Are you in the middle of a recipe and suddenly you realize you are run out of Lemon Juice? There is nothing worse than running out of the main ingredient of a recipe/dish and boost the taste. Don’t worry! There are plenty of swaps you can use to substitute Lemon Juice without ruining the flavor of a recipe. You need to know about Lemon Juice before knowing the Lemon Juice substitutes so that it would be easy for you what substitute to choose for your recipe.
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What is Lemon Juice?
Lemon Juice is extracted by crushing the lemon pulp. It is mostly used in a common drink called lemonade which is made with Lemon Juice, water, sugar, and a pinch of salt. This juice is widely used for various culinary and non-culinary purposes such as baking, marinades, etc. It provides citrusy and tangy flavor to food and drink.
Nutrient Profile of Lemon Juice:
- Calories: 29
- Water: 89%
- Protein: 1.1 grams
- Carbs: 9.3 grams
- Sugar: 2.5 grams
- Fiber: 2.8 grams
- Fat: 0.3 grams
- Vitamin: C
Health Benefits of Lemon Juice:
- Lemon Juice helps to control weight.
- It also helps to prevent the formation of kidney stones.
- Lemon Juice protects against anemia.
- It is helpful in reducing cancer.
- It is perfect for maintaining digestive health.
What can I Substitute for Lemon Juice?
It’s kind of a weird situation when you run out of Lemon to make Lemon Juice that is the main ingredient in your recipe/dish. You don’t want to run through the stores to purchase only lemons and don’t want to ruin your recipe. Yes, we can understand your problem. This is a common problem you need not worry about. We have a list of the best substitute for Lemon Juice we have selected. You can easily use them accordingly. All these substitutes are really helpful to save your recipe from being ruined and would give a similar taste to the original recipe.
1. Lime Juice:
You don’t have Lemons but you have a bowl of limes. Both are pretty similar to each other. Lime Juice is a perfect substitute for Lemon Juice. It has a similar Ph level to Lemon Juice so that’s why it is an ideal substitute for Lemon Juice when in terms of preserving food. Unlike vinegar, your food can be preserved for a long time with Lime Juice.
2. Orange Juice:
Orange Juice is sweeter in taste but less acidic in nature as compared to Lemon Juice. Thanks to God! it has the same citrus quality as Lemon Juice which makes it a perfect swap for both sweet and savory recipes. This juice gives a distinctive orange flavor to your recipe. It’s worth it to use this substitute for lemon juice in cheesecake. Without doing any modification to the recipe of a cheesecake, it comes out tasting delicious.
3. Vinegar:
You may not find any sweetness in Vinegar but the perfect acidity can replace Lemon Juice easily. If you are looking for an acidic flavor rather than sweetness, Vinegar can be used as a perfect sub for Lemon Juice when cooking savory dishes/recipes. Vinegar has a very pungent aroma and flavor so it’s not perfect for recipes in which lemon is one of the key flavors. If you are using it for cheesecake, vinegar mixed with lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, or even grapefruit juice will work perfectly in a pinch.
4. Citric Acid:
If you don’t have the above-mentioned substitute around you, you can try citric acid. It is extracted from Lemon Juice. Citric Acid is a great baking ingredient also. You can substitute half a cup of Lemon Juice with around 5 gm of Citric Acid. It is necessary to add an additional liquid to maintain the ratio of dry to wet content in a recipe. So, we recommend using a similar quantity of water content as you take Lemon Juice. Citric Acid is also perfect for baking goods because it prevents vitamins and antioxidants from being destroyed during cooking.
5. Lemon Zest:
Dried, fresh, and frozen Lemon Zest works as a Lemon Juice alternative with cheesecake perfectly. It can serve the concentrated lemon flavor and acidity. You should opt for Lemon Zest rather than Lemon Juice which is a primary ingredient to get a bold lemony flavor. Lemon Zest releases the same flavor and smell when used in cocktails and other beverages. If you are using it to make baking recipes such as apple pies, and cheesecakes, you may need to add extra liquid to compensate. You can add water as Lemon Juice with Lemon Zest to your recipe.
