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What can you use instead?
486+ tested ingredient substitutions for 135 common ingredients, each with the exact ratio, the recipes it works in, and a quality score. Free, accurate, and filterable by diet. Compiled from established culinary references and food-science literature, current as of July 2026, per our methodology.
- 135
- Ingredients
- 486
- Tested substitutes
- 81%
- Vegan-friendly
- 15
- Categories
The PlainSubstitute database at a glance
The database in a line
486 tested substitutions cover 135 ingredients across 15 categories, and most reach for accessible, plant-based swaps.
- 81%
- carry a vegan tag
- 81%
- are gluten-free
- 74
- rated a perfect 5/5
- 15
- ingredient categories
Substitution ratios and quality scores are compiled from established culinary references and food-science literature on ingredient functionality.
Where the substitutes are
Documented substitutions in each ingredient category
- Dairy
Dairy
67 substitutes
- Sauces & Condiments
Sauces & Condiments
45 substitutes
- Spices & Seasonings
Spices & Seasonings
40 substitutes
- Flour & Starches
Flour & Starches
39 substitutes
- Nuts & Seeds
Nuts & Seeds
39 substitutes
- Sweeteners
Sweeteners
38 substitutes
- Grains & Pasta
Grains & Pasta
36 substitutes
- Fresh Herbs
Fresh Herbs
30 substitutes
- Proteins 26
Proteins
26 substitutes
- Vinegars & Acids 26
Vinegars & Acids
26 substitutes
- Alcohol & Extracts 22
Alcohol & Extracts
22 substitutes
- Oils & Fats 22
Oils & Fats
22 substitutes
What this shows Dairy, sauces, and spices carry the deepest benches of swaps, the categories you are most likely to be missing something from mid-recipe.
How diet-friendly are the swaps?
Share of all 486 documented substitutions that fit each major dietary need.
Source: PlainSubstitute editorial database. A tag means a substitute can fit a diet, always check the product label for allergens.
Browse by category
Find substitutes by diet
Filter the whole database to the swaps that fit how you eat.
Substitution guides
View all guides →Popular: substitution ratios · baking swaps · highest-quality substitutes · the finder
Allergy-Safe Substitutes: Cooking for Every Dietary Need
How to substitute for the top 9 food allergens — dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame — without sacrificing quality.
Complete Guide to Egg Substitutes in Baking
Everything you need to know about replacing eggs in baked goods, with exact ratios and context.
Complete Guide to Sugar Substitutes
Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, stevia — how each sweetener performs in baking and cooking.
Cooking Substitution Basics: The Essential Rules
The fundamental principles behind ingredient substitution in cooking. Learn what to consider before swapping any ingredient.
Cooking Without Wine: Best Non-Alcoholic Substitutes
What to use when a recipe calls for red wine, white wine, or other spirits.
Dairy-Free Cooking: Every Substitute You Need
A complete guide to replacing butter, milk, cream, cheese, and all dairy in both baking and cooking.
How to use PlainSubstitute
Three ways to find your swap in seconds.
- Know the ingredient? Search it or open the finder to see every tested substitute with its ratio. Substitution Finder
- Cooking around a diet? Start from the diet pages to see only the swaps that fit. Browse by diet
- Want the strategy first? The guides explain which swaps work in baking, vegan cooking, and more. Read the guides
Ratios are guidelines grounded in culinary practice; results vary with recipe and technique.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PlainSubstitute?
PlainSubstitute is a free database of tested cooking ingredient substitutions. Whether you are out of an ingredient, cooking around a dietary restriction, or just experimenting, you get exact ratios, recipe context, and a quality score for hundreds of substitutions.
How are the substitutions rated?
Each substitute carries a 1–5 quality score for how closely it reproduces the original in its recommended context, along with the exact ratio and any dietary tags. Ratings and ratios are compiled from established culinary references and food-science literature.
Can I filter by dietary preference?
Yes. Browse the diet pages to find vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, egg-free, nut-free, paleo, keto, and soy-free substitutions, or filter within any ingredient page.
Do substitutions always work perfectly?
Results vary by recipe. A 5-star substitute works virtually identically in its listed contexts; lower scores flag trade-offs in flavour or texture. We note when a swap changes texture, flavour, or appearance.