3 tsp fresh parsley, chopped
Peppers, green bell 1 tbsp dried 3 tbsp fresh green pepper, chopped
Peppers, red bell 1 tbsp dried 3 tbsp fresh red pepper, chopped
2 tbsp chopped pimiento
Peppermint, dried 1 tbsp 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
Pimiento 2 tbsp 1 tbsp dried red bell peppers, rehydrated
3 tbsp fresh red bell pepper, chopped
Pumpkin pie spice 1 tsp 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/8 tsp allspice, and 1/8 tsp nutmeg
Rennet 1 tablet 1 tbsp liquid rennet
Shortening, melted 1 cup 1 cup cooking oil (Substitute only if recipe calls for melted shortening.)
Shortening, solid (used in baking) 1 cup 1 cup minus 2 tbsp lard (7/8 cup)
1 1/8 cup butter (Decrease salt called for in recipe by 1/2 tsp.)
Sour cream, cultured 1 cup 3/4 cup sour milk or buttermilk and 1/3 cup butter or margarine
Blend until smooth: 1/3 cup buttermilk, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup plain yogurt
3/4 cup milk, 3/4 tsp lemon juice, and 1/3 cup butter or margarine
Spearmint, dried 1 tbsp 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
Sugar, brown 1 cup firmly packed 1 cup granulated sugar
1 lb 2 1/4 cup firmly packed
Sugar, granulated 1 lb 2 1/4 cup
Sugar, powdered 1 lb 2 3/4 cup
Sugar, granulated 1 tsp 1/8 tsp noncaloric sweetener solution or follow manufacturer’s directions
Sugar, granulated 1 cup 1 1/2 cup corn syrup (Decrease liquid called for in recipe by 1/4 cup.)
1 1/3 cup molasses (Decrease liquid called for in recipe by 1/3 cup.)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
3/4 cup honey (Decrease liquid called for in recipe by 1/4 cup; for each cup of honey in baked goods, add 1/2 tsp soda.)
Tapioca, granular 1 tbsp 2 tbsp pearl tapioca
Tomato juice 1 cup 1/2 cup tomato sauce and 1/2 cup water
Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp 1 tsp bottled steak sauce
Yogurt, plain 1 cup 1 cup buttermilk
1 cup cottage cheese blended until smooth
1 cup sour cream

Liquid Measures

1 cup 8 fluid ounces 1/2 pint 237 ml
2 cups 16 fluid ounces 1 pint 474 ml
4 cups 32 fluid ounces 1 quart 946 ml
2 pints 32 fluid ounces 1 quart 0.964 liters
4 quarts 128 fluid ounces 1 gallon 3.784 liters
8 quarts one peck
4 pecks one bushel
dash less than 1/4 teaspoon

Dry Measures

3 teaspoons 1 tablespoon 1/2 ounce 14.3 grams
2 tablespoons 1/8 cup 1 fluid ounce 28.3 grams
4 tablspoons 1/4 cup 2 fluid ounces 56.7 grams
5 1/3 tablespoons 1/3 cup 2.6 fluid ounces 75.6 grams
8 tablespoons 1/2 cup 4 ounces 113.4 grams 1 stick butter
12 tablespoons 3/4 cup 6 ounces .375 pound 170 grams
32 tablespoons 2 cups 16 ounces 1 pound 453.6 grams
64 tablespoons 4 cups 32 ounces 2 pounds 907 grams

 

 

Liquid Measure Conversion

1/2 fl oz = 1 tbsp = 3 tsp
1/8 cup = 1 fl oz = 2 tbsp = 6 tsp
1/4 cup = 2 fl oz = 4 tbsp = 12 tsp
1/2 cup = 4 fl oz = 8 tbsp = 24 tsp
1/4 qt = 1/2 pt = 1 cup = 8 fl oz
1/2 qt = 1 pt = 2 cups = 16 fl oz
1/4 gal = 1 qt = 2 pt = 4 cups = 32 fl oz
1/2 gal = 2 qt = 4 pt = 8 cups = 64 fl oz
1 gal = 4 qt = 8 pt = 16 cups = 128 fl oz

Candy – Making Chart

Thread
begins at 230°
The syrup will make a 2″ thread when dropped from a spoon.
Soft Ball
begins at 234°
A small amount of syrup dropped into chilled water forms a ball, but flattens when picked up with fingers
Firm Ball
begins at 244°
The ball will hold its shape and flatten only when pressed.
Hard Ball
begins at 250°
The ball is more rigid but still pliable.
Soft Crack
begins at 270°
When a small amount of syrup is dropped into chilled water it will separate into threads which will bend when picked up.
Hard Crack
begins at 300°
The syrup separates into threads that are hard and brittle.
Caramelized Sugar
310° to 338°
Between these temperatures the syrup will turn dark golden, but will turn black at 350°.

 

 

Meat Temperature Chart
(Fahrenheit)
Beef
Rare 120° – 125°
Medium-rare 130° – 135°
Medium 140° – 145°
Medium-well 150° – 155°

Well done 160° and above

Lamb
Rare 135°
Medium-rare 140° – 150°
Medium 160°
Well done 165° and above

Poultry
Chicken 165° – 175°
Turkey 165° – 175°

Pork 150°

There is also a baking substitution post here

Print the Liquid and Dry Measures Posts