Cooking can involve terminology that is easy to mix up. Here’s a list of commonly confused cooking terms and explanations.
Have you ever read a recipe and found yourself scratching your head over some of the terms? Or maybe you’ve wondered about the subtle (or not-so-subtle) differences between ingredients or the cooking process that seem to be the same but are actually distinct? It happens more often than you might think!
The more I’ve been cooking and writing about it for my blog, the more I’ve noticed that certain culinary terms are commonly confused. Whether you’re a beginner in the kitchen or a seasoned home cook, these terms seem to pop up time and time again. Some of them might even look or sound like they’re used interchangeably in recipes, but the truth is, there are differences.
And yet, the confusion persists—why is that? Well, aside from the fact that the English language can be downright baffling, these words must have distinct meanings for a reason. After all, if they truly meant the same thing, why would we need separate terms to describe them? So, let’s dive into this list of commonly mixed-up cooking terminology and clear up the mystery once and for all!

Originally Published On: November 28, 2017
Last Updated On: December 4, 2024
Cooking Method Commonly Confused Cooking Terms
Bake vs. Roast
- Bake: Cooking with dry heat, typically in an oven, used for foods like bread, cakes, and pastries.
- Roast: Cooking with dry heat, typically at higher temperatures than baking, used for meats, vegetables, and nuts.
Boil vs. Simmer
- Boil: Cooking a liquid at a high temperature (212°F/100°C at sea level) where large bubbles break the surface vigorously.
- Simmer: Cooking a liquid just below boiling point (180–205°F/82–96°C), with small bubbles gently rising to the surface.
Sauté vs. Stir Fry
- Sauté: Cooking food quickly in a small amount of fat over medium-high heat, typically in a shallow pan.
- Stir-fry: Cooking food quickly over very high heat while constantly stirring, usually in a wok.
Braise vs. Stew
- Braise: Cooking food slowly in a small amount of liquid, typically in a covered pot, with larger cuts of meat or vegetables.
- Stew: Cooking food slowly in a larger amount of liquid, often with smaller pieces of meat and vegetables.
Grill vs. Broil
- Grill: Cooking food on a grate over direct heat, typically outdoors.
- Broil: Cooking food under direct heat from above, usually in an oven.
Pan Fry vs. Deep Frying
- Pan Fry: Involves cooking food in a small amount of oil ensuring the food is browned and crispy on the outside while remaining tender inside.
- Deep frying: Immerses food completely in hot oil, cooking it quickly and creating a crisp, golden exterior with a fully cooked interior.
Blanch vs. Parboil
- Blanch: Quickly cooking food in boiling water and then plunging it into ice water to stop cooking, often used to loosen skins or preserve color.
- Parboil: Partially boiling food to pre-cook it, often before grilling or roasting (e.g., potatoes or ribs).
Sear vs. Sauté
- Sear: Cooking the surface of food at high heat to create a caramelized crust (usually on meat or fish).
- Sauté: Cooking food quickly in a small amount of fat over medium-high heat, often stirring or tossing.
Poach vs. Boil
- Poach: Gently cooking food in liquid at a low temperature (about 160–180°F), without bubbling (e.g., eggs or fish).
- Boil: Cooking food in liquid at high temperature (212°F), with vigorous bubbles.
Deglaze vs. Reduce
- Deglaze: Adding liquid to a hot pan to loosen and dissolve browned bits for flavor (often in sauces).
- Reduce: Simmering a liquid to evaporate water and concentrate flavor.
Season vs. Flavor
- Season: Adding salt (and sometimes pepper) to enhance the food’s natural taste.
- Flavor: Adding herbs, spices, or other ingredients to impart a new taste.

Baking Commonly Confused Cooking Terms
Frosting vs Icing
- Frosting: a sweet mixture, cooked or uncooked, for coating or filling cakes, cookies, and the like.
- Icing: a sweet, creamy spread, as of confectioners’ sugar, butter, and flavoring, for covering cakes, cookies, etc.
Dough vs Batter
- Dough: flour or meal combined with water, milk, etc., in a mass for baking into bread, cake, etc.
