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GramKitchen

Substitutions

Substitute for Margarine

6 tested substitutions — with the ratio and the caveat that decides whether it works.

Ratio Margarine Works in
×1 Butter

Richer flavor; butter browns better.

Kitchen-tested 		baking · cooking
×0.8 Neutral oil (canola/sunflower)

Margarine is ~80 % fat — oil equivalent is 4/5 the weight.

Reference ratio 		cooking
×1 Vegetable shortening

Pure solid fat — flakier crusts, less browning flavor.

Reference ratio 		baking
×1 Lard

Crispier frying, flakier pastry; animal fat.

Reference ratio 		cooking · baking
×1 Coconut oil (melted)

Solid vegan fat; coconut note.

Reference ratio 		baking
×0.8 Ghee (clarified butter)

Ghee is pure fat — use ~20 % less.

Reference ratio 		cooking

Baking is less forgiving than cooking — stick to substitutions marked « baking » and respect the ratio.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best substitute for Margarine?

It depends on the recipe — the table above shows which substitutes work in baking vs cooking.

Can I substitute Margarine in baking?

Baking is less forgiving than cooking — stick to substitutions marked « baking » and respect the ratio.