Lemon Juice Substitute

A lemon juice substitute can be exceptionally helpful when you are cooking or baking and don't have any at home! These great alternatives can easily be swapped into any of your favorite recipes! Take a look at this list, and then pick out your favorite!

Best Lemon Juice Substitutes To Use In Cooking & Baking

Lemon juice is an incredibly common ingredient in both baking and cooking. You can get lemon juice by squeezing fresh lemons or simply picking some up at the grocery store.

Not only does it add a bright, citrus flavor to dishes, but it also has a low pH level. Its acidic properties can help baked goods to rise properly or bring structure to things such as jam or jelly.

Jump to:

• Best Lemon Juice Substitutes To Use In Cooking & Baking
• 1. Lime Juice
• 2. Vinegar
• 3. White Wine
• 4. Citric Acid
• 5. Cream of Tartar
• 6. Pineapple Juice
• 7. Lemon Zest
• 8. Lemon Extract
• 9. Orange Juice
• 10. Grapefruit Juice
• 11. Pomegranate Juice
• 12. Cranberry Juice
• Table 1: Lemon Juice Substitutes At A Glance
• 🫙 More Substitutions
• 📖 Recipe Card
• 💬 Reviews

There are so many reasons as to why you might need an alternative to lemon juice, from allergies to dietary restrictions or even just not having any on hand. Take a look at this list of lemon juice substitutes for some great alternatives!

1. Lime Juice

Lime juice is a great substitute for lemon juice. It has a similar citrus flavor and acidity level and can be used in equal amounts. Lime juice is perfect for many different uses and can be used to replace lemon juice in practically any recipe. However, it is the best option when canning or preserving food.

Swap lemon juice for lime juice in an equal 1:1 exchange.

2. Vinegar

White vinegar, apple cider vinegar, and other types of vinegar can be used as a substitute for lemon juice as it is still tart and acidic. It is ideal for recipes that only call for a small amount of lemon juice.

Of course, vinegar has a very pungent flavor, so avoid using it in recipes where the lemon flavor is essential.

When used in small amounts, you can use vinegar to replace lemon juice in a 1:1 swap. In larger amounts, use ½ to ⅔ cups per every 1 cup of juice.

3. White Wine

White wine can be used as a substitute for lemon juice in recipes that require a mild acidity. It works best in savory recipes and is great for deglazing pans. However, you'll want to stick with using only dry white wine varieties.

Use in equal amounts as lemon juice.

4. Citric Acid

Citric acid powder is a concentrated form of acidity that is naturally found in lemons. This makes it an ideal substitute for baking. However, it is very concentrated, so you will not need as much and you may need to add more liquid in order to keep the same wet-to-dry ratio.

Use ¼ teaspoon of citric acid powder for every tablespoon of lemon juice.

5. Cream of Tartar

Cream of tartar is an acidic powder that is often used as a leavening agent in baking. You can find it in the baking section of most grocery stores.

The acidic nature of this powder makes it a good alternative to lemon juice when preparing baked goods. However, you may need to add more liquid to the recipe.

Use ½ teaspoon of cream of tartar for every teaspoon of lemon juice.

6. Pineapple Juice

Pineapple juice can be used as a substitute for lemon juice in recipes that require a sweet and acidic flavor. While the flavor isn't the same as lemons, you can use pineapple juice to add a tasty twist to drinks or vinaigrettes that call for lemon juice.

Use in equal amounts as lemon juice.

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7. Lemon Zest

Lemon zest is perfect for getting all of the lemon flavors without actually having any juice on hand. You can use dried, frozen, or fresh! If you had fresh lemons and ran out of juice, you'll already have everything you need for some zest!

Use 1 tablespoon of lemon zest to replace 6 tablespoons of lemon juice.

8. Lemon Extract

Lemon extract is a highly concentrated form of lemon flavor. A little goes a long way, so you'll only need a few drops. This substitute is great for recipes where the flavor of lemon is needed, but you may need to add more liquid (especially in baking) to keep the proper wet-to-dry ratios.

