Cooking Substitutes is a blog dedicated to exploring suitable alternatives in recipes, providing helpful how-to guides, and sharing mouthwatering recipes.

We're here to make your culinary adventures even more delightful!

Amina

Amina is the kitchen persona behind CookingSubstitutes — sharing tested pantry swaps and honest kitchen experiments so your recipes work on the first try.

Substitutes, Dairy Substitutes

Substitute for Cream Cheese in Frosting: 5 Swaps That Actually Hold Their Shape

Best substitute for cream cheese in frosting with mascarpone and Greek yogurt options beside a frosted layer cake

You are halfway through making frosting, the cake is already cooling, and there is no cream cheese in the fridge. I have been there more times than I want to admit. Finding a good substitute for cream cheese in frosting…

Amina

Knowledge Guides

Glass vs Stainless Steel Air Fryer: Which Is Better?

Glass vs stainless steel air fryer side by side on a kitchen counter with wings and fries cooking inside

The glass vs stainless steel air fryer question lands in my inbox every single week. One side lets you watch your fries turn golden without opening anything. The other side is the tough, no-nonsense metal our mothers trusted in every…

Amina

Substitutes, Dairy Substitutes

Substitute for Buttermilk in Pancakes (6 Easy Swaps I Actually Use)

Fluffy pancake stack made with a substitute for buttermilk in pancakes, topped with maple syrup and fresh berries

It happens to me almost every month. Saturday night, I promise everyone fluffy pancakes for Sunday breakfast. Sunday morning, I open the fridge, grab the flour, the eggs… and there is no buttermilk. Not even a sad little splash left…

Amina

Knowledge Guides

Stainless Steel vs Ceramic Air Fryer

If you are standing in the store (or scrolling on your phone) stuck on the stainless steel vs ceramic air fryer choice, I have been exactly where you are. Both sound safe. Both sound strong. And both boxes shout big…

Amina

Substitutes, Dairy Substitutes

Substitute for Heavy Cream in Pasta (6 Easy Swaps)

Substitute for heavy cream in pasta — creamy fettuccine made with an easy milk and butter swap

It has happened to me more times than I can count. The pasta water is boiling, the garlic is already in the pan, I reach into the fridge for the heavy cream… and there is none. If you are also…

Amina

Substitutes, Egg Substitutes

Best Egg Substitutes for Baking (Complete Guide)

Best egg substitutes for baking in small bowls — flax gel, aquafaba, applesauce, banana and yogurt on a marble counter

You are halfway through a cake batter, the oven is already warm, and the egg carton in your fridge is empty. I have lived this exact moment so many times that I stopped counting. That is why learning the best…

Amina

Knowledge Guides

Best Air Fryers Without Teflon: My 6 Honest Picks for 2026

Best air fryers without Teflon — ceramic, glass, and steel models with fries, wings, and a roasted chicken

If you are hunting for the best air fryers without Teflon, you are in the right kitchen. I cook in a small kitchen, I test a lot of baskets, and I got tired of nonstick coatings that scratch, peel, and…

Amina

Knowledge Guides

Best Air Fryers Without PFAS: 6 Safe Picks I Trust in 2026

Best air fryers without PFAS on a bright kitchen counter, with a glass air fryer and stainless steel oven cooking crispy fries and wings

Hi, I’m Amina. If you are looking for the best air fryers without PFAS, I’ve done the hard reading for you. I looked through brand material pages, lab test reports, expert reviews, and many owner reviews. Then I picked six…

Amina

Substitutes, Egg Substitutes

Egg Substitute for Binding in Baking: 7 Easy Swaps That Actually Work

Pantry staples laid out as an egg substitute for binding in baking, including flax gel, applesauce, banana, and peanut butter next to cookie dough

Out of eggs? Here's my egg substitute for binding in baking, with easy ratios, real kitchen tests, and tips so your cookies and cakes hold together.

Amina

Knowledge Guides

Best Ceramic Air Fryers: 5 Safe Picks I Trust in 2026

Best ceramic air fryers on a kitchen counter with crispy fries and chicken wings in the open basket

Hi, I’m Amina. If you want the best ceramic air fryers, you are in the right place. I went through specs, owner reviews, and expert tests to find models that cook crispy food without a Teflon-type coating. I kept the…

Amina

Substitutes, Egg Substitutes

Egg Substitute for Frying Chicken: 7 Best Options That Actually Work

I used to think eggs were non-negotiable when frying chicken. That was until I ran out of eggs midway through prepping dinner for a group of friends—a situation I’ve learned to expect when you’re living in a tiny NYC apartment…

Amina

Knowledge Guides

Best Glass Air Fryer: Top 10 Non-Toxic Picks That Change Your Kitchen in 2026

Best glass air fryer with visible golden crispy food inside transparent bowl on modern kitchen counter

When I first started thinking about getting an air fryer for my cooking channel, I was really worried. I kept hearing about those scary chemicals in plastic and coated baskets—PFAS and all that stuff. I didn’t want to cook food…

Amina

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