You’re halfway through whipping up something delicious when you turn to your pantry to retrieve the bottle of lemon extract you think you have, just to come up empty-handed. It’s only now you remember that you used the last of it and forgot to pick more up at the store. We’ve all been there.
Most of us cook the same thing over and over again. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with getting into a regular meal rotation. The only problem is that when a recipe calls for an ingredient we don’t use regularly, we may not have any in the pantry. Or, in some cases, the expiration date may be out on some ingredients. The good thing is that when it comes to extracts, you can easily make substitutions. Lemon extract is great to have on hand, but other citrus extracts can save the day. You can also use lemon zest or fresh lemon juice (bottled or freshly squeezed).
Lemon is a hugely popular ingredient and its flavor brings a citrusy tang to a number of dishes in a way that elevates and delights.
So, it’s hugely frustrating when you find that you don’t have a trusty bottle of its extract, loved for its long shelf-life and concentrated taste.
Luckily, there are a few things that you can substitute for lemon extract when you’re in – or need – a pinch.
Some of these include the juice and extract of fresh lemons or fresh limes, lemon essence, and orange juice, so we’re looking at what they do and which is the best.
But first, let’s talk about the real deal.
What is Lemon Extract?
Lemon extract is essentially that lemony taste you get from fresh lemons, but in a stronger, more concentrated liquid form.
It’s usually made from fresh lemons with an oil or alcohol base and the extraction process involves soaking lemon peels in a neutral spirit, like vodka.
The peels release essential oils that infuse and flavor the alcohol. This distills the alcohol to about 77% causing the liquid to turn either a pale yellow color or to become completely clear.
The result is a deliciously citrus flavor minus the acidity and tartness of fresh lemon juice.
The great thing about lemon extract (one of many, actually) is that it has a wide range of uses making it a hugely versatile ingredient, so it’s well worth stocking in your cupboards. Sweet or savory, you can use it in desserts, dressings, baked goods, pickles, or marinades.
But hey, life happens, and sometimes when you need it, you just don’t have any.
That’s why we’re here to tell you how you can save the recipe and the day with a list of some great substitutes for lemon extract.
Why Substitute Lemon Extract
There are several reasons why you might want to substitute lemon extract in your recipes. For one, you could be facing a shortage of lemon extract in your pantry, and finding an alternative is essential for completing your dish. Additionally, lemon extract might not be readily available at your local store, or you might be looking for a more budget-friendly option.
Another common reason for seeking a lemon extract substitute is a dietary requirement or preference. Some people are sensitive or allergic to certain ingredients found in lemon extracts, such as the alcohol or artificial additives. In such cases, substituting with a more natural alternative is a sensible approach. Furthermore, you might be aiming to create a unique taste profile in your recipe or simply prefer the flavor of a different citrus fruit.
Luckily, there is an array of lemon extract substitutes that you can experiment with for various recipes. Here are some popular alternatives to consider:
Fresh lemon zest: Using the finely grated zest of a lemon is the easiest and most natural substitute. It offers a robust citrus flavor and aroma, making it suitable for a wide range of recipes.
Lemon juice: While it doesn’t pack the same concentrated flavor, lemon juice works well in recipes that call for minimal quantities of lemon extract.
Other citrus extracts or zests: If you enjoy experimenting with flavors, you can try using orange, lime, or grapefruit extracts or zests as an alternative. The result will be a slightly different taste, but still offer a delightful citrusy essence.
Citrus oils: Made by cold-pressing the rinds of citrus fruits, these essential oils are potent and easily replace lemon extract in recipes. Use sparingly, as a little goes a long way.
Remember that substituting lemon extract may alter the final taste and texture of your dish, so it’s essential to select the appropriate alternative based on your recipe requirements and personal preferences.
The Best Lemon Extract Substitutes
A lot of ‘lemon-flavored’ things don’t necessarily make a great lemon extract substitute, so don’t go reaching for the first thing that sounds like it might do. This could result in a flavor that tastes too artificial or it could be barely detectable, which is undesirable either way.
It’s a bit more complicated when it comes to finding the perfect lemon extract substitute, with these three things being the most important to consider:
How it will affect the consistency of the finished product.
How it will affect the taste of the finished product.
How it will affect the texture of the finished product.
For example, when you’re working with sensitive ingredients like dairy products, you’ll need to consider how the acidity of the substituted ingredient will affect it, as it could end up curdling which would ruin the recipe. You’d need to start again or you can expect unsuccess.
In terms of taste, you’ll need to think about how much you’re going to use depending on how strong the lemon flavor comes through. This comes with its own factors to consider, like whether or not this will have an affect on the cooking, freezing, or setting times.
The science of cooking and pairing foods is what makes it such an art form, but it’s also what makes the process or picking the perfect substitute so complicated. But don’t panic!
