Ingredient Substitutions and Equivalents
This publication has useful information on substitutions and equivalents. But remember that your substituted ingredient may not perform just like the original in the recipe.
Many substitutions or equivalents will perform the same: 4 ounces of spaghetti for 4 ounces of other type noodles. Other substitutes have similar properties but will not perform exactly the same. For example, 1 cup of white sugar and 1 cup of honey both will make your dessert sweet, but the honey will also make the product brown more, add a flavor of its own, and require you to decrease other liquids in the recipe.
Each ingredient has a specific function, and substitutions could result in changes. Therefore, use substitutions for emergencies or when you don’t mind a slight variation in the taste or substance.
For the tables that follow, please refer to the following key:
- c = cup
- lb = pound
- oz = ounce
- fl oz = fluid ounce
- qt = quart
- tbsp = tablespoon
- tsp = teaspoon
Ingredient |
Amount |
Substitute or Equivalent |
Allspice |
1 tsp |
= ½ tsp cinnamon and ½ tsp ground cloves |
Apples |
1 lb |
= 3 or 4 medium = 3 c sliced |
Apple pie spice |
1 tsp |
= ½ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp nutmeg, and ⅛ tsp cardamom |
Arrowroot starch |
1½ tsp |
= 1 tbsp flour = 1½ tsp cornstarch |
Asparagus |
1 lb |
= 16 to 20 spears |
Baking powder |
1 tsp |
= ⅓ tsp baking soda and ½ tsp cream of tartar = ¼ tsp baking soda and ½ c sour milk or buttermilk (Decrease liquid called for in recipe by ½ c.) = ¼ tsp baking soda and ½ tsp vinegar or lemon juice used with sweet milk to make ½ c (Decrease liquid called for in recipe by ½ c.) |
Bananas |
1 lb |
= 3 or 4 medium = 1¾ c mashed |
Bay leaf |
1 whole |
= ¼ tsp crushed |
Beans, white |
1 lb uncooked |
= 2 c uncooked = 6 c cooked |
Beans, green |
1 lb |
= 3 c |
Beans, kidney |
1 lb uncooked |
= 1½ c uncooked = 9 c cooked |
Beans, lima, dry shelled |
1 lb uncooked |
= 3 c uncooked = 6 c cooked |
Beau Monde |
1 tsp |
= 1 tsp seasoning or seasoned salt = ½ tsp salt = ½ tsp Mei Yen seasoning |
Beets without tops |
1 lb |
= 2 c sliced |
Blackberries |
1 qt |
= 1¼ lb = 3 to 4 c |
Blueberries |
1 lb |
= 2 c |
Bread |
1 slice dry |
= ⅓ c dry breadcrumbs |
1 slice soft bread |
= ¾ c soft breadcrumbs |
|
Broccoli |
1 lb |
= 2 c |
Broth, beef or chicken |
1 c |
= 1 bouillon cube dissolved in 1 c boiling water = 1 envelope powdered broth base dissolved in 1 c boiling water = 1½ tsp powdered broth base dissolved in 1 c boiling water |
Butter |
1 c |
= ⅞ to 1 c hydrogenated fat and ½ tsp salt = ⅞ c lard plus ½ tsp salt = 1 c margarine |
Buttermilk (sourmilk) |
1 c |
= 1 c plain yogurt = 1 c whole or skim milk plus 1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar = 1 c milk plus 1¾ tsp cream of tartar |
Brussels sprouts |
1 lb |
= 4 c |
Cabbage |
1 lb shredded |
= 3½ to 4½ c |
1 lb cooked |
= 2 c |
|
Carrots |
1 lb without tops |
= 3 c |
1 lb shredded |
= 2½ c |
|
Cauliflower |
1 lb |
= 1½ c |
Celery |
1 lb |
= 2 bunches |
Cheese (36% to 40% fat) |
1 lb |
= 4 to 5 c, grated |
1 c grated |
= 4 oz (approximately) = 2 to 2½ c whipped |
|
Cherries |
1 lb |
= 2⅔ c |
Chicken |
1½ lb boned |
= 1 c cooked, diced |
Chili sauce |
1 c |
= 1 c tomato sauce, ¼ c brown sugar, 2 tbs vinegar, ¼ tsp cinnamon, dash of ground cloves, and dash of allspice = 1 c ketchup, ¼ 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 |
