How to Ask About Ingredient Substitutions

Quick Answer

Run out of an ingredient or cooking for someone with dietary restrictions? Open Chef Val in Family Values at familyvalu.es and ask for a substitution. Chef Val will suggest the best alternatives, explain how they'll affect your dish, and tell you the right amount to use.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1. Open Chef Val by tapping the chef hat button in the bottom-right corner of any page in Family Values.

2. Describe what you need to substitute and why. The more context you provide, the better the recommendation. Try questions like:

   • "What can I use instead of buttermilk?"
   • "I need a vegan substitute for eggs in brownies."
   • "I don't have cornstarch. What else can I use to thicken this sauce?"
   • "What's a good low-sodium replacement for soy sauce?"

3. Review Chef Val's suggestion. It will typically include the substitute ingredient, the quantity to use, and any notes about how the swap changes the recipe's flavor or texture.

1. Ask for alternatives if the first suggestion doesn't work for you. Chef Val can offer multiple options -- just say "What else could I use?" or "I don't have that either."

2. Request a full recipe adjustment if you're making several swaps. For example, "Can you rewrite this recipe to be completely dairy-free?" Chef Val will revise the entire ingredient list and update the instructions as needed.

Tips

• Always mention the dish you're making when asking for a substitution. The best replacement for eggs in a cake is different from the best replacement for eggs in a frittata.
• For baking, ask Chef Val to be specific about ratios. Baking is more sensitive to substitutions than stovetop cooking, and the exact amount matters.
• Common substitution categories Chef Val handles well include: dairy-free, gluten-free, egg-free, nut-free, sugar-free, low-sodium, and vegan alternatives.
• If you're adapting a recipe you've already saved in Family Values, tell Chef Val the recipe name. It has context about your saved recipes and can reference them directly.
• Chef Val can also suggest substitutions for uncommon or hard-to-find ingredients. If a recipe calls for something you can't source locally, just ask what to use instead.
• After getting a substitution you like, you can save the modified recipe using the Save Recipe button or edit your existing recipe with the changes.

Related Questions

• How to Get Cooking Tips and Advice from Chef Val
• How to Use the AI Cooking Assistant (Chef Val)