Ingredient substitutions, checked against Extension charts
Kitchen substitution ratios, plus fridge and freezer storage times, taken from university Extension charts. Every figure comes from at least two of them: when they print the same thing you see one figure, and when they differ you see each chart’s figure side by side. Every table links the chart and page it came from.
What are you out of?
Half-and-halfTwo Extension charts give the same evaporated-milk swap for half-and-half. The amount, a gram weight, and which chart prints it.Cream of tartarTwo Extension charts give the same lemon juice or vinegar amount for ½ teaspoon of cream of tartar, with a gram weight and the chart pages.HoneySwap 1 cup of honey for granulated sugar and a little liquid, per Colorado State and Mississippi State: same amounts, different liquids, gram weights shown.Granulated sugarColorado State and Mississippi State both list honey for 1 cup of granulated sugar but print different amounts, liquid cuts and baking soda steps. Both shown.ButtermilkCream of tartar or lemon juice turns milk into buttermilk substitute; Colorado State and Mississippi State agree on lemon juice, differ on cream of tartar.Self-rising flourColorado State and Mississippi State give different baking powder and salt amounts for 1 cup of self-rising flour. Both side by side, with gram weights.Semisweet chocolateTurn unsweetened baking chocolate into a semisweet substitute with sugar: the ratio Colorado State and Mississippi State both print, with chart pages.Sour creamThree sour cream swaps from Colorado State and Mississippi State: plain yogurt, blended cottage cheese, and a milk-and-butter mix where the charts differ.EggsCommercial egg substitute, dried egg with water, gelatin, or baking powder with liquid: what Illinois, Colorado State and Mississippi State print for 1 egg.Chili sauceMake 1 cup of chili sauce from tomato sauce, brown sugar, vinegar and spices: the ratio Colorado State and Mississippi State both print.CornstarchIllinois, Colorado State and Mississippi State all print the same flour swap for cornstarch used as a thickener. The amount, grams and chart pages.Baking powderIllinois and Colorado State print the same baking soda and cream of tartar mix for 1 teaspoon of baking powder; Mississippi State prints another. Both shown.KetchupColorado State and Mississippi State both rebuild 1 cup of ketchup for cooking from tomato sauce, sugar and vinegar, but not with the same sugar. Both shown.Heavy creamIllinois, Colorado State and Mississippi State print the same butter-and-milk swap for heavy cream in baking. It will not whip. Amounts, grams, chart pages.Whole milkColorado State and Mississippi State print the same evaporated milk and water swap for 1 cup of whole milk. The amounts, a gram weight and the chart pages.
How long it keeps
Raw chicken & turkeyFridge and freezer storage times for raw whole chickens, turkeys, pieces and giblets, as printed by Clemson Extension and Pacific Northwest Extension.Ground meat & sausageRefrigerator and freezer times for raw ground beef, ground pork, stew meat and fresh pork sausage, from Clemson and Pacific Northwest Extension.Beef steaks & roastsRefrigerator and freezer times for raw beef steaks and roasts. Clemson and Pacific Northwest Extension agree on the fridge, differ on the freezer.Pork & lambFridge and freezer times for raw pork chops, pork roasts, lamb chops and lamb roasts from Clemson and Pacific Northwest Extension.Cooked leftoversHow long cooked meat, poultry, gravy, meat broth and cooked chicken nuggets keep in the fridge and freezer, per Clemson and Pacific NW Extension.Ham & smoked sausageRefrigerator and freezer times for a whole or half ham and for smoked sausage. Clemson and Pacific Northwest Extension print the same figures.Hot dogs & lunch meatHow long opened packages of hot dogs and lunch meat keep in the fridge and freezer, as printed by Clemson Extension and Pacific Northwest Extension.Fish & shellfishRefrigerator and freezer times for lean fish, salmon, shucked clams and oysters, scallops and cooked fish from Clemson and Pacific Northwest Extension.ShrimpHow long shrimp keeps in the refrigerator and freezer, per Clemson and Pacific Northwest Extension. The two charts differ on both, so both are shown.Venison, duck & organ meatsFridge and freezer times for raw venison, duck, goose, game birds and variety meats such as liver, heart and tongue, from Clemson and Pacific NW Extension.EggsRefrigerator and freezer times for raw eggs in the shell and hard-cooked eggs, as printed by Clemson Extension and Pacific Northwest Extension.Butter & margarineRefrigerator and freezer times for butter and margarine from Clemson and Pacific Northwest Extension. The charts differ in both columns, so both are shown.Milk & canned milkRefrigerator and freezer times for fresh milk and for opened canned milk, as printed by Clemson Extension and Pacific Northwest Extension.Buttermilk & sour creamFridge and freezer times for buttermilk and sour cream from Clemson and Pacific Northwest Extension, plus the freezing notes Pacific Northwest prints.Hard & grated cheeseRefrigerator and freezer times for opened hard cheese and for grated Parmesan or Romano, from Clemson and Pacific Northwest Extension.
What do you have instead?
The same checked ratios, looked up the other way round.
| You have | It can stand in for |
|---|---|
| lemon juice or vinegar | cream of tartar, buttermilk, sour cream |
| milk | buttermilk, sour cream, heavy cream |
| sugar | honey, semisweet chocolate, ketchup |
| water | honey, whole milk, eggs |
| all-purpose flour | self-rising flour, cornstarch |
| baking powder | self-rising flour, eggs |
| brown sugar | chili sauce, ketchup |
| butter | sour cream, heavy cream |
| cream of tartar | buttermilk, baking powder |
| evaporated milk | half-and-half, whole milk |
| tomato sauce | chili sauce, ketchup |
| baking soda | baking powder |
| buttermilk | sour cream |
| commercial egg substitute | eggs |
| cottage cheese | sour cream |
| dried whole egg | eggs |
| gelatin | eggs |
| honey | granulated sugar |
| oil | eggs |
| unsweetened chocolate | semisweet chocolate |
| yogurt | sour cream |