1⅔ oz |
= 1 oz unsweetened chocolate plus 4 tsp sugar |
6 oz package |
= 1 c |
|
Chocolate, unsweetened |
1 oz or square |
= 3 tbsp cocoa plus 1 tbsp fat |
Cocoa |
¼ c or 4 tbsp |
= 1 oz (square) unsweetened chocolate |
Coconut |
1 lb |
= 5 c fresh coconut, shredded |
Coconut cream |
1 c |
= 1 c whipping cream |
Coconut milk |
1 c |
= 1 c whole or 2% milk |
Coffee, ground |
1 lb |
= 80 tbsp (makes 40 to 50 c of brewed coffee) |
Corn |
12 ears |
= 2½ c cooked |
Cornmeal, self-rising |
1 c |
= ⅞ c plain, 1½ tbsp baking powder, and ½ tbs salt |
1 lb |
= 3 c |
|
Corn syrup |
¾ c |
= ⅞ c sugar and 2 tbs water = ⅞ c honey (Baked goods will brown more) |
Cornstarch (for thickening) |
1 tbsp |
= 2 tbsp all-purpose flour = 2 tbsp granular tapioca |
Cracker crumbs |
¾ c |
= 1 c dry bread crumbs |
Cranberries |
1 lb |
= 4 c |
Cream, heavy (36% to 40% fat) |
1 c |
= ¾ c milk and ⅓ c butter or margarine (for use in cooking and baking) = 2 to 2½ c whipped |
Cream, light (18% to 20% fat) |
1 c |
= ¾ c milk and 3 tbsp butter or margarine (for use in cooking or baking) = 1 c evaporated milk, undiluted |
Cream, whipped |
1 c |
= Chill a 13-oz can of evaporated milk until ice crystals form. Add 1 tsp lemon juice. Whip until stiff. |
Dates |
1 lb |
= 2½ c 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 = 2½ tbsp sifted, dry whole egg powder and 2½ 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 c |
= 5 large eggs = 6 medium eggs |
Eggplant, diced, cooked |
1 lb |
= 2½ c |
Egg white |
1 large (2 tbsp) |
= 2 tsp thawed frozen egg white |
1 c |
= 2 tbsp sifted, dry egg white powder, and 2 tbsp lukewarm water = 8 large egg whites |
|
Egg yolk |
1 yolk (1½ tbsp) |
= 3½ tbsp thawed frozen egg yolk |
1 c |
= 2 tbsp sifted, dry egg yolk = 12 large egg yolks |
|
Flour, all-purpose (for thickening) |
1 tbsp |
= 1½ tsp cornstarch, arrowroot starch, potato starch, or rice starch = 1 tbsp granular tapioca = 1 tbsp waxy rice flour = 2 tbsp browned flour = 1½ tbsp whole wheat flour = ½ tbsp whole wheat flour and ½ tbsp all-purpose flour = 1 tbsp quick-cooking tapioca |
Flour, all-purpose |
1 c sifted |
= 1 c and 2 tbsp cake flour = 1 c rolled oats, crushed = ½ c cornmeal or soybean flour and ⅔ c all-purpose flour = ½ c cornmeal, bran, rice flour, or whole wheat flour = ¾ c whole wheat flour or bran flour and ¼ c all-purpose flour = 1 c rye or rice flour = ¼ c soybean flour and ¾ c all-purpose flour |
1 lb |
= 4 c sifted = 3⅓ c, unsifted |
|
Flour, cake |
1 lb |
= 4¾ c |
1 c sifted |
= 1 c minus 2 tbsp sifted all-purpose flour (⅞ c) |
|
Flour, self-rising |
1 c |
= 1 c minus 2 tsp all-purpose flour, 1½ tsp baking powder, and ½ tsp salt |
Flour, whole wheat |
1 lb |
3¾ c Note: Substituting white flour with alternatives in baked goods will reduce volume and make the product heavier. For cakes, replace no more than ¼ of the white flour for best results. In other recipes, you can substitute ¼ to ½ of the white flour with whole wheat flour. |
Garlic |
1 clove, small |
= ⅛ tsp garlic powder |
Garlic salt |
1 tsp |
= ⅛ tsp garlic powder plus ⅞ tsp salt |
Gelatin, flavored |
3 oz |
= 1 tbsp plain gelatin and 2 c fruit juice |
Ginger |
⅛ tsp |
= 1 tsp candied ginger rinsed in water to remove sugar, then finely cut = 1 tbsp raw ginger |
Grapes |
1 lb |
= 2 c seeded = 2½ c seedless |
Greens, cooked |
1 lb |
= 4 to 6 c |
Herbs, fresh |
