Lemon is very popular for freshness and a citrus flavor to your food. You can use its different forms for different kinds of cooking purposes. If you are using Lemon Extract in your recipe and you are run out of it or already missed it to adding in a recipe, you can use its alternatives without losing the flavors. There are lots of Lemon Extract substitutes you can use in your recipe.
Before knowing its substitutes, you have to know What is Lemon Extract actually. It will be helpful to you to choose the best Lemon Extract substitute.
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What is Lemon Extract?
Lemon Extract is an aromatic cooking extract that is used for making bread, cakes, sauces, sorbets, etc. It is a strong and more concentrated form of lemons. It is usually made from fresh lemons with an oil or alcohol base and in this extraction process soaking lemon peels in a neutral spirit, like vodka is involved.
The peel of Lemons releases the essential oil that flavors the alcohol. The alcohol turns the liquid into pale yellow color or completely clear. The resulting citrus flavor of this liquid eliminates the acidity and tartness of fresh lemon juice.
Health Benefits of Lemon Extract:
- Lemon Extract slows down microbial growth.
- It also helps to prevent the formation of kidney stones.
- Lemon Extract contains some cancer-killing agents.
- It’s a nice stress reduction formula.
What can I substitute for Lemon Extract?
There are lots of Lemon Extract replacements available. You have to choose what you have in your kitchen/pantry so that you don’t need to go through multiple grocery stores to get them. Here is the best substitute for Lemon Extract for you.
1. Lemon Zest:
Lemon Zest is obtained by peeling the outer part of the lemon. It is yellow in color and has an extremely bitter taste. Making Lemon Zest is a very easy process. You have to wash the lemon first and rinse it with a cloth. Now, you just need to grate the yellow part. Two tablespoons of Lemon Zest is enough to make 1 tablespoon of Lemon Extract.
2. Lemongrass Oil:
This is a type of oil that is extracted from all types of Lemongrass grown globally. This oil is extracted from dried Lemongrass leaves using the steamed distillation process. Lemongrass Oil is used to dilute other oils.
3. Rosewater:
Rosewater is a great sub for Lemon Extract. Using Rosewater is good for baking purposes. If you want a subtle flavor in your baked goods, choosing Rosewater as an alternative to Lemon Extract will be a great option. Rosewater is not overpowering as other ingredients and commonly used for some sweet recipes/dishes such as rice pudding. You can also make savory lamb stews as well using this replacement.
4. Lemon Juice:
Lemon Juice is an easily available substitute for Lemon Extract. It is more acidic than Lemon Extract, you will need to add more lemon juice as compared to Lemon Extract to get the most similar flavor. Two tablespoons of Lemon Juice is recommended to replace 1 tablespoon of Lemon Extract. You can you Lemon Juice in both sweet and savory recipes/dishes.
5. Lemon Oil:
Lemon Oil has a high concentration of flavor as compared to Lemon Extract. You can use it in any recipe that requires Lemon Extract, but you should use less of it because it’s highly concentrated. The best use of Lemon Oil is in baked sweet dishes/recipes such as cakes and cookies. You should take 1/8tyh teaspoon of Lemon Oil to replace each teaspoon of Lemon Extract in a recipe.
6. Lemon Essence:
Lemon Essence is a good Lemon Extract substitute. It’s ideal for sweet dishes such as cupcakes, cakes, and cookies, but not for salad, stir-fries, or soups. Lemon Essence is not acidic but gives a lemony taste to your recipe. If you want acidic flavor then it’s not for your recipe. You can use as much as Lemon Essence you like according to your requirement or taste.
7. Orange Zest and Juice:
Lemon is too tart for some people so they use orange as a great Lemon Extract alternative. Orange Juice is sweet itself and gives a citrusy taste. If you are using orange juice in sweet recipes, you have to reduce the sugar content from the recipe. Two tablespoons of Orange Juice is enough to replace 1 tablespoon of Lemon Extract.
If you are using Orange Zest, you don’t need to adjust the sugar content. You can use an equal amount of Orange Zest in place of Lemon Extract.
8. Lime Juice or Zest:
Lime Juice is very similar to Lemon Juice so the taste will also be similar. Lemons are sour but Limes are bitter in taste. You can substitute Lemon Extract using Lime Juice in the same way you use Lemon Juice. It’s an amazing substitution for dressing and marinades.