- Batter: a mixture of flour, milk or water, eggs, etc., beaten together for use in cookery
Dry Ingredients vs. Wet Ingredients
- Dry ingredients: Typically powders or granules, such as flour, sugar, and baking powder, that provide structure and texture to a recipe.
- Wet ingredients: Liquids like water, milk, eggs, and oils, which help combine and activate the dry ingredients for proper consistency and moisture.
Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder
- Baking Soda: A single-ingredient leavening agent (sodium bicarbonate) that requires an acidic ingredient (like vinegar, buttermilk, or lemon juice) to activate and produce gas for rising.
- Baking Powder: A combination of baking soda, an acid, and a drying agent (like cornstarch). It only requires liquid to activate.
Granulated Sugar vs. Powdered Sugar vs. Brown Sugar
- Granulated Sugar: The most common type of sugar, fine white crystals used for general baking and sweetening.
- Powdered Sugar: A finely ground sugar mixed with a small amount of cornstarch, often used for frosting, glazes, and dusting desserts.
- Brown Sugar: Sugar that contains molasses, giving it a moist texture and a rich, caramel-like flavor.
Powdered Sugar vs. Confectioner’s Sugar
- Powdered sugar and confectioners’ sugar are the same thing, both referring to finely ground sugar mixed with a small amount of cornstarch to prevent clumping. This sugar is commonly used for making smooth frostings, glazes, and dusting desserts.
Fold vs. Mix
- Fold: Gently incorporating ingredients (e.g., whipped cream, egg whites) to retain air and texture.
- Mix: Combining ingredients thoroughly, often with more vigorous stirring.
All-Purpose Flour vs. Self-Rising Flour
- All-Purpose Flour: A versatile flour used in most baking recipes; it does not contain leavening agents.
- Self-Rising Flour: All-purpose flour with added baking powder and salt, often used in quick breads or biscuits.
Beating vs. Creaming
- Beating: Vigorously mixing ingredients to incorporate air or combine them thoroughly.
- Creaming: Beating butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, often as the first step in baking cookies or cakes.
Proofing vs. Fermenting
- Proofing: Allowing dough to rise after shaping (final rise) before baking, usually in a warm, humid environment.
- Fermenting: The initial rise of the dough, during which yeast consumes sugars and produces carbon dioxide and alcohol.
Glaze vs. Wash
- Glaze: A shiny coating applied to baked goods, often made of sugar syrup, jelly, or egg-based mixtures.
- Wash: A liquid (like egg, milk, or water) brushed on dough before baking to enhance browning or give a glossy finish.
Shortening vs. Butter
- Shortening: Solid fat made from vegetable oils, used to create flaky textures in baked goods.
- Butter: Fat made from cream, which adds flavor and can also create flaky textures, though with a slightly different result than shortening.
Dusting vs. Flour Coating
- Dusting: Lightly sprinkling flour, powdered sugar, or cocoa over a surface or baked good.
- Flour Coating: Applying a thin layer of flour to a pan or surface to prevent sticking.
Kneading vs. Folding Dough
- Kneading: Working dough to develop gluten, typically with a pressing and folding motion.
- Folding Dough: A gentler process, often used in laminated doughs (like croissants) to incorporate butter layers.
Blind Baking vs. Par-Baking
- Blind Baking: Baking a pie crust partially or fully without filling, often using weights to prevent puffing.
- Par-Baking: Partially baking a crust or dough, which will be finished baking later with a filling.

Food Prep Commonly Confused Cooking Terms
Stock vs Broth vs Consommé
- Broth: any liquid that has had meat, fish, vegetables, or legumes cooked in it
- Consommé: a clear soup made by boiling meat or chicken, bones, vegetables, etc., to extract their nutritive properties
- Stock: liquid frombones, simmered for a long time to extract their gelatin and flavor
Baste vs. Marinate
- Baste: Pouring or brushing liquid (e.g., melted butter, pan juices) over food while it cooks to keep it moist.
- Marinate: Soaking food in a seasoned liquid before cooking to enhance flavor.
Puree vs. Mash
- Puree: Blending food until completely smooth (e.g., soups or sauces).
- Mash: Crushing food into a coarse or smooth texture with a tool, like a potato masher.
