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Substitutions · 3 dishes here use it
Bitter, mineral and dark, and it is what makes brown sugar brown. A spoonful adds depth to anything sweet; two make it taste of iron.
Everything below is judged against that job. A swap that covers it is a swap; one that only looks similar is not.
Functional substitution system
For molasses, the page's working definition is: Bitter, mineral and dark, and it is what makes brown sugar brown. A spoonful adds depth to anything sweet; two make it taste of iron. The swap cards below are judged against that job rather than visual resemblance.
Job → candidate → side effects → small test → correct.
1 · Job
What is the missing ingredient doing?
2 · Candidate
Choose the shelf item that replaces that function.
3 · Side effects
Check water, fat, salt, acid, sweetness, and texture.
4 · Small test
Change a spoonful or small portion first when possible.
5 · Correct
Taste again and move only the axis that is still wrong.
Instead · 1
a heaping tablespoon of sugar in two teaspoons of water per tablespoon
Instead · 2
one for one, a pinch per tablespoon
Instead · 3
one for one
These need it and are short enough that nothing hides: 4 required ingredients or fewer. Make the swap a decision rather than a repair.
The company molasses keeps in this library, counted off required ingredients. A swap that argues with the top two is the wrong swap, whatever a chart says.