International English food terms

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The following list of international English food terms points out differences in food terminology between some different dialects of English.

## List

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United States | Canada | UK | Australia

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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[1]
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 | Bread and butter pudding
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  | apple juice | sparkling apple juice
hard cider  | cider or hard cider  | cider | cider
vermouth | Vermouth  | 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

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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

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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

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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

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* Food portal
* Language portal

* American and British English differences
* British Approved Name

## References

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1. ^ "What do you call these anyway? Why Australia is confused about onions". www.taste.com.au. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2024.