Fillet vs. Butterfly
- Fillet: Cutting meat or fish into boneless pieces.
- Butterfly: Splitting food (like chicken breast or shrimp) horizontally to open it like a book.
Chop vs. Dice vs. Mince
- Chop: Cutting food into larger, irregular pieces.
- Dice: Cutting food into small, uniform cubes (can be small, medium, or large dice).
- Mince: Cutting food into extremely fine, tiny pieces, often for garlic, herbs, or onions.
Julienne vs. Batonnet
- Julienne: Cutting food into thin, matchstick-sized strips (about 1/8 inch thick).
- Batonnet: Cutting food into slightly thicker sticks (about 1/4 inch thick).
Shred vs. Grate
- Shred: Cutting food into long, thin strips, either by hand or with a shredding tool (e.g., cabbage for coleslaw).
- Grate: Rubbing food against a grater to produce small, fine particles (e.g., cheese or zest).
Peel vs. Pare
- Peel: Removing the outer skin or layer of food (e.g., bananas or oranges) using your hands or a peeler.
- Pare: Trimming off the outer layer or imperfections with a knife (e.g., potatoes or apples).
Whip vs. Beat
- Whip: Adding air into ingredients (e.g., cream or egg whites) to make them light and fluffy.
- Beat: Combining ingredients vigorously to make them smooth or incorporate air.
Garnish vs. Topping
- Garnish: A decorative element added to a dish, often edible (e.g., parsley or lemon zest).
- Topping: An additional layer of food that enhances taste and texture (e.g., cheese or croutons).
Toss vs. Stir
- Toss: Mixing ingredients gently, often in a bowl (e.g., salad).
- Stir: Mixing ingredients more thoroughly, often in a pot or pan.
Pan Sauce vs. Gravy
- Pan sauce: Made by deglazing the fond left in the pan after cooking meat, using liquids like wine, broth, or cream, and often seasoned with herbs.
- Gravy: Typically made by thickening pan drippings with flour or cornstarch, creating a thicker, more substantial sauce for serving with meats or mashed potatoes.

Fruit & Vegetable Commonly Confused Cooking Terms
Fruit vs. Vegetable
- Fruit: The mature ovary of a flowering plant, usually containing seeds (e.g., apples, tomatoes, and cucumbers).
- Vegetable: Any edible part of a plant that isn’t a fruit, such as leaves (lettuce), stems (celery), roots (carrots), or bulbs (onions).
Rind vs Zest
- Zest: the peel, especially the thin outer peel, of a citrus fruit used for flavoring
- Rind: a thick and firm outer coat or covering, as of certain fruits, cheeses, and meats
Jelly vs Jam vs Preserves
- Jelly: a food preparation of a soft, elastic consistency due to the presence of gelatin, pectin, etc., especially fruit juice boiled down with sugar and used as a sweet spread for bread and toast, as a filling for cakes or doughnuts, etc.
- Jam: a preserve of whole fruit, slightly crushed, boiled with sugar
- Preserves: to prepare (fruit, vegetables, etc.) by cooking with sugar, pickling, canning, or the like
Sweet Potato vs Yam
- Yam: A starchy tuber from the Dioscorea genus, native to Africa and Asia, with rough, scaly skin.
- Sweet Potato: A root vegetable from the Ipomoea genus, with smoother skin and flesh that ranges from orange to white or purple.
Bell Pepper vs. Chili Pepper
- Bell Pepper: A mild, sweet pepper with no heat, available in various colors (green, red, yellow, orange).
- Chili Pepper: A spicy pepper, ranging in heat levels, used to add spice to dishes (e.g., jalapeño, habanero).
Cilantro vs. Parsley
- Cilantro: The leafy part of the coriander plant, with a distinct, citrusy flavor.
- Parsley: A milder herb, often used as a garnish, with curly or flat leaves.
Zucchini vs. Cucumber
- Zucchini: A type of summer squash, with a tender texture and often cooked.
- Cucumber: A crunchy, watery fruit, typically eaten raw.
Scallion vs. Green Onion
- Scallion: Another name for green onion, referring to immature onions with a mild flavor.
- Green Onion: The same as a scallion; they’re used interchangeably.