With our help, you should be able to get it right.
After several experimental trials and taste-tests, some succesful and others… not so much, we’ve rated a selection of substitutes for lemon extract based on our findings which we’ve explained so that you can find the substitute that best suits the recipe you’re working on.
1. Lemon Zest
For this you’ll need at least one fresh lemon and a grater with a side for shavings or a zester.
Lemon zest is what you call the fine shavings of the peel of a fresh lemon, so it’s best to wash the lemon before you start to rid it of any pesticides or dirt that may be on the surface.
When zesting a lemon, be careful to avoid reaching the pith which is the white stuff beneath the peel. This has a very bitter taste which will overshadow the lemon and spoil the dish.
This is easily the best substitute for lemon extract and it can be used to replace pretty much any lemon-flavored ingredient in any recipe.
Like lemon extract, it’s a concentrated form that isn’t too acidic, so it shouldn’t curdle when mixed with dairy products. It’s in a non-liquid form which means it has no real effect on the consistency, and as an added bonus, you can keep the lemon once zested to use later.
To substitute lemon extract with lemon zest, use equal parts zest to equal parts extract or add more if you prefer stronger lemon flavor.
Remember to keep in mind that while you can always add more of an ingredient to a recipe, it’s much more difficult to backtrack if you end up adding too much, so a little at a time is always a good idea with plenty of taste testing along the way to make sure it’s to your liking.
2. Lemon Juice
What could be more lemony than lemon juice, right? It’s the perfect way to extract the citrussy deliciousness of this fruit whilst retaining its most authentic and heightened flavor.
Compared to lemon extract, it is tarter and more acidic in taste. However, it’s less concentrated which means you’ll need to increase the quantity of juice to extract in order to achieve the same results.
Generally, the recommended substitution ratio is 1 teaspoon of lemon extract to 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, but this can cause issues if not factored in.
Whilst it’s less of a problem for dressings and marinades, using a higher volume of liquid in a baking or pastry related recipe or even in some desserts can drastically alter the outcome of the final dish. To mitigate this, simply use a reduced volume of liquid for another element.
The acidity, whilst beautifully sharp in fresh lemonade and icing, can also cause issues when there are certain other ingredients involved. Yep, we’re talking about dairy products.
Google will be your faithful sous chef when you’re working with this substitute, as you’ll need to know what the exact replacement ratios should be for the recipe you’re using as each is different.
If we’re being totally honest, we’d choose fresh lemon juice over lemon extract every time, but there’s just no beating the convenience of the easily stored, long-lasting bottled kind.
There may be less nutritional value in lemon extract, but there’s also less effort involved as instead of squeezing lemons and picking out pips, all you have to do is tip the bottle and tap.
3. Lime Zest or Juice
Due to their similar flavor profiles, lime juice can be used in a similar way to lemons. The zest is best to use as a substitute for lemon extract as there’s less risk of it altering the texture. Use equal parts of extract with equal parts of zest, or increase this as desired.
It’s a little on the sour side, but the acid pH level of lemon, and lime juice are practically the same meaning they behave in the same way, so you can substitute 1 teaspoon of lemon extract with 2 tablespoons of lime juice the same way you would with lemon juice.
And yes, this does mean that they share the same potential to go horribly wrong if used improperly. If you end up using lime zest of juice to substitute lemon extract, you’ll still need to think about its potential to curdle dairy or change the consistency of the final product.
4. Lemon Essence or Flavoring
Although they are often confused as being the same, lemon extract and lemon essence are actually entirely different. The former is a natural flavoring taken from fresh lemons, whereas the latter is an artificial flavoring made up of artificial colorants and chemical components.
That’s not to say that lemon essence doesn’t have its uses. It has a longer shelf-life, for one, and it’s pretty affordable as well as conveniently being stocked in most local supermarkets and stores. Plus, it brings a fun yellow hue to your food which can be an interesting touch.
Lemon essence is a trickier substitute to master due to the variation in concentrate strength across different brands. Some will taste more artificial than others and should be used in lower quantities, whereas others will have a mild flavor and can be used liberally.
It’s difficult to recommend an exact substitution ratio because of this, so it’s best to do a taste test to experiment with different amounts so you can find out what works and what doesn’t.
To start off with, use equal parts lemon essence to lemon exact, adding more if desired.
5. Orange Zest and Juice
Some people find lemon a little too tart, in which case orange can be a great alternative. It still brings the citrussy sensation but it’s much sweeter and without the acidic sour taste. You can substitute 1 teaspoon of lemon extract with 2 tablespoons of orange juice.
If you’re using orange juice in an already sweet recipe, you’ll need to be mindful of the fact that orange juice is sweet itself so you may want to reduce any other sugar elements.
