There are several options if you can’t use lemon juice! Here are the best replacements for lemon juice in savory recipes, cocktails, and baking.
Preparing a recipe and don’t have a lemon handy? Or do you have an allergy or aversion to the taste of this bright yellow citrus? We’re here for you. Lemon brings brightness and a spicy undertone to everything it touches. While it’s difficult to substitute fresh lemon juice, there are things you can do on the fly.
Best Substitutes for Lemon Juice
Note that how these options work depends on the type of recipe and how the lemon is used.
1. Lemon zest.
The best replacement for lemon juice to spice up a recipe? Lemon peel. (Here’s how to peel a lemon.) This adds an even greater shine than the juice itself. It’s especially good for baking recipes. What is conversion? 1 tbsp lemon juice = ½ tsp lemon zest
2. Lime juice or orange juice (in baking and in cocktails).
The second best substitute for lemon juice? The same amount of lime juice or orange juice. This is especially useful in cocktail recipes and works well in baking too. It can also work in savory recipes, but keep the following in mind:
To be aware: Lime has strong connotations with Latin American and Asian flavors, while lemon is predominantly Mediterranean. There would be no point in adding a squeeze of lime juice to your mushroom and goat cheese pasta or arugula and parmesan salad. So think carefully about the flavors in your dishes to see what makes sense. Either way, a better option is… read more.
3. White Vinegar (in savory recipes).
White vinegar is a great replacement for lemon juice in savory recipes and salad dressings! It’s not that useful in baking because the flavor can be overwhelming. White vinegar works well because it adds flavor without a specific culinary connotation.
Be careful with this one as the taste is vinegary and not lemony – but it does lighten the flavor of foods that resemble lemon juice. In general, do not use this trick in sweet recipes. What is conversion? 1 tablespoon lemon juice = ½ tablespoon white wine vinegar
Here are some of our favorite lemon juice recipes:
