American → British ingredients
Same kitchen, different words
Translate your shopping list — and know when a swap needs a little care.
65 ingredients
Flours, grains & baking (12)
US All-purpose flourUK Plain flour
Protein content varies by brand; not self-raising flour.
US Baking sodaUK Bicarbonate of soda
Not baking powder; they are not interchangeable.
US Bread flourUK Strong bread flour
Strong wheat flour for bread; protein varies. Not plain or self-raising flour.
US Cake flourUK Plain flour (recipe-dependent)
Suggested substitute — check recipe
Cake flour is usually lower in protein and may be treated differently. Plain flour changes the crumb; some cake flours contain raising agents. Check the recipe.
US Coarse cornmealUK Polenta (coarse, uncooked)
Dry coarse maize meal only; instant/pre-cooked polenta behaves differently. Not cornstarch.
US Corn flour (US)UK Maize flour (finely milled)
Whole maize flour, not the white starch called cornflour in the UK. Check product origin and label.
US CornstarchUK Cornflour
US corn flour is finely ground maize, a different ingredient.
US Garbanzo bean flourUK Chickpea flour
Ground chickpeas. Gram/besan blends may use different pulses; check the label.
US Graham crackersUK Digestive biscuits
Suggested substitute — check recipe
For crumb bases, flavour and sweetness differ. Adjust added sugar and butter to the recipe.
US Self-rising flourUK Self-raising flour
Suggested substitute — check recipe
US self-rising usually includes salt; UK mixes often do not. Raising-agent amounts and protein vary; adjust the recipe.
US Steel-cut oatsUK Pinhead oatmeal
Cut oat groats, dry; not rolled/quick oats, instant oats or cooked porridge.
US Whole-wheat flourUK Wholemeal wheat flour
Whole-grain wheat flour; not white whole-wheat pastry flour. Milling and protein vary.
Fruit, vegetables & pulses (20)
US ArugulaUK Rocket
US BeetsUK Beetroot
US Bell pepperUK Sweet pepper
Red, green or yellow as specified; not hot chilli peppers.
US Bok choyUK Pak choi
Not Chinese leaf/napa cabbage.
US BroccoliniUK Tenderstem broccoli
Long-stemmed broccoli type; not broccoli rabe/rapini.
US Chili pepper / chile pepperUK Chilli pepper
Match variety and heat; US chili powder may be a spice blend, not pure ground chilli.
US Corn (sweet)UK Sweetcorn
Sweet edible kernels; not maize flour, cornmeal or field corn.
US EggplantUK Aubergine
US Fava beansUK Broad beans
Not lima/butter beans.
US Garbanzo beansUK Chickpeas
Match dried, canned or cooked preparation to the recipe.
US Golden raisinsUK Sultanas
Light dried grapes; colour and processing vary. Not dark raisins or dried currants.
US Lima beans (mature)UK Butter beans
Mature pale beans; young green baby lima beans differ in texture. Not broad beans.
US Navy beansUK Haricot beans
Small white beans; match dried/cooked/canned state.
US RutabagaUK Swede
Not the smaller white turnip.
US Scallions / green onionsUK Spring onions
US Snow peasUK Mangetout
Flat edible pods; not sugar snap peas or shelled peas.
US Soybeans / soy beansUK Soya beans
The beans; not soy sauce. Match dried/mature beans or young edamame.
US Tomato pasteUK Tomato purée
Concentrated tomato paste. US tomato puree is less concentrated; not passata.
US Tomato puree (US)UK Passata (closest starting point)
Suggested substitute — check recipe
US puree is generally thicker and often cooked. Passata varies; adjust reduction/liquid. UK tomato purée is concentrated paste.
US ZucchiniUK Courgette
Dairy & cream (9)
US Cream cheese (block)UK Full-fat soft cream cheese
Suggested substitute — check recipe
UK tubs can contain more moisture than US blocks. Frosting and cheesecake texture may change; avoid whipped/light spreads unless specified.
US Half-and-halfUK Milk and single cream blend
Suggested substitute — check recipe
US half-and-half is 10.5% to under 18% fat. Use a recipe-specific milk/cream blend; single cream alone may be richer. No universal ratio.
US Heavy cream / heavy whipping creamUK Whipping cream (closer) / double cream (richer)
Suggested substitute — check recipe
US heavy cream is at least 36% fat; UK whipping cream is at least 35%, double at least 48%. Results can differ.