Lime zest works better without any risk, but you have to use lots of Lime Zest to replace Lemon Extract. You should use an equal amount of Lime Zest in place of Lemon Extract e.g two tablespoons of Lime Zest is enough to swap 2 tablespoons of Lemon Extract.
9. Orange Extract:
Orange Extract is sweeter in taste as compared to Lemon Extract. As you know Orange is a citrus fruit, but you can’t use Orange Extract in all recipes that call for Lemon Extract. If you like the flavor of Orange Extract, you can take an equal quantity as you would take Lemon Extract. Don’t use more Orange Extract, otherwise, your recipe may be different and sweeter.
10. Vinegar:
Vinegar can be one of the best replacements for Lemon Extract, but it’s not the first choice you should consider. Vinegar has the acidic taste of lemon but doesn’t have a citrus flavor. It can be used in cooked dishes, and salads, but not in sweet recipes. You the less quantity of Vinegar because it is more acidic than Lemon. You should take half the amount of Vinegar to replace 1 amount of Lemon Extract.
11. Lime Oil:
Lime Oil is not available in every grocery store. It may be difficult to find. If you have Lime Oil already in your pantry/kitchen, you can use it in your recipe. It works well with both sweet and savory recipes/dishes. Lime Oil is more similar to Lemon Oil so you have to use it in the same way. 1/8 teaspoon of Lime Oil is enough to make 1 teaspoon sub of Lemon Extract.
12. Citric Acid:
Citric Acid is not a popular substitute for Lemon Extract. Another name for Citric Acid is Sour Salt. Citric Acid is used in many food industries as a flavoring additive and food preservative. It gives a sour taste to the recipe and can be used as a Lemon Extract replacement. Citric Acid works pretty well with baking goods and is helpful to increase the leavening power of baking soda in pastries such as cakes and biscuits/cookies.
13. Limoncello:
If you are using Lemon Juice as a nice alternative, but missing the liquor, then using the Lemoncello will be a great option. Lemoncello is a lemon-based liquor that originated in Italy. It is prepared by soaking lemon peels in alcohol. Lemoncello is good for lemon tiramisu, trifle, caprese cake, lemon loaf, etc. You can take 1 tablespoon of Lemoncello to substitute 1 tablespoon of Lemon Extract.
14. Lemongrass Extract:
Lemongrass resembles the citrus flavor of Lemon. You can use both either ground or fresh forms of lemongrass, but using the liquid form of Lemongrass is a better choice to replace Lemon Extract. It’s good for adding flavor and aroma to a recipe. A single teaspoon is enough to add to a recipe, you can add more later according to your need. You can use it in soups, desserts, and salad dressings as well.
15. Lemon Essential Oil:
Lemon Essential Oil can be used in place of Lemon Extract. Only a single drop can do magic in your recipe. Essential Oils are highly concentrated so using a small amount is enough to work out in a recipe. Make sure your essential oil is safe for cooking purposes. This can be written on the label of your essential oil. You should take 1/8 tablespoon of Lemon Essential Oil to replace 1 tablespoon of Lemon Extract.
FAQ:-
How do you make Lemon Extract at home?
You can make Lemon Extract at home by the following instructions. Peel thin strips of zest from your lemon. Place zest into your glass bottle. Add vodka, filling up to the neck of the bottle. Every few days, tilt your bottle upside down to gently mix the liquid inside. After 5-6 weeks, you have extracted!
Is Lemon Extract stronger than Vanilla Extract?
Vanilla Extract is mostly used in baked goods such as cookies, cakes, etc. because of its flavor and fragrance whereas Lemon Extract is an alternative to Vanilla Extract that works pretty well. Using Lemon Extract in cookies is not worth it because it will give a little bitter and acidic taste.
What is Pure Lemon Extract?
Pure Lemon Extract is made by carefully extracting it from perfectly ripe lemons The natural lemon flavor is pure and bold. Lemon extract is not made using lemon juice but using the flavor-packed oil from a lemon. It is often used in cakes, muffins, pies, etc.
Now, you know the best Lemon Extract Substitute. You can choose according to what you have in the kitchen or you can also buy from amazon. Please! comment down below your questions, and let us know how much informative is this article for you. 🙂
