Pantry Substitutions That Can Save a Trip to the Store

Have you ever found a recipe you’d love to try, only to discover one ingredient would cost more than the rest of the meal? Or started baking a cake and realized you’re missing something important?

I pulled this collection of kitchen substitutions by Linda Shapero from The Dollar Stretcher archives. Some of these swaps can help lower grocery costs, while others can save a last-minute trip to the store when you’re missing an ingredient.

While not every substitution is perfect for every recipe, many work surprisingly well in everyday cooking and baking.

Dairy Product Substitutions

Dairy products are often among the more expensive items on a grocery list. These alternatives may help stretch your grocery budget without sacrificing results.

Milk

Powdered milk works well in many cooked and baked recipes. Even people who don’t enjoy drinking powdered milk often find they can’t tell the difference when it’s used in pancakes, casseroles, breads and baked goods.

Buttermilk

If a recipe calls for buttermilk, you can make a quick substitute at home.

For 1 cup of buttermilk:

• 1 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar

Mix together and let stand for about 10 minutes before using.

This works well in biscuits, pancakes, muffins and quick breads.

Butter

If you’re out of butter, try:

For 1 cup butter:

• 7/8 cup oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For some baked goods, applesauce can also replace butter.

For 1 cup butter: 1 cup applesauce

This substitution may reduce calories and fat while helping keep baked goods moist.

For basting poultry, consider using fruit juice (apple juice works well) or low-fat broth instead of butter or oil.

Eggs

Several ingredients can replace eggs in certain recipes.

Options include:

• Tofu in egg salad, quiches and frittatas
• Oatmeal in some meatloaf recipes
• Breadcrumbs in casseroles and meat mixtures
• 1 tablespoon soy flour mixed with 1 tablespoon water to replace one egg

Results will vary depending on the recipe, but these substitutes can work in a pinch.

Half-and-Half

Many dessert recipes call for half-and-half, but you can make a simple substitute.

For 1 cup half-and-half:

• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 tablespoon melted butter

Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta can be expensive, especially when you only need a small amount.

For 1 cup ricotta cheese:

• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 tablespoon skim milk

This substitution works well in many lasagna and baked pasta dishes.