Information: US to UK Cooking Conversions, Food Names
Information: US to UK Cooking Conversions, Food Names
by Annie
Wednesday 9 July 2003
Being a fabulous Ex-pat from the States, I was lost when I got to the British Isles and attempted cooking. Ingredients had different names, measurements were beyond me, and who the hell knows what the setting “3 1/2” means on a gas oven? I have done some hunting on the web, and I am here to help all you gourmets crossing “the pond.” If you need something to make, check out our “recipes" in the "fun stuff" section. If you need help figuring out how to cook these ingredients, check out the article on Cooking Temps and Measurement Conversions, etc..
This will be divided into a couple articles with the same title, so check them out! This one explains the different names of foods. If you ever wondered what a "cockle" or "marshmallow fluff" are, this is the article for you. There are also hints on what you can use to substitute in recipes, depending one whether you are in or the recipe comes from the US or UK.
On y va!
What do you need to start cooking?
Foods and Ingredients
| In the UK, when they say: | In the US, it means: |
|---|---|
| A | — |
| Aubergine | Eggplant |
| B | — |
| Bacon, Back | Bacon, Canadian |
| Bacon, Steaky | Bacon |
| Bap | Hamburger bun |
| Beans, Broad | Beans, Fava |
| Beans, French | Beans, Green or String |
| Beans, Haricot | Beans, Green or String |
| Beetroot | Beet |
| Beef, Bully | Beef, Corned |
| Beef, Cutlet | Beef, Chop |
| Beef, Fillet steak | Beef, Tenderloin |
| Beef, Rump Steak | Beef, Top Round or Sirloin |
| Beef, Salt | Beef, Corned |
| Beef, Silverside | Beef, Top Round |
| Beef, Sirloin | Beef, Porterhouse Steak |
| Bicarbonate of soda | Baking soda |
| Bread, Brown | Bread, Whole Wheat |
| Boiled sweet | Hard candy |
| Biscits | Cookies |
| Biscits, Digestive | Graham crackers or other crackers |
| C | — |
| Candy Floss | Cotton Candy |
| Capsicum | Bell Pepper, Green Pepper |
| Channel Island milk | Similar to light cream, only thicker |
| Chicory | Endive |
| Chips | French Fries |
| Cider | Cider, Hard or Alcoholic |
| Cling Film | Saran Wrap |
| Cockles | Clams |
| Cordial | Concentrated fruit syrup used for making drinks |
| Coriander (Fresh) | Cilantro |
| Cornflour | Cornstarch or Maizena |
| Corn, Sweet | Corn, Whole Kernel |
| Courgette | Zucchini |
| Cream, Clotted | No equivalent. Experiment. |
| Cream, Double | Cream, Heavy or Cream, Whipping |
| Cream, Single | Cream, Light or Half and Half |
| Crisps | Potato Chips |
| Crumpet | Muffin, English |
| D | — |
| Doughnut | Doughnut, Jelly |
| Doughnut, Ring | Doughnut |
| E | — |
| Essence | Extract |
| F | — |
| Fairy Cake | Cupcake |
| Faggot | Meatball |
| Fish Fingers | Fish sticks |
| Flour, Corn | Cornstarch or Maizena |
| Flour, Plain | Flour, All Purpose |
| Flour, Self-Raising | Flour, Self-Rising |
| Flour, Strong | Flour, Bread |
| Flour, Wholemeal | Flour, Wholewheat |
| G | — |
| Gammon | Ham |
| Gelatine | Gelatin |
| Ginger Nut | Ginger Snap |
| Greaseproof Paper | Waxed Paper |
| H | — |
| Hot Dogs | Vienna Sausages |
| Hundreds & Thousands | Sprinkles |
| I | — |
| Icing | Frosting |
| J | — |
| Jelly | Jell-o |
| K | — |
| Kernel, Pine | Pine Nut |
| L | — |
| Lemonade | Lemon-lime Soda |
| Lettuce, Cos | Lettuce, Romaine |
| M | — |
| Maize | Corn |
| Marrow | Large Zucchini |
| Mince meat | Ground meat |
| Mixed Spice | All Spice or Pumpkin Pie Spice |
| N | — |
| O | — |
| Onion, Salad | Onion, Spring |
| P | — |
| Pastry Case | Pie Shell |
| Pawpaw | Papaya |
| Pine Kernel | Pine Nut |
| Polenta (ingredient) | Cornmeal |
| Polony | Bologna |
| Porridge | Oatmeal, Cooked |
| Potato, Jacket | Potato, Baked |
| Prawns | Shrimp |
| S | — |
| Sausage, Liver | Liverwurst |
| Scrapple | Ingredient in hot dogs |
| Sponge finger | Lady finger or Boudoir Biscuits |
| Squash | Fruit juice beverage (Like a liquid form of Kool-Aid) |
| Stock, Brown | Stock, Beef |
| Sugar, Caster | Sugar, White (of a finer crystal size than granulated) |
| Sugar, Demerara | Sugar, Light Brown |
| Sugar, Icing | Sugar, Confectioner’s |
| Sugar, Muscovado | Sugar, Raw or Unrefined |
| Sultanas | Raisins, Golden |