US Light creamUK Single cream
Suggested substitute — check recipe
US light cream is 18% to under 30% fat; UK single cream is at least 18%. Similar pouring use, but fat can differ; not a whipping substitute.
US Nonfat dry milkUK Skimmed milk powder
Dried skimmed milk category; UK/US protein standards and heat treatment can differ. Not liquid milk or whole-milk powder.
US Nonfat milk / skim milkUK Skimmed milk
Liquid dairy milk, not dried milk powder.
US Sour creamUK Soured cream
Cultured sour cream; not crème fraîche or ordinary pouring cream.
US Whipping cream (US, not heavy)UK Whipping cream (UK)
Suggested substitute — check recipe
US light whipping cream is 30% to under 36% fat; UK whipping cream is at least 35%. Check the carton and whipping requirements.
US Whole milkUK Full-fat milk
Whole dairy milk; not evaporated or sweetened condensed milk.
Sugars, chocolate & preserves (9)
US Bittersweet chocolateUK Dark chocolate
Suggested substitute — check recipe
Match cocoa percentage and sugar content; the term does not fix a single cocoa percentage. Not unsweetened chocolate.
US Chocolate morselsUK Chocolate chips
Regular baking chips; match milk/dark chocolate. Mini and white chips have separate converter entries.
US Confectioners’ sugar / powdered sugarUK Icing sugar
Check for added starch if it matters to your recipe.
US Dark corn syrupUK Black treacle
Suggested substitute — check recipe
Different sugar composition, flavour and bitterness. Use only when the recipe tolerates a change; not a precise confectionery swap.
US Jelly (fruit preserve)UK Smooth seedless jam
Suggested substitute — check recipe
US jelly uses strained juice; UK jam may retain fruit pulp. Texture and setting differ. This is not UK dessert jelly.
US Light corn syrupUK Golden syrup
Suggested substitute — check recipe
Different flavour and colour. Not a reliable direct swap in precise sugar work.
US MolassesUK Black treacle
Suggested substitute — check recipe
Regular molasses and black treacle can work similarly, but flavour varies. Blackstrap molasses is much more bitter; not golden syrup.
US Semisweet chocolateUK Dark chocolate
Suggested substitute — check recipe
Match cocoa percentage and sweetness; UK dark chocolate can be much less sweet.
US Superfine sugarUK Caster sugar
Fine crystals; not ordinary granulated sugar or icing sugar.
Nuts & seeds (5)
US Almond mealUK Ground almonds (meal)
Ground almonds; naming and blanching vary. Fine almond flour has a separate cup weight.
US Flax mealUK Ground linseed
Ground seeds; not whole linseed. Cup weights differ.
US FlaxseedUK Linseed (whole)
Whole seeds; not flax meal or ground linseed.
US PepitasUK Pumpkin seeds from hull-less varieties
Specific naturally hull-less varieties, not every hulled pumpkin seed. No separate cup weight is inferred.
US Sliced almondsUK Flaked almonds
Thin flakes/slices; not the thicker almond slivers or whole kernels.
Meat & bacon (4)
US Bacon (American-style)UK Streaky bacon
Belly bacon; not UK back bacon. Match smoked/unsmoked and raw/cooked state.
US Ground beefUK Beef mince
Choose the fat percentage your recipe needs.
US Ground porkUK Pork mince
Match fat content; not sausage meat with seasonings.
US Ground turkeyUK Turkey mince
Match meat/fat content; breast-only products can be much leaner.
Oils, herbs & seasonings (6)
US Canola oilUK Rapeseed oil (food-grade)
Culinary low-erucic rapeseed oil. Cold-pressed and refined oils differ in flavour and heat tolerance.
US CilantroUK Fresh coriander
Leaves and stems; US coriander usually means the seed.
US Kosher saltUK Coarse sea salt (recipe-dependent)
Suggested substitute — check recipe
Crystal size and bulk weight vary substantially, even between US brands. Use the recipe’s salt weight; never assume equal spoonfuls.
US Peanut oilUK Groundnut oil
Peanut-derived oil; check allergy guidance and refined/unrefined requirements.
US Pumpkin pie spiceUK Mixed spice
Suggested substitute — check recipe
Both are sweet spice blends, but proportions and ingredients vary. Adjust to taste and check the recipe.
US Vanilla beanUK Vanilla pod
The pod and seeds, not vanilla extract or paste.
No matches. Try another ingredient or its British name.
A name match doesn’t guarantee identical brands or formulations. Substitutes can change flavour, texture and recipe performance. Sources & guidance