Shallot vs. Onion
- Shallot: A smaller, milder-flavored onion with a slightly sweet taste, often used in dressings or sauces.
- Onion: Larger and more pungent, available in many varieties (e.g., yellow, red, or white onions).
Turnip vs. Rutabaga
- Turnip: A smaller root vegetable with white flesh and purple or greenish tops; milder flavor.
- Rutabaga: A larger, sweeter root vegetable, often with yellowish flesh and a thicker skin.
Nectarine vs. Peach
- Nectarine: A smooth-skinned variety of peach, slightly firmer and often sweeter.
- Peach: A fruit with fuzzy skin and soft, juicy flesh.
Plum vs. Prune
- Plum: The fresh, juicy fruit.
- Prune: A dried version of a specific type of plum.
Chard vs. Kale
- Chard: A leafy green with colorful stalks (often red or yellow) and tender leaves.
- Kale: A leafy green with tougher leaves, often curly or flat, requiring more cooking or massaging for tenderness.
Rhubarb vs. Celery
- Rhubarb: A tart vegetable often used in desserts; only the stalks are edible.
- Celery: A crunchy, savory vegetable, typically eaten raw or cooked; leaves and stalks are edible.
Grape vs. Currant
- Grape: A juicy fruit from a vine, used for eating fresh, raisins, or wine.
- Currant: A small, tart fruit (red, black, or white), or a type of dried grape in baking.
Green Beans vs. Snap Peas
- Green Beans: Long, slender pods with tiny beans inside, eaten cooked.
- Snap Peas: Plump pods that are sweet and crunchy, often eaten raw or lightly cooked.
Cherry Tomato vs. Grape Tomato
- Cherry Tomato: Round and juicy, with a thin skin and sweet flavor.
- Grape Tomato: Oblong and firmer, with a slightly less sweet taste.
Cantaloupe vs. Honeydew
- Cantaloupe: An orange-fleshed melon with a netted rind and sweet flavor.
- Honeydew: A green-fleshed melon with smooth skin and a milder sweetness.
Plantain vs. Banana
- Plantain: Starchy, larger, and often cooked before eating.
- Banana: Sweet, soft, and typically eaten raw.
Kale vs. Spinach
- Kale: Tougher, curly, or flat leaves, with a stronger, slightly bitter flavor.
- Spinach: Tender leaves, mild flavor, and often used raw or lightly cooked.

Pasta Commonly Confused Cooking Terms
Spaghetti vs. Linguine vs. Fettuccine
- Spaghetti: Thin, round strands of pasta.
- Linguine: Slightly wider and flat strands, often paired with seafood or creamy sauces.
- Fettuccine: Wider and flat strands, ideal for hearty sauces like Alfredo.
Ravioli vs. Tortellini
- Ravioli: Square or rectangular pasta pockets filled with various ingredients like cheese or meat.
- Tortellini: Small, ring-shaped pasta filled with similar ingredients, often served in broth or sauce.
Macaroni vs. Elbow Pasta
- Macaroni: General term for short, tubular pasta.
- Elbow Pasta: A specific type of macaroni with a curved, elbow-like shape.
Penne vs. Ziti
- Penne: Short, tube-shaped pasta with diagonally cut ends; available smooth (lisce) or ridged (rigate).
- Ziti: Slightly longer, smooth tubes with straight-cut ends, often used in baked dishes.
Al Dente vs. Cooked Pasta
- Al Dente: Pasta cooked al dente has a firm texture with a slight bite, perfect for holding up in sauces.
- Cooked: Fully cooked pasta is soft and tender, ideal for casseroles or soups where a softer texture is desired.

Meat Commonly Confused Terms
Here’s a guide to commonly confused terms in regards to types of meat and terms to help you distinguish them.
Beef vs. Veal
- Beef: Meat from a mature cow, usually over 1–2 years old, with a rich flavor.
- Veal: Meat from young calves, typically 6–8 months old, known for its tender texture and milder taste.
Pork vs. Ham
- Pork: General term for a piece of meat from a pig, including fresh cuts like chops, ribs, and roasts.
- Ham: Specifically the cured or smoked hind leg of a pig, often pre-cooked.
