Chefs — Spill Your Best Ingredient Swaps And Substitutions That Have Saved Your Recipes

Jen Shiori Adams
·1 min read

The other day, I was making stir fry for dinner, and just when I finished sautéing the vegetables, I realized I was missing one of the main ingredients to make the sauce: cornstarch.

Person chopping an onion on a wooden board next to a stove with a pan of sautéing bell peppers and a salad bowl in the foreground
Person chopping an onion on a wooden board next to a stove with a pan of sautéing bell peppers and a salad bowl in the foreground

I was able to find some flour laying around in my pantry to use as a substitute, and luckily, it got the job done.

A bowl of stir-fried chicken and vegetables, garnished with fresh basil leaves, on a white tablecloth
A bowl of stir-fried chicken and vegetables, garnished with fresh basil leaves, on a white tablecloth

I know I'm not the only one who has been in this situation before, so now, I'm requesting your most helpful culinary advice regarding the matter.

I'm curious…what's the genius ingredient swap or substitution you swear by?

Various glass jars filled with grains, pasta, and spices are arranged on a wooden table
Various glass jars filled with grains, pasta, and spices are arranged on a wooden table

Aside from flour in place of cornstarch, I swear by honey and maple syrup as sugar substitutions in sauces, dressings, and curries.

Chances are, your pantry isn't always going to have every ingredient, so it's really useful to know what substitutions can work. Plus, ingredients are expensive, and the more use we can get out of each, the better.

Five glass jars with white lids holding beans, sugar, red chili peppers, pasta, and black pepper are arranged in a row on a countertop
Five glass jars with white lids holding beans, sugar, red chili peppers, pasta, and black pepper are arranged in a row on a countertop

Share your best ingredient swaps and substitutions in the comments! If you prefer to stay anonymous, feel free to submit your response using this Google form. Your response may be featured in an upcoming Tasty post.

Hungry for more? Download the award-winning Tasty app for iOS and Android for 7,500+ free recipes — from one-pot meals to budget-friendly dinners.

Smartphone displaying a dumpling salad recipe in a recipe app. QR code and text invite to download the app for tips and recipes
Smartphone displaying a dumpling salad recipe in a recipe app. QR code and text invite to download the app for tips and recipes

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