Use 1 teaspoon of lemon extract for every 2 teaspoons of lemon juice.

9. Orange Juice

Orange juice can be used as a substitute for lemon juice in recipes that require a mild citrus flavor. The flavor is sweeter, and it is less acidic than lemon juice. The recipe's flavor will be affected, but it can still work in a pinch!

Use in equal amounts as lemon juice.

10. Grapefruit Juice

Grapefruit juice can be used as a substitute for lemon juice in recipes that require a tangy citrus flavor. Like the other juices mentioned here, the flavor won't be the same as lemon. However, grapefruit juice can easily be used in dressings, vinaigrettes, cocktails, and more!

Use in equal amounts as lemon juice.

11. Pomegranate Juice

Pomegranate juice can be used as a substitute for lemon juice in recipes that require a sweet and slightly tart flavor. It will give a much sweeter flavor than lemon juice, but that may be tasty in drinks or desserts.

Use in equal amounts as lemon juice.

12. Cranberry Juice

Cranberry juice can be used as a substitute for lemon juice in recipes that require a tart and slightly sweet flavor. It has a good amount of tartness, making it a great option for mixing into drinks. The taste won't match lemon juice, but it can still get the job done!

Use in equal amounts as lemon juice.

Table 1: Lemon Juice Substitutes At A Glance

Substitute	How to Use in Place of Lemon Juice	Flavor Profile	Consistency
Lime Juice	Use in equal amounts as lemon juice	Tart and acidic	Similar to lemon juice
Vinegar	Use ½ to ⅔ cup for every 1 cup of lemon juice	Tart and acidic	Thinner than lemon juice
White Wine	Use in equal amounts as lemon juice	Tart and acidic	Similar to lemon juice
Citric Acid	Use ¼ teaspoon for every 1 tablespoon of lemon juice	Tart and acidic	Powder
Cream of Tartar	Use ½ teaspoon for every 1 teaspoon of lemon juice	Slightly tart flavor	Powder
Pineapple Juice	Use in equal amounts as lemon juice	Sweet and acidic	Thinner than lemon juice
Lemon Zest	Use 1 tablespoon for every 6 tablespoons of lemon juice	Tart and slightly sweet	Solid
Lemon Extract	Use 1 teaspoon for every 2 teaspoons of lemon juice	Tart and slightly sweet	Thinner than lemon juice

Don't forget that, when swapping ingredients, the final outcome of your recipe may vary slightly in consistency or flavor. Overall, lime juice is the best alternative to lemon juice. However, you can try out any of these other great options as well!

🫙 More Substitutions

Baking Substitutions
Arrowroot Powder	Buttermilk	Cream Cheese
Coconut Sugar	Cornmeal	Potato Starch
Tapioca Starch	Cornflour	Creme Fraiche
Masa Harina	Brown Sugar	Vanilla Extract
Shortening	Lemon Extract	Molasses
Eggs	Honey	Sour Cream
Almond Flour	Vegetable Oil	Baking Powder
Cornstarch	Baking Soda	Milk
Evaporated Milk	Xanthan Gum	Applesauce
Butter	Lard	Cream of Tartar
Rice Flour	Powdered Sugar	Sweetened Condensed Milk
Heavy Cream	Agave Nectar	Ricotta Cheese
Cake Flour	Nutritional Yeast	Corn Syrup
Coconut Milk	Maple Syrup	Coconut Flour
Cocoa Powder	All-Purpose Flour	Coconut Oil
Oat Flour	Meringue Powder	Marshmallow
Agar Agar	Buttermilk Powder	Yogurt
Creme de Menthe	Golden Syrup	Lingonberry Jam
Peanut Butter	Apple Pie Filling	Cranberry
Pecans	Peanuts	White Sugar
Currants	Bananas	Custard Powder
Apple Cider	Rye Flour	Self-Rising Flour
Half & Half	Mace	Walnut
Vanilla Bean	Star Anise	Unsalted Butter (for salted)

📖 Recipe Card