Best 3 Lemon Juice Substitutes - Wholehearted Eats (2024)

Jump to RecipePrint Recipe

The three best lemon juice substitutes for any uses, from salad to baking, plus some honourable mentions so you always know what to use! If you don't have a lemon on hand, try some of these instead.

For some more handy tips, tricks, and go-to recipes, learn how to cook beans in the oven, read more about tahini replacements, or use the basic granola ratio to make your own at home.

Best 3 Lemon Juice Substitutes - Wholehearted Eats (1)
Jump to:
  • Best Lemon Juice Substitutes
  • Other Citrus
  • Vinegar
  • White Wine
  • Cream of Tartar
  • Citric Acid
  • More Kitchen Staples

Best Lemon Juice Substitutes

Whether you're cooking, baking, or making a vinaigrette, there are options to replace lemon juice for any use. This can be other citrus juice, various vinegar types, wine, and even citric acid.

Lemon extract is an option, especially for baking, but I find it often has a strange flavour that doesn't taste much like lemon. It's not a very good substitution for lemon juice (and if you don't have lemons, what are the chances of having extract?).

Other Citrus

Perfect in baking, for co*cktails, and in salad dressings.

Lime Juice: use an equal amount, or 1:1 ratio. This is often the best substitute for lemon juice but it depends on what you're making, because lime has a stronger taste than lemon.

Orange Juice: substitute 1:1 for lemon juice. Orange juice is ideal for anything sweet, but works well for some savoury dishes too.

Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, and rice vinegar can all be substituted at a ½:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, then, sub 1 tablespoon vinegar and replace the rest with water if needed. Usually you won't need to add any extra liquid but it depends on the recipe.

Vinegar works well in baking if an acid is necessary (usually if baking soda is being used) or to make your own buttermilk.

White Wine

To deglaze when cooking, use a 1:1 ratio to replace lemon juice with a dry white wine.

Cream of Tartar

For baking only, substitute ½:1 for lemon juice and make up the remainder with water. For 2 tablespoons lemon juice, then, use 1 tablespoon cream of tartar and 1 tablespoon water.

Citric Acid

A teaspoon of citric acid is equal in acidity to about ½ cup of lemon juice, so use only a small amount. Depending on use, you may also need to adjust the wet to dry ratio (replace the amount of lemon juice called for with an equivalent amount of water).

More Kitchen Staples

If you use theseLemon Juice Substitutes or any othervegan recipes on Wholehearted Eats, please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It’s such a help to others who want to try the recipe. For more WHE, follow along onInstagram orsubscribefor new posts via email.

Lemon Juice Substitutes

The three best lemon juice substitutes for any uses, from salad to baking, plus some honourable mentions so you always know what to use! If you don't have a lemon on hand, try some of these instead.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Total Time5 minutes mins

Servings: 1

Author: Sophie

Ingredients

  • 1:1 lime juice
  • 1:1 orange juice
  • ½:1 apple cider, white wine, or rice vinegar
  • 1:1 white wine for deglazing/cooking only
  • ½:1 cream of tartar for baking only
  • Citric acid

Instructions

  • Lime or orange juice: use equal amounts to replace lemon juice in almost any recipe with no changes needed.

    1:1 lime juice, 1:1 orange juice

  • Vinegar: use half the amount of vinegar to replace lemon juice and replace the remaining liquid with water if needed.

    ½:1 apple cider, white wine, or rice vinegar

  • White wine: only for cooking, use an equal amount of dry white wine to replace lemon juice.

    1:1 white wine

  • Cream of tartar: this only works for baking. Replace half the lemon juice with cream of tartar and add water to make up the difference.

    ½:1 cream of tartar

  • Citric acid: 1 teaspoon citric acid = ½ cup lemon juice, so use it sparingly and replace the liquid lost from the lemon juice with an equivalent amount of water.

