In the culinary world, orange is one of the most common ingredients because of its versatility and healthfulness. Orange is acidic, citrusy, juicy, and easy to cook, making it preferred in every culture’s recipes.
Among top used sour supplement ingredients nowadays, like lemon, kaffir lime leaves, apple juice, etc., orange extract appears to be distinctive because of its juiciness and wholesomeness.
Suppose you are running out of orange extract, then what should you use instead to remain the same feature as orange extract? In this post, let’s dive deep into some of their replacements so that, later, you can select the most suitable substitute for orange extract for your cooking!
Quick Introduction To Orange Extract
What Is Orange Extract, And How Much Orange Extract To Use?
Let’s start the article with the definition of orange extract. Originating from orange juice, orange extract is a highly-condensed product that combines orange water into the alcohol base. The typical alcohol level used in the market is 33% for most extracts, making it distinctive due to the concentrated flavor of orange.
That being said, orange extract is recommended in baking progress because it provides a rich flavor. To be specific, Western-style cakes like cupcakes, cookies, macarons, etc., are more suitable for intensive sugariness that only orange extract can provide.
As mentioned above, we recommend you use orange extract moderately in cooking. With the intensely sweet flavor, it’s better to buy a small extract glass bottle, pour a few drops per cooking time. Then, after tasting the food, we can re-evaluate and add extract later if needed.
How Does Orange Extract Taste?
This orange supplement provides the moderately citrusy flavor that is used for most dishes. Orange is acidic and sweet, but just at a slight level.
Among citrus fruits like lemon, mandarin, etc., the orange is the mildest taste. If people want to add a sour flavor to the recipe, but just at the slight taste for easier modification, orange is the best choice.
Likewise, the orange extract offers the citrusy, herb-alike aroma that catches people’s attention, but it is intensely sugary and mildly acidic in terms of taste. Please take this point to evaluate whether a supplement can alternate to orange extract or not.
Top 8 Substitute For Orange Extract That You Should Know
1. Orange Juice
Orange extract is made from fresh orange water combined with alcohol, so if not having orange extract, why don’t we come back to the original ingredient – the orange liquid – right? Hence, orange juice is the first recommendation on this list.
Orange juice is the mixture made from squeezing fresh oranges and mix it with sugar or salt according to the need. Hence, orange water contains the high nutritional elements from orange, making it tasty and healthful to the eater.
Let’s break down the nutritional facts. In an average organic orange water serving, there are 110 calories, 25-gram carbohydrates; 2 grams protein, but 123 mg vitamin C and 496 IU vitamin A. There is only 0.5 gram fat in a bottle of orange juice, which is insignificant.
Orange juice is fruity, fresh, healthful, but how compatible is it with the orange extract? Well, compared to the intensively sugary extract, juice is less sweet, less condensed, but sourer.
If you want to replace orange water with orange extract, it’s better to use the juice twice as the orange extract. You also need to add sugar to the food to complement the sugariness of the extract.
2. Orange Zest
Another orange extract substitute is orange zest. Made from peeling off the exterior layer of organic orange, orange zest provides the bizarre bitter flavor. Besides, it is distinctive for the herb-alike, citrus fragrance that only comes from the process of essential oil extraction from the orange zest.
Given that fact, orange zest is considered the unique orange supplement compared to other orange products. It is bitter, acidic, but the scent of its citrusy essential oil overshadows other components.
However, in terms of acidity, the sourness level of orange peel is lower than orange extract. So, if you want to use orange zest instead of orange extract, please consider using two teaspoons of full orange zest to equal a teaspoon of orange extract.
Because of its bitter orange flavor and thick texture from the white pith, orange peel is only compatible with some dishes as a topping or sprinkling. Orange zest and orange extract can be used interchangeably, for orange extract is also considered a substitute for orange zest.
3. Orange Oil
Orange oil and orange extract are greatly similar because they are both extracted products. With the rich, intensive sugar, and mild acidity, orange oil is an excellent replacement for orange extract in case you are running out of orange extract in the kitchen.
Originally, orange oil is made by extracting organic orange juice from fresh oranges, combining with chemical substances and alcohol to condense the mixture to a thick, abundant liquid. As a result, orange oil contains a high sugar and preservatives level, and this fact makes the fluid richer.
You might be confused about the difference between the orange extract and orange oil? Well, it bases on the juice purity level of each bottle. The extract is said to have more pure, organic orange juice and fewer preservatives than the oil. Meanwhile, the oil is cheaper, easier to find at the stores, and less acidic.