If you’re using orange zest, however, you don’t need to adjust the sugar quantities. Instead, you can substitute equal amounts of orange zest to lemon extract or increase if desired.
Table of Quantities
Now we’ve walked you through each of the best substitutes for lemon extract and how you should use them as a replacement, but just to recap, here is a table of quantities that shows you how much of the substitute you should use in place of the lemon extract.
Substitute
Quantity (For 1 tsp Lemon Extract)
Lemon zest
1 teaspoon or as needed
Lemon juice
2 tablespoons
Lime zest
1 teaspoon or as needed
Lime juice
1 teaspoon or as needed
Lemon essence
1 teaspoon or as needed
Orange zest
1 teaspoon or as needed
Orange juice
2 tablespoons
Frequently Asked Questions
To clear up some common confusion before we round up this article, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions we stumbled across during our research in case they could be useful to anyone else reading up about the best substitutes for lemon extract.
Can citric acid powder be used as a substitute for lemon extract?
Citric acid is naturally found in lemons so it will perfectly replicate the acidity of the original ingredient, but it doesn’t do as good a job at mimicking the lemon flavor in its powdered form.
You can still use it as a substitute, however, replacing 1 teaspoon of lemon extract with ¼ teaspoon of citric acid.
Are lemon oils dangerous to consume?
The lemon oils market is hugely saturated and there are a number of different types of product you can purchase, with some being safe to consume and others being dangerous.
If the product in question is something like an olive oil that has been flavored with lemon, then it should be perfectly safe for you to use in cooking. Just be prepared for the oil flavor to come through equally as strong or sometimes even stronger than the lemon taste itself.
It’s recommended that you do not ingest lemon oil directly, and that instead, you should dilute it.
Oil-based lemon extracts are also safe for human consumption.
However, not all lemon oils are safe for humans to eat so we recommend always checking the bottle first to make sure. Aromatherapy oils, for example, are not safe for consumption.
Can you use lemon juice in place of lemon extract?
Lemon juice is tarter and more acidic in taste compared to lemon extract, although that doesn’t mean it cannot be used as a substitute. Lemon juice is great for bringing out the citrus taste while remaining true to the flavor.
The only thing to remember if you want to use lemon juice in place of lemon extract is that lemon juice is less concentrated, so you’ll need to increase the amount you use in order to replicate the results. It is recommended that a good substitution ratio is one teaspoon of lemon extract to every two tablespoons of lemon juice.
It’s important to note that the success of the substitute will depend on what you’re using it in. while lemon juice will make very little difference in salad dressings and marinades, in dishes that include dairy products, lemon juice can cause issues such as curdling.
What’s the difference between lemon juice and lemon extract?
The main difference between lemon juice and lemon extract is the part of the fruit they come from.
Lemon juice is made from the lemon flesh, whereas lemon extract comes from the skin. Because of this, the taste is also a little different. Lemon extract tends to have a stronger aroma than lemon juice.
However, lemon juice will often be fresher.
Both options have great properties and which one is best really depends on what you’re using it for and how much time you have.If we’re being completely honest, if we have the time, we’d much prefer using lemon juice over lemon extract in terms of flavor.
However, there’s much less effort involved in using lemon extract. It’s easy to store in a cupboard for extended periods and all you have to do is squeeze it straight from the bottle.
Whereas using lemon juice requires going to the store to buy lemons, squeezing them and removing any pips which is obviously much more time-consuming not to mention messy.
How do you make lemon extract?
Lemon extract comes from the skin of a lemon. To make your own lemon extract you need lemons and a good peeler. Peel as much of the skin as you can but avoid getting any of the pith (the white bit) because it’s bitter, so take your time.
Alternatively, you can use a knife to peel the lemons because it’s easier to strain the skin when it’s in larger strips. If you use a peeler you’ll need to strain the skin using a cheesecloth instead.
Place the lemon into a nice clean jar, filling it to at least ⅔ full. The number of lemons required will of course depend on the size of the jar you use.
Next, pour in two cups of unflavored vodka until the peels are fully covered. Fasten the lid of the jar and place it in the pantry. Leave it to rest for four to six weeks and shake it once a week.
After the waiting period, drain the liquid to remove the skin and transfer your extract into a clean jar. Enjoy!
Can you substitute lemon zest for lemon extract?.
Using lemon zest in place of lemon extract is probably the best substitute. For optimum recipe replication, use equal parts lemon zest to lemon extract. Although, if you prefer a stronger flavor feel free to add more zest to your taste.
Lemon zest is similar to lemon extract in that it is concentrated and isn’t overly acidic. This is good for baking with dairy products because it shouldn’t curdle because it doesn’t affect the consistency.
Substitutes For Lemon Extract
These options are sure to be a hit. So, gather your family and friends and enjoy. Let us know your thoughts!
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
