Chef Claire Tansey recently joined Tracy over Instagram Live to answer your questions about how to replace different ingredients when you may be running low!
Can I substitute whole wheat flour for white (and vice versa?)
Yes, whole wheat and white flour can typically be used interchangeably. When swapping though keep in mind that whole wheat flour won’t give your end product as much of a rise and white flour won’t have the same fibre benefits.
Can I use instant yeast/ pizza yeast/ active dry yeast interchangeably?
Yes yeast can be used interchangeably! If you are replacing instant with dry yeast you may want to let it bake for a little longer (10-15 minutes)! You can also consider baking other breads that don’t require yeast such as biscuits or soda bread!
I only have white sugar but I need brown sugar. What can I do?
You can make your own brown sugar! For every cup of sugar your recipe calls for take away 2tbsp and replace it with 2tbsp of molasses. You can replace with more molasses if you want a richer or gooier brown sugar!
The stores are out of icing sugar, how can I frost my kid’s birthday cake?
You can replace icing sugar by making your own sweetened whipped cream. It is super easy to do! Just get your typical 35% whipping cream and whip it up. You can then sweeten it with either sugar or honey. You can even flavour it by adding a little vanilla or almond extracts.
Is there a substitute for eggs as they can be hard to find in some stores?
When making some scrambled eggs there is really no substitute. In baking you can typically skip them, this will cause the end product to be a little harder. You can fix this by adding more liquid and fat. The liquid from a can of chickpeas can also be used you just have to whip it up a little.
I’m out of canola oil, can I use olive oil instead?
Yes, but keep in mind different oils have different smoke points (the temperature an oil burns at). For example you would not want to deep fry in olive oil, not because it is dangerous but it may add a weird flavour to your food. When it comes to a little oil in baking you can mix it up!
Can I use regular onion instead of red onion?
Yes! Vegetables of all kind are easy to change! If you don’t like kale add spinach! Don’t like red pepper, try a green one!
How do I substitute dried herbs for fresh? What are some alternatives for various spices?
When using dried herbs you are going to want to use 1/3 as much as you would for fresh. Dried herbs tend to be a lot stronger. You can change spices as much as you want, right now is the perfect time to experiment with cooking. Try smelling what you have in your spice cabinet, if you like the smell you will probably like the taste!
Can I use greek yogurt instead of buttermilk for pancakes?
You can substitute greek yogurt for buttermilk but you will have to add some milk to thin it out. You can also make your own buttermilk! You can just grab some 2% milk (1 cup) and add either a little lemon or a little white vinegar (1 tbsp)!
How to stop yourself from over shopping
Make sure you take inventory of everything you have, and make a list. Not only will this help you when you go to the store, know what you need but it can also give you inspiration to make something with what you already have!