As a result, orange extract and orange oil are quite compatible to use interchangeably. However, the amount used is different: 2 drops of orange oil only equal a drop of orange extract, for its acidity is lower.
4. Orange Liqueur
You may never hear anyone use orange liqueur as a substitute for orange extract, but in fact, we can use them interchangeably. Both products contain the same components – organic orange juice and alcohol – so that they can share the same function in baking.
Regarding the nutrition facts, a shot of orange liqueur provides 131 calories. There is zero fat, cholesterol, or vitamin. But, there are sodium, potassium, fiber, and sugars in the liquid. Hence, orange liqueur is not a healthful choice but rather an option for appetite.
It’s impossible to determine how much orange liqueur equals a spoon of orange extract because each brand has its different formula. Some brands like Triple Sec and Curacao have a neutral flavor of orange so that a vodka drop can replace a spoon of extract.
However, the Grand Marnier vodka seems to have a stronger flavor, more intensive alcohol level, so not a spoonful of Grand Marnier wine equals a drop of organic orange extract.
Notwithstanding, there is a downside of orange flavor vodka: they are expensive. In this list, it is the most pricey product, making people hesitate to use it interchangeably to extract. However, if you would love to add a new flavor to the food, maybe you should try it once. It’s all worth it.
5. Orange Marmalade
Orange marmalade is similar to orange jam, which means it is thick, sticky, and condensed. The marmalade, made from extracting organic orange juice, adding sugar, and gelatinizing substances, is a great choice for making sauces.
In terms of nutrition, there are 246 calories overall on a 100 gram of marmalade serving. There is no fat or vitamin D contained, but there are 60 grams of sugar. Given that fact, the marmalade is extremely sugary. So, it is appropriate to use in baking and adding sweetness to the food rather than acidity.
Besides, the marmalade is the best when it comes to making sauce. The high amount of sugar makes it work well in blending and condensing, so if you intend to make paste or sauce, it is compatible. Another creative idea is to mix the sweet marmalade with the bland salad dressing to balance the taste.
So, what about the compatibility between orange extract and orange marmalade? Well, as mentioned above, the marmalade’s acidity is low. Still, its sugariness is high. Suppose you have to replace marmalade with orange extract, you have to use it double as the amount you use for extract. For instance, 3 to 4 spoonfuls of orange marmalade equals one teaspoon of extract.
6. Citrus Extract
Basically, the alternative citrus extract has the same flavor as an orange extract which is also a spice available in every family’s kitchen. And with it, I think you will have the best replacement for your dish.
You can cook with any extract that you’d like in the same amount as your recipe requires, and the flavor will alter accordingly.
If you use lemon in some baking, it will have a lemon flavor. If you use vanilla, it will have a more vanilla flavor substitute for orange flavor (as long as it complements your dish). Both of them are thought to be good extracts used in your cooking.
7. Grand Marnier
Grand Marnier has yellow or red, which also has a sweet and orange taste, including vanilla and spices with a brandy origin.
If your kitchen is out of orange extract, using Grand Marnier is an exciting choice to replace but still has the same flavor as the desired dish.
Grand Marnier is perfect for altering orange extract for alcoholic fans or those who can drink alcohol or like alcohol taste in their dishes. It is quite concentrated, so you should use a few drops to add to your food in the recipe.
When used in the recipe, it will bring an excellent taste to many dishes and be an ideal selection for an added flavor. You can purchase the Grand Marnier in almost any well-stocked liquor store.
8. Vanilla Extract
Vanilla is made of vanilla beans soaked in alcohol until the flavor and smell infuse that alcohol.
Almost all kinds of extracts can be alternatives for each other if used properly. Therefore, when you run out of orange extract, vanilla extract is excellent for replacement.
It is surprising to know that one teaspoon of vanilla extract is equal to the same amount of orange extract. And, you may use this replacement in your grill, cookies, and cakes, or almond, peppermint, even in your coffee or some drinks.
Wrapping It Up
We have discovered some orange extract replacements like oil, liqueur, marmalade, zest, and juice through this post. Each alternative has its unique strengths and weaknesses, and, based on your preferences, we believe that you have already had your option.
We select the organic orange juice over others because it is cheap, easy to make, easy to store, and available to mix with almost any recipes. Besides, orange juice is nutritional, healthful, and fresh, making it the best option as a substitute for orange extract.
