International English food terms
The following list of international English food terms points out differences in food terminology between some different dialects of English:
List
| United States | Canada | UK | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy, eggs & meat | |||
| whole milk | homogenized or 3% milk | full fat or whole milk | full-cream milk |
| skim, fat free, or nonfat milk | skimmed milk, skim milk | skimmed milk | skim milk |
| 2% milk | 2% milk | semi-skimmed milk | "hilo" |
| large egg | large egg | medium egg | large egg |
| ground meat or chopped (usually beef) | ground or minced meat | mince or minced meat | mince |
| Produce/vegetables | |||
| green onion or scallion | green onion | spring onion (scallion in some areas) | spring onion |
| cilantro | cilantro or coriander (or cilantro may refer to the leafy herb, and coriander to the dried spice of the seed) | coriander | coriander |
| cantaloupe | cantaloupe | cantaloupe | or rockmelon |
| zucchini | zucchini | courgette | zucchini |
| squash | squash | marrow or squash — marrow specifically refers to a large, green elongated squash with white flesh | pumpkin or squash |
| eggplant | eggplant | aubergine | eggplant |
| garbanzo or chickpea | chickpea | chickpea | chickpea |
| navy beans | haricots | haricot beans | haricot beans |
| chard | chard | silverbeet or chard | silverbeet |
| bell peppers or green/red/yellow peppers | green peppers or bell peppers | peppers, or green peppers (or red/yellow/orange peppers) | capsicum — bell peppers sometimes describe a much smaller, sweeter pepper |
| chili peppers, hot peppers, chiles or by individual name (jalapeño, e.g.) | chillis | chillies, or by individual name (jalapeño, e.g.) | |
| Prepared foods | |||
| pickle | pickle (gherkin refers specifically to a "dwarf" pickle) | gherkin | gherkin |
| bouillon or stock cube | stock cube | stock cube | stock cube |
| French fries or fries, or steak fries (for thicker versions), also "fish and chips" | French fries, fries, or chips, depending on region, also "fish and chips" | chips | chips |
| chips or potato chips | chips or potato chips | crisps | chips or potato chips |
| apple crisp or apple crumble | apple crisp or apple crumble | apple crumble | apple crumble |
| ketchup or catsup | ketchup | tomato ketchup or tomato sauce or red sauce | tomato sauce |
| Baking and baked goods | |||
| bread flour | bread flour | strong flour | bread flour |
| all-purpose flour | all-purpose flour | plain flour | plain flour |
| self-rising flour | self-rising flour | self-raising flour | self-raising flour |
| cornstarch or corn starch | cornstarch | corn flour | cornflour |
| golden raisins | sultana raisins | sultanas | sultanas |
| corn syrup or KaroR syrup | corn syrup | corn syrup | corn syrup |
| molasses | molasses | molasses – treacle describes a lighter molasses | molasses – treacle describes a lighter molasses |
| powdered sugar or confectioner's sugar | icing sugar or confectionery sugar | icing sugar | icing sugar |
| superfine sugar | caster sugar | caster sugar | |
| bread pudding | Bread and butter pudding | no equivalent | |
| Steamed sponge pudding | Sponge pudding (when made with currants, raisins or sultanas it is called Spotted dick) | no equivalent | |
| Drinks | |||
| lemonade | lemonade | traditional, cloudy or still lemonade (NB traditional/cloudy lemonade can also be fizzy); lemon squash | lemon squash |
| soda, pop, soda pop, cola, coke, or soft drink | pop | soft drink (although this refers to any non-alcoholic drink or fruit juice), fizzy drink, fizzy pop, pop or juice (Scotland) | soft drink |
| lemon-lime soda/pop, or a brand name (e.g. Sprite) | lemon or lemon-lime drink | lemonade | lemonade |
| fruit drink concentrate | fruit concentrate | squash or cordial | cordial |
| apple juice or cider | apple juice or cider | apple juice | sparkling apple juice |
| hard cider | cider or hard cider | cider | cider |
| vermouth | martini | vermouth | vermouth |
| Sweets | |||
| dessert | dessert | dessert or pudding (in addition to the use describing pudding) | dessert |
| Jell-o, Jello, jello or gelatin | Jell-o, Jello, jello or gelatin | jelly | jelly |
| cookie | cookie (unless referring to tea biscuits, for example) | biscuit; also cookie, which refers to large soft "American-style" biscuits | biscuit; also cookie, same definition as UK |
| biscuit | biscuit, scone | scone | scone |
| digestive cookie | digestive cookie | digestive or digestive biscuit | digestive biscuit |
Digestive biscuits and Graham crackers
These two items are fairly different, but are used similarly (e.g. to make crumb crusts for a cheesecake). Graham crackers are sweeter, and are available in different flavors (e.g. cinnamon, chocolate). Digestive biscuits are richer, and while slightly sweet, are used with cheese by a small minority. They are also available coated on one side with milk chocolate or dark chocolate. Digestive biscuits are common in the Northeast United States, served with tea. Peek Frean is a common brand in the United States, however the original producer McVities still produces the biscuit in the UK.
Chips and French fries
In Ireland and the UK, deep fried potato sticks or "french fries" are called "skinny chips/fries", while "chips" are thicker potato sticks which can be deep fried or oven baked.
Apple juice, cider and hard cider
In America, fermented apple juice is called "hard cider". "Apple cider" refers to unfiltered (un-fermented) apple juice, typically pasteurized to make it shelf-stable. In New England and parts of Canada, "fresh cider" or sweet cider refers to fresh pressed apple juice; this is unlike any commercial product, and can be found at farm stands and orchards.
American cider (both fresh and hard) is sometimes also made from pears. This is referred to as "pear cider," and is equivalent to perry.
See also
- American and British English differences
- British Approved Name