US-to-UK food names/substitutions/equivalents

I thought this list of UK names/equivalents/substitutions to US products might be useful to someone else, as they sure have been for me.   It's frustrating trying to cook for yourself to get that "taste of home", and not being able to find what you need!  I've added notes here and there to hopefully make it easier to find the right thing... I can't promise substitutions will be perfect, but at least you get a jumping-off point, eh?


All-purpose flour = plain flour
Bread flour = strong flour/hard flour/bread flour
Self-rising flour = self-raising flour
Cake/pastry flour = soft flour
Whole wheat flour = wholemeal flour
Corn flour = extra fine cornmeal/maize flour
Cornstarch = corn flour
Powdered sugar/confectioner's sugar = icing sugar
Granulated sugar = caster sugar
Baking soda = bicarbonate of soda (often found in a plastic or cardboard jar, rather than box)
Corn syrup = golden syrup
Molasses = treacle
Shortening (Crisco) = vegetable fat spread (brand names include Cookeen, Stork)
Non-dairy whipped topping (Cool Whip) = long-life UHT cream/whipped cream substitute
Half and half = single cream
Whipping/heavy cream = double cream/whipping cream
2% milk = semi-skimmed milk
Pumpkin pie spice = mixed spice (contains coriander, rather than nutmeg)
Cilantro = coriander leaves
Bacon = smoked streaky bacon rashers
Ground beef/pork/etc. = fine mince beef/pork/etc.
Beef/pork/etc. tenderloin = beef/pork/etc. fillet
Tomato paste = tomato puree (will often come in a metal tube inside a cardboard box, like toothpaste)
Green onions = spring onions
Green beans/string beans = spring beans
Great Northern beans = cannellini beans
Zucchini = courgette
Snow peas = mangetout
Fava beans = broad beans
Eggplant = aubergine
Garbanzo beans = chickpeas
Instant pudding mix = whipped dessert mix (Angel Delight brand is very close)

Also, lots of good info, here: 

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=34101.0

Handy list, but a few (slightly pedantic) points, hope you don't mind!

Cake/pastry flour = soft flour

I have never heard of this! I use plain flour for baking.

Granulated sugar = caster sugar

In the UK, granulated sugar is harder and has bigger grains than caster sugar.   Caster is used in cooking, granulated in coffee and tea.

Baking soda = bicarbonate of soda (often found in a plastic or cardboard jar, rather than box)

We interchange the names here.

Half and half = single cream

There was a thread on this a while ago...I think they may be different.

Pumpkin pie spice = mixed spice (contains coriander, rather than nutmeg)

Mixed spice always has nutmeg in it...it may have coriander too.

Vicky

I would also say that Golden Syrup and Corn syrup aren't really the same thing.  They are both sweet, but they don't really work in the same recipes. 

I missed that!

They are totally different.  Golden syrup is made from refined sugar cane.  I don't think corn syup is available here, as it is not used in cooking, although it is in a lot of products.

Vicky

They are totally different.  Golden syrup is made from refined sugar cane.  I don't think corn syup is available here, as it is not used in cooking, although it is in a lot of products.

Vicky

I would also say that Golden Syrup and Corn syrup aren't really the same thing.  They are both sweet, but they don't really work in the same recipes. 

I disagree, I use golden syrup as a substitute for corn syrup and get very good results.

I wouldn't use corn syrup as a substitute for Golden Syrup though.  Pour it on pancakes, anyone? 

Vicky

Great site:
http://www.foodsubs.com/

I wouldn't use corn syrup as a substitute for Golden Syrup though.  Pour it on pancakes, anyone? 

Well, yeah.  Regular Karo syrup (not golden syrup) was one thing my mom would put in the table when I was small - to go with pancakes, along with usually one other kind of (proper) pancake syrup.  I don't remember having it (the Karo) per se, but someone in the house must have been putting it on their pancakes.  (Maybe it was a poor folks' thing?) 

Green beans/string beans = spring beans

Never heard them called spring beans - usually runner beans or, for that matter, string beans!

Never heard them called spring beans - usually runner beans or, for that matter, string beans!

I think runner beans are something else, aren't they?

Green beans or I think they often (here) call them French beans:


Versus, runner beans:


Runner beans being longer and flatter?  Or am I confusing my beans as well? 

There was a thread on this a while ago...I think they may be different.

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=39005.0

Green beans or I think they often (here) call them French beans:

That first pic looks more like broad beans to me, MrsR!

dwarf beans work for green beans

US = UK

Ketchup = tomato sauce or red sauce

Soda/pop = fizzy drink

Any fizzy drink/soda/pop with lemon or lime (sprite, 7-up, etc.) = lemonade

Salad (mayonnaise mixture, such as chicken salad, tuna salad, seafood salad) = sandwich filler

Tuna sandwich with lettuce = tuna salad sandwich (same for chicken, etc.)

Cold cuts = cooked meat (or chicken, turkey, etc.)

Never heard them called spring beans - usually runner beans or, for that matter, string beans!

Or string-LESS beans!  Also known in the US as pole beans.