1 tbsp, chopped |
= ½ tsp dried crushed herbs |
Honey |
1 c |
= 1¼ c sugar and ¼ c water |
Horseradish |
1 tbsp |
= 2 tbsp bottled fresh |
Ketchup |
1 c |
= 1 c tomato sauce, ¼ c brown sugar, and 2 tbsp vinegar = 1 to 2 tsp grated peel |
Lemon juice |
1 tsp juice |
= ½ tsp vinegar |
Lemon peel, dried |
1 tsp |
= 1 to 2 tsp grated fresh lemon peel = grated peel of 1 medium lemon = ½ tsp lemon extract |
Lettuce head |
1 lb |
= 6¼ c |
Lettuce, leaf |
1 lb |
= 6¼ c |
Lettuce, romaine |
1 lb |
= 6 c |
Lettuce, endive |
1 lb |
= 4¼ c |
Lime |
1 medium |
= 1½ to 2 tbsp juice |
Macaroni, 1-inch pieces |
2 c uncooked (½ lb) |
= 4 c cooked = 2 c spaghetti, uncooked = 4 c noodles, uncooked = 8 oz any pasta |
Maple sugar (grated and packed) |
½ c |
= 1 c maple syrup |
1 tbsp |
= 1 tbsp white, granulated sugar |
|
Marshmallows, miniature |
1 c |
= 10 large |
Mayonnaise (for use in salads and salad dressings) |
1 c |
= ½ c yogurt and ½ c mayonnaise = 1 c sour cream = 1 c cottage cheese pureed in a blender |
Mei Yen seasoning |
1 tsp |
= 1 tsp Beau Monde seasoning = ½ tsp salt |
Milk, buttermilk (or sour) |
1 c |
= 1 c plain yogurt = 1 c minus 1 tbsp sweet milk and 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar = 1 c sweet milk and 1¾ tsp cream of tartar |
Milk, skim |
1 c |
= 4 to 5 tbsp non-fat dry milk powder and enough water to make 1 c = ½ c evaporated milk and ½ c water |
Milk, sweetened condensed |
1 can (about 1⅓ c) |
= Heat the following ingredients until sugar and butter are dissolved: ⅓ c plus 2 tbsp evaporated milk, 1 c sugar, and 3 tbsp butter or margarine. = Add 1 c plus 2 tbsp dry milk to ½ c warm water. Mix well. Add ¾ c |
Milk, whole |
1 c |
= 1 c reconstituted non-fat dry milk = ½ c evaporated milk and ½ c water = 4 tbsp whole dry milk and 1 c water (or follow manufacturer's directions) = 1 c fruit juice or 1 c potato water (for use in baking) |
Mushrooms, fresh |
1 lb |
= 2 to 3 c whole = 3 oz dried = 5 c sliced = 1 10-oz can (8 oz, drained weight) |
Mushrooms, canned |
4 oz |
= 2 c sliced fresh = 6 tbsp whole, dried mushrooms |
Mustard, dry |
1 tsp |
= 1 tbsp prepared mustard |
Noodles, 1-inch pieces |
1 lb |
= 6 to 8 c uncooked = 8 c cooked |
Okra |
1 lb |
= 2¼ c cooked |
Onion, fresh |
1 small |
= 1 tbsp rehydrated instant minced onion |
Onion powder |
1 tbsp |
= 1 medium onion, chopped = 4 tbsp fresh chopped onion |
Onions |
1 lb |
= 3 large onions = 2 to2½ c chopped |
Orange |
1 medium |
= ⅓ to ½ c juice = 2 to 3 tbsp grated peel |
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 |
Parsnips |
1 lb |
= 4 medium parsnips = 2 c cooked |
Peaches |
1 lb |
= 4 medium = 2 c sliced |
Pears |
1 lb |
= 4 medium = 2⅓ c sliced |
Peas, green, in pod |
1 lb |
= 1 c shelled = 1 c cooked |
Peas, black-eyed |
1 lb |
= 2⅓ c cooked |
Pecans |
1 lb |
= 3½ c nut meats |
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 |
= ¼ c chopped fresh mint |
Pimiento |
2 tbsp dried |
= 1 tbsp dried red bell peppers, rehydrated = 3 tbsp fresh red bell pepper, chopped |
Plums |
1 lb |
= 8 to 20 whole = 2 c halves |
Potatoes, white |
1 lb whole cooked, diced, or sliced |
= 3 medium = 2¼ c |
1 lb mashed |
= 1¾ c |
|
Prunes |
1 lb |
= 2¼ c pitted |
Pumpkin, mashed, cooked |
1 lb |
= 1 c |
Pumpkin pie spice |
1 tsp |
= ½ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp ginger, ⅛ tsp allspice, and ⅛ tsp nutmeg |
Radishes |
6 oz |
= 1¼ c sliced |
