Lemon juice is a common ingredient in many recipes. However, not everyone enjoys faint hints of lemon flavor in their cookies and cakes. Even if you do like lemon flavor, chances are you will run out of this essential ingredient at an inconvenient time. In either of these scenarios, lime juice is the preferred substitution. However, if you are also out of lime juice, orange juice can work in a pinch.
Choose your orange juice or fresh orange. When substituting orange juice for lemon juice, use Seville oranges if possible. These oranges have a bitter flavor that more closely resembles lemon flavoring. If you don't have time to go to the store, you can use whatever orange juice you have in the refrigerator.
Measure your juice. You will use the same amount of orange juice as you would lemon juice. If you are using fresh oranges, cut the oranges into quarters and squeeze the juice into a small bowl. Because most recipes call for small quantities of lemon juice, one medium-sized orange should yield enough juice for your recipe.
Add the orange juice to your recipe in the same manner that you would add the lemon juice.
References
- "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian"; Mark Bittman; 2007
- Joy of Baking: Baking Ingredient Substitution Table
- Taste of Home: Substitution for Lemon Juice and Lemon Zest
Writer Bio
Kat Black is a professional writer currently completing her doctorate in musicology/ She has won several prestigious awards for her research, and has had extensive training in classical music and dance.