Lemon Juice Substitute

Need a good substitute for lemon juice ? Fresh lemon juice has a delicious citrus flavor and perky scent and it is one of the most popular fruits of the citrus family. It can be added to vinaigrettes, marinades, poured over chicken and fish, and added to batter for cakes and muffins. If you’re in the middle of a recipe and need a good substitute, here are the best lemon substitutes you can use.

If you’re in the middle of making a recipe that calls for lemon juice and you don’t have any lemons on hand, there’s a few substitutes you can use to replace it, though the flavor won’t be exactly the same.

Lemon juice is so versatile and makes such a great addition to so many recipes from vinaigrettes, sauces, dips, marinades, baking and more. It adds a perky pop of flavor that’s hard to match, but there are a few good substitutes you can use in a pinch. 

Substitutes for Lemon Juice

If you don’t have any lemons on hand to juice, here are some of the best substitutes for lemon juice that you can use.

1. Lime Juice

Lime juice is the best substitute for lemon juice since their flavors are so similar. Even though lemons and limes are both acidic, using lime juice as a replacement for lemon juice will still provide a slightly different flavor. Use the same amount of lime juice as you would use for lemon juice (1:1 ratio).

2. Orange Juice

Lime juice is one of the better substitutes for lemon juice since their flavors are similar. Use the same amount of lime juice as you would use for lemon juice (1:1 ratio).

3. Lemon Zest

If you have frozen lemon zest on hand, it can be mixed with a little water to be used as a substitute for lemon juice in dessert recipes and other recipes when lemon is the prominent flavor. 

4. Lemon Extract

Lemon extract is a very concentrated lemon flavor that can also be used as a substitute for lemon juice especially in dessert recipes. You’ll only need to use a drop or two sine it is highly concentrated. You may also need to mix it with a little water to add moisture to the ingredients. For example, if your recipe calls for a teaspoon of lemon juice, mix a drop of lemon extract with a teaspoon of water.

5. Vinegar

You can use vinegar as a replacement for lemon juice in recipes where you only need to add a small amount, not as a replacement when lemon is the primary flavor in the dish. Use the same amount of vinegar as you would use for lemon juice (1:1 ratio).

6. White Wine

White wine and lemon juice can both be used to deglaze a pan in savory dishes. Use the same amount of white wine as you would use for lemon juice (1:1 ratio).

7. Cream of Tartar

Cream of tartar can be used as a lemon juice replacement in baking recipes. Use 1/2 teaspoon for every 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. You may also need to add a teaspoon of water to replace the lemon juice if the ingredients need added moisture.

25 Lemon Recipes

• Stir into vinaigrettes like this Cleansing Lemon Herb Vinaigrette,  Lemon Ginger Vinaigrette, Lemon Mustard Vinaigrette, Lemon Basil Vinaigrette and this Grilled Salmon Salad with Lemon Caper Vinaigrette
• Stir into soups like this Nourishing Lemon Chicken Quinoa Soup
• Blend it with garlic and olive oil to make an amazing Lemon Garlic Oil that you can use to marinate chicken with and pan-roast tomatoes like this Chicken Shawarma
• Add to a glass of water to make Lemon Water
• Use it to make lemonade with like this Fresh Squeezed Lemonade and Healthy Blueberry Lemonade
• Stir into iced tea with honey to make sweet tea with like this Arnold Palmer Drink (Sweet Tea) or this Iced Green Tea with Lemon, Ginger and Apple
• Use it to make these delicious Lemon Ginger Popsicles
• Simmer with fresh ginger in water to make a Lemon Ginger Tea
• Use it to make detox drinks like this Lemon Ginger Morning Detox Drink and Turmeric Shots
• Stir into sauces
• Add to marinades
• Use it to make a perky lemon honey fruit salad dressing like we did with this Summer Berry Salad
• Stir it into cooked quinoa to make a delicious Lemony Quinoa side dish
• Pour over seafood dishes
• Make a delicious Chicken Piccata to serve for dinner
• Add it to vegetables like this Wilted Lemon Garlic Spinach and this Lemon Garlic Roasted Asparagus
• Use it to bake with, like we did with these Gluten-Free Lemon Blueberry Muffins
• Add it to pancake batter (lemon blueberry pancakes)
• Blend it with herb butter (for garlic bread, flour tortillas and corn on the cob)
• Mix with fresh dill and yogurt for a Lemon Dill Sauce

More Resources

• Oregano Juice Substitute
• Brown Sugar Substitute
• Creme Fraiche Substitute
• Parchment Paper Substitute
• Garlic Substitute
• Cinnamon Substitute
• Bay Leaf Substitute
• Rosemary Substitute
• Mint Substitute
• Cilantro Substitute
• Tomato Sauce Substitute

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Yield: 1 Serving

Lemon Juice Substitute

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Need a good substitute for lemon juice ? Fresh lemon juice has a delicious citrus flavor and perky scent and it is one of the most popular fruits of the citrus family. It can be added to vinaigrettes, marinades, poured over chicken and fish, and added to batter for cakes and muffins. If you're in the middle of a recipe and need a good substitute, here are the best lemon substitutes you can use.

Ingredients

• Lime Juice
• Orange Juice
• Lemon Zest
• Lemon Extract
• Vinegar
• White Wine
• Cream of Tartar

Instructions

1. Lime Juice: Lime juice is the best substitute for lemon juice since their flavors are so similar. Use the same amount of lime juice as you would use for lemon juice (1:1 ratio).
2. Orange Juice: Use the same amount of lime juice as you would use for lemon juice (1:1 ratio).
3. Lemon Zest: If you have frozen lemon zest on hand, it can be mixed with a little water to be used as a substitute for lemon juice in dessert recipes and other recipes when lemon is the prominent flavor. 
4. Lemon Extract: If your recipe calls for a teaspoon of lemon juice, mix a drop or two of lemon extract with a teaspoon of water.
5. White Vinegar: Use the same amount of vinegar as you would use for lemon juice (1:1 ratio), or dilute the vinegar by mixing 1/2 vinegar with 1/2 water.
6. White Wine: Use the same amount of white wine as you would use for lemon juice (1:1 ratio).
7. Cream of Tartar: Use 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar for every 1 teaspoon of lemon juice called for in a recipe. You may also need to add a teaspoon of water to replace the lemon juice if the ingredients need added moisture.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 268Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 13mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 1gSugar: 24gProtein: 2g

theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations. See full disclaimer on About page.