Raisins |
1 lb |
= 2¾ c |
Rennet |
1 tablet |
= 1 tbsp liquid rennet |
Rhubarb, fresh |
1 lb |
= 2 c cooked = 4 to 8 pieces |
Rice |
1 lb |
= 6 c cooked = 2 c uncooked |
1 c regular, uncooked |
= 1 c uncooked converted rice = 1 c uncooked brown rice = 1 c uncooked wild rice = 2 c cooked |
|
Rice, instant |
1 to 2 c uncooked |
= 1 cup cooked |
Rutabaga |
1 lb |
= 2½ c cubed = 2 c cooked |
Shortening, melted |
1 c |
= 1 c cooking oil (Do not substitute unless recipe calls for melted shortening.) |
Shortening, solid (used in baking) |
1 c |
= 1 c minus 2 tbsp lard (⅞ c) = 1⅛ c butter (Decrease salt called for in recipe by ½ tsp.) |
Sour cream, cultured |
1 c |
= ¾ c sour milk or buttermilk and ⅓ c butter or margarine = Blend until smooth: ⅓ c buttermilk, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 c cottage cheese = 1 c plain yogurt = ¾ c milk, ¾ tsp lemon juice, and ⅓ c butter or margarine |
Spaghetti |
1 lb |
= 4 to 5 c 2-inch pieces = 9 c cooked |
Spearmint, dried |
1 tbsp |
= ¼ c chopped fresh mint |
Spinach |
1 lb |
= 4 c fresh = 1½ c cooked |
Squash, summer |
1 lb |
= 1⅔ c cooked and mashed |
Squash, winter |
1 lb |
= 1 c cooked and mashed |
Strawberries |
1 qt |
= 4 c sliced |
Sugar, brown |
1 c firmly packed |
= 1 c granulated sugar |
1 lb |
= 2¼ c firmly packed |
|
Sugar, granulated |
1 lb |
= 2¼ c |
1 tsp |
= ⅛ tsp noncaloric sweetener solution or follow manufacturer’s directions |
|
1 c |
= 1½ c corn syrup (decrease liquid called for in recipe by ¼ c) = 1⅓ c molasses (decrease liquid called for in recipe by ⅓ c) = 1 c powdered sugar = 1 c brown sugar, firmly packed = ¾ c honey (decrease liquid called for in recipe by ¼ c; for each c of honey in baked goods, add ½ tsp soda.) |
|
Sugar, powdered |
1 lb |
= 2¾ c |
Sweet potatoes |
1 lb |
= 3 medium |
Tapioca, granular |
1 tbsp |
= 2 tbsp pearl tapioca |
Tomatoes, fresh |
1 lb |
= 3 to 4 small |
2 c chopped |
= 1 16-oz can (may need to drain) |
|
Tomato juice |
1 c |
= ½ c tomato sauce and ½ c water |
Turnips |
1 lb |
= 3 medium turnips = 2 c cooked |
Worcestershire sauce |
1 tsp |
= 1 tsp bottled steak sauce |
Yeast, active dry |
1 tsp |
= cake yeast, compressed = 1 package (¼ oz) active dry yeast |
Yogurt, plain |
1 c |
= 1 c buttermilk = 1 c cottage cheese blended until smooth = 1 c sour cream |
Equivalent Measures
This Much |
Equals This Much |
1 gallon |
4 quarts |
1 quart |
2 pints |
1 pint |
2 cups |
1 bushel |
4 pecks |
1 peck |
8 quarts |
1 cup |
16 tablespoons |
⅞ cup |
14 tablespoons or 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons |
¾ cup |
12 tablespoons |
⅔ cup |
10⅔ tablespoons |
5/8 cup |
10 tablespoons |
½ cup |
8 tablespoons |
3/8 cup |
6 tablespoons |
⅓ cup |
5⅓ tablespoons |
¼ cup |
4 tablespoons |
⅛ cup |
2 tablespoons |
1/16 cup |
1 tablespoons |
1 tablespoon |
3 teaspoons |
¾ tablespoon |
2¼ teaspoons |
⅔ tablespoon |
2 teaspoons |
½ tablespoon |
1½ teaspoons |
⅓ tablespoon |
1 teaspoon |
¼ tablespoon |
¾ teaspoon |
Pinch or dash |
1/16 teaspoon |
Publication 1690 (POD-05-24)
Reviewed by Qula Madkin, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES, Extension Instructor, Biochemistry, Nutrition, and Health Promotion.
The Mississippi State University Extension Service is working to ensure all web content is accessible to all users. If you need assistance accessing any of our content, please email the webteam or call 662-325-2262.