For the most part, the language we use for food and cooking, in the US and the UK, is identical. However, British folks do use some terms that we Americans might find strange or confusing. This is especially problematic when trying to use British recipes or cookbooks. Here is a list of food terms that are different in the UK but keep in mind that it is not unheard of for some British folks to use American terms occasionally, and for some Americans to use British terms sometimes. Also, some of these terms may not be used in all parts of the UK.
List Of Food Terms British and Americans Say Differently
- aubergine (from the French word for eggplant) = eggplant
- bacon = Canadian bacon, ham
- streaky bacon = bacon
- banger = sausage
- beetroot = beet
- bicarbonate of soda = baking soda
- biscuit = cookie, cracker
- black treacle = molasses
- borshch = borscht (just a spelling difference)
- broad bean = fava bean
- brown bread = wholemeal bread (such as whole wheat)
- burnt cream = crème brûlée
- butter muslin = cheesecloth
- butty (slang term sometimes used) = sandwich (sandwich is also used in UK)
- candyfloss = cotton candy
- caster sugar = superfine sugar
- chicory = endive
- chile peppers = capsicum
- chile (pepper) = chilli (not to be confused with the American dish, chili)
- chips = French fries
- cos lettuce = romaine lettuce
- claret = red Bordeaux (wine)
- cling film = plastic wrap
- cooker = stovetop, stove, range
- coriander = cilantro (in the US, coriander is reserved for the seeds, used as an herb)
- cornflour = cornstarch
- courgette = zucchini
- crisps = potato chips
- cutlery = silverware
- cutlet = chop
- dark cooking chocolate = semisweet chocolate
- double cream = heavy cream
- single cream = light cream
- demerara sugar = brown sugar
- digestive biscuits = graham crackers
- eggy bread = French toast
- essence = extract
- fairy cake = cupcake
- fish finger = fish stick
- plain flour = all-purpose flour
- strong flour = bread flour
- forcemeat = finely ground meat (used for stuffing)
- French bean = green bean
- gherkin = pickle
- groundnut = peanut
- haricot bean = navy bean
- hundreds and thousands = sprinkles
- icing sugar = confectioners’ sugar
- joint = large bone-in roast
- lolly = popsicle
- maize = corn
- maize flour = cornmeal
- mince (noun) = ground meat
- neeps/swedes = turnips
- pilchards = sardines
- pips = seeds
- plum duff = plum pudding
- puddings (afters, dessert, sweets) = desserts
- rape/rapeseed oil = canola oil
- rubbish = trash, garbage
- runner beans = green beans, string beans
- sack = sweet sherry
- seal (verb) = sear
- semi-skimmed milk = 2% milk
- serviette = napkin
- soya bean = soybean
- spring onions = green onions
- superfine sugar = castor sugar
- tin = can