| Swede | Rutabaga or Yellow Turnip |
| Sweet Pepper | Pimiento |
| Syrup, Glucose | Syrup, Light Corn |
| Syrup, Golden | Syrup, Corn |
| T | — |
| Tart | Pie (or really easy woman) |
| Toffee | Taffy |
| Tomato Puree | Tomato Paste |
| Treacle | Molasses |
| Trex | A shortening. Try Cisco |
| Turnip, Yellow | Swede |
| V | — |
| Vegetable marrow | Yellow squash |
| Vermicelli, Chocolate | Sprinkles, Chocolate |
| In the US, when they say: | In the UK, it means: |
|---|---|
| A | — |
| All Spice | Mixed Spice |
| B | — |
| Bacon | Backon, Streaky |
| Bacon, Canadian | Bacon, Back |
| Baking soda | Bicarbonate of soda |
| Bologna | Polony |
| Beans, Fava | Beans, Broad |
| Beans, Green | Beans, French or Haricot |
| Beans, String | Beans, French or Haricot |
| Beef, Corned | Beef, Bully or Salt |
| Beef, Ground | Mince meat |
| Beef, London Broil | Beef, Flank Steak |
| Beef, Porterhouse Steak | Beef, Sirloin |
| Beef, Sirloin | Beef, Rump steak |
| Beef, Tenderloin | Beef, Fillet steak |
| Beef,Top Round | Beef, Rump Steak or Silverside |
| Beet | Beetroot |
| Bread, Whole wheat | Bread, Brown |
| Buttermilk | Not available in UK. |
| C | — |
| Catsup | Ketchup, Tomato |
| Cider, Hard or Alcoholic | Cider |
| Cilantro | Coriander, fresh |
| Cheese, Swiss | Emmental |
| Clams | Cockles |
| Cookies | Buscits |
| Corn | Maize |
| Cornmeal | Polenta |
| Cornstarch | Cornflour |
| Corn, Whole Kernel | Corn, Sweet |
| Cotton Candy | Candy Floss |
| Cream, Half and Half | Cream, Single |
| Cream, Heavy | Cream, Double |
| Cream, Light | Cream, Single |
| Cream, Marshmallow | Not Available in the UK. |
| Cream, Whipping | Cream, Double |
| Cupcake | Fairy Cake |
| D | — |
| Doughnut | Doughnut, Ring |
| Doughnut, Jelly | Doughnut |
| E | — |
| Eggplant | Aubergine |
| Endive | Chicory |
| English Muffin | Crumpet |
| Extract | Essence |
| F | — |
| Fish Sticks | Fish Fingers (why do they say this? fish don’t have fingers!) |
| Flour, All Purpose | Flour, Plain |
| Flour, Bread | Flour, Strong |
| Flour, Self-Rising | Flour, Self-Raising |
| Flour, Wholewheat | Flour, Wholemeal |
| Fluff, Marshmallow | Not available in the UK |
| French Fries | Chips |
| Frosting | Icing |
| G | — |
| Gelatin | Gelatine |
| Graham Crackers | A type of biscuit. Substitute digestive biscuits or a mix of 50% digestive biscuits (for the right texture) and 50% rich tea biscuits (for a hint more sweetness) |
| Ground "meat" | Mince meat |
| H | — |
| Ham | Gammon |
| Hard Candy | Boiled Sweet |
| J | — |
| Jell-O | Jelly |
| Jelly | Jam or Preserves |
| L | — |
| Lady Finger | Sponge finger |
| Lemon-lime Soda | Lemonade |
| Lettuce, Romaine | Lettuce, Cos |
| Liverwurst | Sausage, Liver |
| M | — |
| Maizena | Cornflour |
| Marshmallow Cream or Fluff | Not available in the UK |
| Meatball | Faggot |
| Molasses | Treacle |
| N | — |
| Nut, Pine | Pine Kernel |
| O | — |
| Oatmeal, Cooked | Porridge |
| Onion, Spring | Onion, Salad |
| P | — |
| Papaya | Pawpaw |
| Pepper, Bell | Capsicum |
| Pepper, Green | Capsicum |
| Pie Shell | Pastry Case |
| Pine Nut | Pine Kernel |
| Potato, Baked | Potato, Jacket |
| Potato Chips | Crisps |
| Pumpkin Pie Spice | Mixed Spice |
| R | — |
| Rutabaga | Swede |
| Raisins, Golden | Sultanas |
| S | — |
| Saran Wrap | Cling Film |
| Sausage, Italian | “Thick coarse-cut pork sausage with hearty herb seasoning” |
| Sausages, Vienna | Hot Dogs |
| Scallion | Salad Onion |
| Shrimp | Prawns |
| Shortening | Butter, Margarine, or Lard |
| Shortening, Vegetable | This refers to Crisco, though shortening can be used. |
| Sprinkles, Chocolate | Vermiceli, Chocolate |
| Sprinkles, Colored | Hundreds & Thousands |
| Squash, Yellow | Vegetable Marrow |
| Stock, Beef | Stock, Brown |
| Sugar, Brown | Sugar, Demerara |
| Sugar, Confectioner’s | Sugar, Icing |
| Sugar, Raw or Unrefined | Sugar, Muscovado |
| Sugar, White | Sugar, Castor |
| Syrup, Corn | Syrup, Golden |
| Syrup, Light Corn | Syrup, Glucose |
| T | — |
| Taffy | Toffee |
| Tomato Paste | Tomato Puree |
| W | — |
| Waxed Paper | Greaseproof Paper |
| Z | — |
| Zucchini | Courgette |
| Zucchini, Large | Marrow |
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