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15 Food And Cooking Cheat Sheets That Are Especially Useful Right Now

Ingredient substitutions, Instant Pot and slow cooker conversions, and essential storage hacks.

Melissa Jameson
by Melissa Jameson

BuzzFeed Staff

1. For quick flavor boosters that use staples you likely already have:

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

Find a ton more ideas for three, four, and five-ingredient marinades here.

2. For when you're out of eggs:

Joe Lingeman / Kitchn

Eggs are key to baking, but if you can't get your hands on them right now — or if you're vegan or allergic — there are several worthwhile substitutes. Read more here.

3. For shifting some protein intake from perishables (like meat) to non-perishables (like dried beans or canned goods):

Healthy Indonesia / Via self.com

Meat is often the most expensive thing on a grocery bill, so even if you're not vegetarian or vegan, plant-based proteins can be super handy if you're trying to stretch dollars or trips to the store.

4. For when you can't find AP flour on the shelves:

clabbergirl.com

Then tackle of one these sheet cake recipes. 😋

5. Or if you need a gluten-free flour substitute instead:

swansonvitamins.com

Read more here, then whip one one of these gluten-free desserts.

6. For common cooking and baking swaps:

ereplacementparts.com

And if you need a starter project to put this to use, try one of these easy five-ingredient desserts.

7. For yeast conversions:

chefinyou.com

For all that bread baking, of course! This one is adapted from The Baker's Manual.

8. For optimal food storage:

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

See the full recommendation guide — which covers produce, bread, meat, and more — here.

9. And for organizing everything — with proper fridge + freezer zones in mind:

searshomeservices.com

Remember that storing items properly lets you max out their shelf life and put off your next trip to the store. Read more here.

10. For converting stovetop recipes to a more hands-off slow cooker version:

crockingirls.com

Because these days, we could all use more toss-and-go dinners that practically make themselves.

11. Or for converting slow cooker favorites to a (much faster) Instant Pot version:

amindfullmom.com

Read more here, and find more useful Instant Pot cheat sheets here.

12. Here's a ratio guide for cooking grains in the IP, too.

teamhealthymom.com

This is especially handy if you're meal prepping or batch cooking for the week ahead. More here.

13. For making the most of your spice cabinet — and turning to dry herbs instead of fresh ones:

womenshealthmag.com

It's an easy way to add flavor to anything for exactly $0 — since your cabinet is likely already stocked. Read more here.

14. For a primer on the easiest way turn leftover vegetables into a full dinner:

cooksmarts.com

Make a stir-fry! It's quick and simple — and a flavorful (yet fool-proof) sauce can make all the difference. Find the full guide here.

15. And for useful info about how carbs, protein, and fats actually affect your body:

Meal Garden

Read more about carbs here, more on fats here, and more on protein here.