6. White Wine:
White Wine is an excellent one-to-one substitute for Lemon Juice in savory dishes. The acidity level of White Wine intensifies the other flavors of a recipe. You can replace 1 amount of Lemon Juice with the half amount of White Wine. For cheesecake, don’t increase the amount of White Wine than it’s necessary otherwise, your cheesecake will be ruined. You can also dilute the White Wine when you feel the flavor profile is too strong.
7. Lemon Extract:
If you are cooking a recipe that calls for Lemon Juice, but it’s not necessary to add acidity but a lemony flavor, you can use Lemon Extract instead of Lemon Juice. It is an excellent substitute for Lemon Juice in baking. You just need 1 or 2 drops of Lemon Extract to give a perfect lemony flavor to your cheesecake. It is highly concentrated and should be added for flavor only.
8. Cream of Tartar:
Don’t get confused with its names. There is nothing related to cream. It is actually an acidic powder that you may find on the shelves of your nearby grocery stores. Cream of Tartar helps to stabilize cakes, creams, egg white, etc. The acidic nature of Cream of Tartar makes it a perfect sub for Lemon Juice. You just need a half teaspoon of Cream of Tartar to replace a teaspoon of Lemon Juice to mimic the same acidity level. You may need some water for your cheesecake batter to maintain the texture.
9. Apple Cider Vinegar:
Apple Cider Vinegar works perfectly in cheesecake. It has the same acidity level but a strong flavor. You will need 1/3 amount of Apple Cider Vinegar to replace 1 amount of Lemon Juice. It adds the same tartness and acidity that a cheesecake needs. You can add some water to reach the same level of liquid content in a recipe. This works great as a Lemon Juice alternative in cheesecake.
10. Grapefruit Juice:
Grapefruit gives the same bitterness and tanginess as lemon Juice. You should be cautious when using Grapefruit Juice, especially those who take medicines for chronic illness. It contains an enzyme named CYP3A4 which can cause people to absorb too much medication and changes their way of working in the body. Otherwise, you can use it as a good replacement for Lemon Juice.
11. Celery Juice:
For those people who like the crisp and fresh lemon flavor but dislike the bitter or sour taste, it is a perfect sub for Lemon Juice. Celery has a good source of sodium. If you take low-sodium food, you must be aware of this fact. Other Lemon Juice substitute doesn’t contain a lot of sodium. Individuals can replace Lemon Juice with Celery Juice in the same ratio of 1:1.
12. White Wine Vinegar:
White Wine Vinegar gives some bitterness and acidity similar to Lemon Juice. This vinegar is softer than normal White Vinegar. It is a great substitute for Lemon Juice in salad dressings and savory recipes. The flavor can be overpowering when used in making baked goods. So, we don’t recommend using it for baking. It doesn’t contain any nutritional value. You can use it as a replacement for Lemon Juice in a ratio of 1:1.
13. Lemon Verbena:
Lemon Verbena is a herb that has a sweet, lemony aroma. It delivers similar flavors in cooking, baking, and cocktails. The best use for this herb is garnishing. If you are replacing Lemon Juice with Lemon Verbena, use your taste as a guide instead of sticking to a measurement.
14. Verjuice:
Verjuice is bold and strong. It is made from unfermented grapes. You will have the lemony flavor and the thickening effect with ricotta, but your cheesecake will have a milder tart taste. You can add the same quantity of Verjuice in place of Lemon Juice.
FAQ:-
Does Lemon affect hair?
Fresh Lemon Juice doesn't damage hair. Staying in sunlight for hours can damage the outer sheath of your hair known as the cuticle.
Does boiling destroy vitamin C?
Vitamin C is water-soluble and temperature-sensitive as well. You may find a decreased level of acidity or vitamin C in boiling water. Long cooking times and high-temperature cooking affects vitamin C.
Is drinking Lemon Juice good for hair growth?
As we know that Lemon Juice contains vitamin C which helps to produce collagen and increase hair health and growth. It also stimulates hair follicles which control hair loss and boost hair growth.
Now, you know the best Lemon Juice 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. 🙂
