Substituting an Ingredient
The Substitution Wizard permanently swaps one ingredient for another across your recipes — for example, changing brands or moving to a different pack. Before anything changes, it shows you exactly what will be affected. This article covers running a substitution safely.
When to use it
Use a substitution when you're permanently replacing a product everywhere it's used — a discontinued item, a supplier switch, or a reformulation. (For a one-off "we're out tonight," just 86 the dish instead.)
Where to find it
Inventory → Substitution Wizard. Substitutions run per venue, so select a location first.
Step 1 — Choose the swap
- Select the item you're replacing.
- Select the item you're replacing it with.
- Click Preview impact.
Step 2 — Review the impact
Before you apply anything, the wizard shows you:
- Which recipes use the old item and will change.
- The cost before and after for each affected recipe, so you can see the margin impact.
- Any open purchase orders that still reference the old item.
Review this carefully — it's your chance to catch surprises before they hit your recipes.
Step 3 — Apply
- Select which recipes you want the swap applied to (you can do all or a subset).
- Click Apply.
- The chosen recipes are updated to use the new item.
Audit trail
Every substitution is recorded permanently for audit — what was swapped, when, and where — so you always have a history of ingredient changes.
Tip: Use the impact preview as a costing tool. Even if you don't apply the swap, previewing shows how a different product would change your recipe costs.
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