    Citric acid

Best 3 Lemon Juice Substitutes - Wholehearted Eats (2024)

FAQs

Best 3 Lemon Juice Substitutes - Wholehearted Eats? ›

Lime or orange juice: use equal amounts to replace lemon juice in almost any recipe with no changes needed. Vinegar: use half the amount of vinegar to replace lemon juice and replace the remaining liquid with water if needed. White wine: only for cooking, use an equal amount of dry white wine to replace lemon juice.

What is the best substitute for lemon juice? ›

Five Essential Lemon Juice Substitutes
  • Vinegar. If you're only missing a small amount of lemon juice from your recipe, vinegar makes for a great replacement. ...
  • Orange Juice. ...
  • White Wine. ...
  • Lime Juice. ...
  • Cream of Tartar.
Jun 3, 2024

Is bottled lemon juice the same as squeezing a lemon? ›

Here are some highlights: Both are very low in calories and fat. They are both good sources of vitamin C, folate and potassium. Fresh lemon juice contains significantly more vitamin C than bottled lemon juice.

How much real lemon equals the juice of one lemon? ›

When cooking, three tablespoons of ReaLemon (45 mL) equals the juice of one medium lemon. Always shake the bottle well before using, and refrigerate after opening for best taste.

What is a good substitute for lemons in fish? ›

In place of lemons, white wine can offer a nice acidity in cooked savory dishes — it's particularly nice in sauces for seafood and chicken.

Can you substitute bottled lemon juice for real lemon juice? ›

Nutritionally speaking, bottled and fresh lemon juice are the same. Both are high in vitamin C (although fresh contains much more), folate, and potassium, and low in calories and fat. But one thing that isn't the same is the taste. Bottled lemon juice just tastes different.

What is the same as lemon juice? ›

Lime juice offers the flavor most similar to lemon juice, though it is slightly more bitter. It works well in a 1–1 ratio, but people sensitive to bitter flavors might consider diluting the lime juice.

Is lemon juice from concentrate as good as fresh? ›

In blind taste tests, consumers consistently rate the pleasantness, aroma, sweetness, and overall flavour intensity of freshly squeezed lemon juice significantly higher than reconstituted concentrate juice. Tasters report fresh tasting: Bright, vibrant, and lively. Delicate citrus notes and fragrant lemon essence.

Is real lemon juice in a bottle real? ›

ReaLemon and ReaLime are made with the juices of high quality lemons and limes, concentrated to a uniform strength. Then, enough filtered water is added to return this concentrate to the natural strength. Oil from the peel is added and the true taste of lemon comes through!

What does drinking lemon water do to your body? ›

Studies have found that the flavonoids in lemon help lower your blood pressure as well. Additional research showed this effect enhances the heart-healthy benefits of physical activity. Lemons contain a natural compound called hesperidin that may lower blood sugar levels, decreasing your risk of diabetes.

Does lemon juice need to be refrigerated after opening? ›

This relatively short shelf life of citrus juice means you'll need to use up your lemon juice quickly to avoid waste. What about bottled lemon juice? An unopened bottle of lemon juice can be stored in your pantry at room temperature, but as soon as it is opened it should be stored in the fridge for up to 9 months.

Does real lemon need to be refrigerated? ›

Whole lemons can be stored on the countertop but our experts prefer to store their citrus in the refrigerator because this keeps the lemons fresh for longer.

Is ReaLemon the same as lemon juice? ›

ReaLemon is an American brand of lemon juice that debuted in 1934, and is manufactured and marketed as of 2016 by Mott's, part of Keurig Dr Pepper. ReaLime is a brand of lime juice that debuted in 1944, is produced in the same manner as ReaLemon, and is also produced and marketed by Mott's.

What can I use if I don't have lemon juice? ›

Here are 8 substitutes for lemon juice.
  • Lime juice. Lime juice is the best substitute for lemon juice, as it can be used as a one-to-one replacement and has a very similar taste and acidity level ( 5 ). ...
  • Orange juice. ...
  • Vinegar. ...
  • Citric acid. ...
  • Lemon zest. ...
  • White wine. ...
  • Lemon extract. ...
  • Cream of tartar.
Jun 24, 2019

Can I use apple cider vinegar instead of lemon juice? ›

Vinegar. Apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, and rice vinegar can all be substituted at a ½:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, then, sub 1 tablespoon vinegar and replace the rest with water if needed. Usually you won't need to add any extra liquid but it depends on the recipe.

