Monday 29 April 2024

20 cookery and kitchen terms that have different meanings in the USA and Britain

Puzzled when you are looking through the pages of a cookery book from either the USA or Britain, or are looking at a recipe website and you find an apparently exotic ingredient which, if only you knew, was already in your pantry, larder or 'fridge!

As a result, That's Food and drink has compiled this handy reference guide which we suggest you book mark or print off and tack to your kitchen notice board. And please share it with your friends and family members, too.

Eggplant (US) / Aubergine (UK) - A purple vegetable often used in dishes like ratatouille or moussaka.

Zucchini (US) / Courgette (UK) - A green vegetable commonly used in salads, stir-fries, and baked dishes.

Cilantro (US) / Coriander (UK) - A herb with green leaves and a strong, distinctive flavour used in many cuisines.

Scallions (US) / Spring Onions (UK) - A type of onion with long, green stalks and small white bulbs, often used as a garnish or in salads.

Arugula (US) / Rocket (UK) - A leafy green vegetable with a peppery flavour, often used in salads.

Bell Pepper (US) / Capsicum (UK) - A type of pepper with a mild flavour, available in various colorus like red, green, and yellow.

Powdered Sugar (US) / Icing Sugar (UK) - A finely ground sugar used for dusting desserts or making icing.

All-purpose Flour (US) / Plain Flour (UK) - A versatile type of flour suitable for various baking purposes.

Confectioners' Sugar (US) / Icing Sugar (UK) - A finely ground sugar used for making icing or frosting for cakes and pastries.

Molasses (US) / Black Treacle (UK) - A thick, dark syrup derived from sugar cane or sugar beet, used as a sweetener in baking and cooking. 

Candy (US) / Sweets (UK) - Confections typically made with sugar and flavourings

Cookies (US) / Biscuits (UK) - Sweet baked treats often served as snacks or desserts.

Jelly (US) / Jam (UK) - A fruit spread made from fruit juice, sugar, and sometimes pectin, usually set with gelatin in the US and without gelatin in the UK. I must admit that a peanut butter and jam sandwich doesn't sound quite so alluring as as peanut butter and jelly sandwich, for some reason. 

Jell-O (US) / Jelly (UK) - A brand name for flavoured gelatin desserts in the US, but referred to as jelly in the UK.

Broil (US) / Grill (UK) - To cook food directly under or over high heat.

Candy Bar (US) / Chocolate Bar (UK) - A sweet snack made primarily of chocolate, often containing additional ingredients like nuts or caramel.

Potato Chips (US) / Crisps (UK) - Thin slices of potato that are fried or baked until crispy and served as a snack.

French Fries (US) / Chips (UK) - Thin strips of potato that are deep-fried until crispy and served as a side dish. Though British chips are often much chunkier than French fries. In the US thicker fries are often called steak fries.

Ground Beef (US) / Minced Beef (UK) - Beef that has been finely chopped or ground, often used as a base for dishes like hamburgers or meatballs or cottage pie in the UK.

Garbanzo Beans (US) / Chickpeas (UK) - A type of legume commonly used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines.

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