Can I use balsamic vinegar instead of lemon juice? ›

Can I use balsamic vinegar instead of lemon juice? Yes! But white balsamic is the better choice. This milder and less sweet version of balsamic vinegar can serve as an alternative in recipes when you want to introduce a subtle tartness with a touch of sweetness.

Can I use lemon oil instead of lemon juice? ›

One drop of lemon essential oil blended into a couple drops of oil or honey can be mixed into 8 oz of cool or warm water (depending on your preference) in the mornings instead of half a lemon for immune support, detoxification, and many other benefits.

What is the equivalent juice of one lemon? ›

One regular-sized lemon contains about 2-3 tablespoons of juice. Since all lemons aren't exactly the same, we like to stay on the side of caution and assume that one lemon contains 2 tablespoons juice. This means, if a recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, you'll need to use about ½ a lemon.

Can citric acid replace lemon juice? ›

Citric Acid can be substituted – it will adjust the acidity (lower the pH) of the fruit, which is what you want to do. ¼ teaspoon powdered Citric Acid is equivalent to 1 Tablespoon lemon juice. 1 teaspoon powdered Citric Acid is equivalent to ¼ cup lemon juice (4 Tablespoons).

Top Articles
10 Things You Need to Know Before Buying Costco Cakes
Cookies | Veterans First Point
Drury Inn & Suites Bowling Green
It’s Time to Answer Your Questions About Super Bowl LVII (Published 2023)
Custom Screensaver On The Non-touch Kindle 4
Elleypoint
Login Page
Google Jobs Denver
Do you need a masters to work in private equity?
Seth Juszkiewicz Obituary
Select Truck Greensboro
Weekly Math Review Q4 3
Power Outage Map Albany Ny
Aldi Sign In Careers
How do I get into solitude sewers Restoring Order? - Gamers Wiki
Grayling Purnell Net Worth
Hermitcraft Texture Pack
Bella Bodhi [Model] - Bio, Height, Body Stats, Family, Career and Net Worth 
Phoebus uses last-second touchdown to stun Salem for Class 4 football title
Chase Bank Pensacola Fl
Okc Body Rub
Craigslist Apartments Baltimore
Red8 Data Entry Job
Speedstepper
800-695-2780
Yale College Confidential 2027
Truck from Finland, used truck for sale from Finland
Login.castlebranch.com
Ncal Kaiser Online Pay
How rich were the McCallisters in 'Home Alone'? Family's income unveiled
How to Get Into UCLA: Admissions Stats + Tips
Craigslist Greencastle
Tal 3L Zeus Replacement Lid
Umiami Sorority Rankings
Quake Awakening Fragments
Greater Keene Men's Softball
Radical Red Doc
3400 Grams In Pounds
Oxford House Peoria Il
The All-New MyUMobile App - Support | U Mobile
Stewartville Star Obituaries
Other Places to Get Your Steps - Walk Cabarrus
Achieving and Maintaining 10% Body Fat
Leland Nc Craigslist
Mauston O'reilly's
Craigslist Pet Phoenix
Nope 123Movies Full
Yosemite Sam Hood Ornament
Is TinyZone TV Safe?
Marion City Wide Garage Sale 2023
Tamilyogi Cc
Booked On The Bayou Houma 2023
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: The Hon. Margery Christiansen

Last Updated:

Views: 6111

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: The Hon. Margery Christiansen

Birthday: 2000-07-07

Address: 5050 Breitenberg Knoll, New Robert, MI 45409

Phone: +2556892639372

Job: Investor Mining Engineer

Hobby: Sketching, Cosplaying, Glassblowing, Genealogy, Crocheting, Archery, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.