Lamb vs. Mutton
- Lamb: Meat from a sheep less than one year old, tender and mild in flavor.
- Mutton: Meat from an older sheep, over one year old, with a stronger, gamier taste.
Bacon vs. Pancetta
- Bacon: Salt-cured and often smoked pork belly or back, usually cooked before eating.
- Pancetta: Italian salt-cured pork belly, not smoked, often used in dishes like carbonara.
Ground Beef vs. Minced Beef
- Ground Beef: Typically machine-processed, uniform texture, often includes added fat.
- Minced Beef: Hand- or machine-chopped beef with a coarser texture, usually without added fat.
Brisket vs. Flank
- Brisket: A cut from the chest, ideal for slow-cooking or smoking due to its toughness.
- Flank: A cut from the belly, leaner and best suited for marinating and quick cooking.
Tenderloin vs. Filet Mignon
- Tenderloin: The whole, long, lean muscle from the cow’s back, known for its tenderness.
- Filet Mignon: The most tender portion of the tenderloin, typically cut into small steaks.
Ribeye vs. Sirloin
- Ribeye: A cut from the rib section, marbled with fat, offering a rich, juicy flavor.
- Sirloin: A leaner cut from the back of the cow, less marbled but still flavorful.
Spare Ribs vs. Baby Back Ribs
- Spare Ribs: Larger, meatier ribs from the belly section of a pig.
- Baby Back Ribs: Smaller, leaner ribs from the upper part of the ribcage, near the spine.
Steak vs. Roast
- Steak: A single portion cut of meat, usually cooked quickly by grilling, broiling, or pan-frying.
- Roast: A large cut of meat, meant to be cooked slowly in an oven or on a rotisserie.
White Meat vs. Dark Meat
- White Meat: Lighter-colored meat, like chicken breast or turkey breast, lower in fat.
- Dark Meat: Darker-colored meat, like chicken thighs or legs, higher in fat and more flavorful.
Chuck vs. Round
- Chuck: A cut from the shoulder, flavorful but tougher cuts of meat, best for slow cooking.
- Round: A cut from the back leg, lean and less tender, often used for roasts or ground meat.
Sausage vs. Salami
- Sausage: Fresh, ground meat (usually pork or beef) mixed with spices, often sold uncooked.
- Salami: Cured and fermented sausage, dry and ready to eat without cooking.

Cooking Equipment Commonly Confused Terms
Skillet vs. Frying Pan
- Skillet: Often used interchangeably with “frying pan,” but typically refers to a heavier pan, often made of cast iron, with a flat bottom and sloped sides.
- Frying Pan: A lighter pan with sloped sides, ideal for quick frying or sautéing.
Sauté Pan vs. Frying Pan
- Sauté Pan: Has straight sides and a larger flat cooking surface, great for cooking with liquids or tossing ingredients.
- Frying Pan: Has sloped sides, making it easier to flip or stir food.
Saucepan vs. Saucier
- Saucepan: A deep pan with straight sides, perfect for boiling or simmering.
- Saucier: A pan with sloped sides and a rounded bottom, making it ideal for whisking sauces.
Dutch Oven vs. Stockpot
- Dutch Oven: A heavy, thick-walled pot, often made of cast iron, used for slow-cooking or braising.
- Stockpot: A large, tall pot with thinner walls, designed for boiling or making stock.
Baking Sheet vs. Sheet Pan
- Baking Sheet: A flat, rimless sheet used for cookies or pastries.
- Sheet Pan: A flat pan with raised edges, suitable for roasting or baking foods with juices.
Grill Pan vs. Griddle
- Grill Pan: A pan with raised ridges to create grill marks and drain fat.
- Griddle: A flat, smooth pan or surface, ideal for pancakes or sandwiches.
Roasting Pan vs. Baking Dish
- Roasting Pan: A large, heavy pan, often with a rack, designed for roasting meats and vegetables.
- Baking Dish: A glass or ceramic dish, often used for casseroles or baked goods.
Wok vs. Sauté Pan
- Wok: A round-bottomed pan with high, sloped sides, great for stir-frying.
- Sauté Pan: A flat-bottomed pan with straight sides, better for simmering or browning.
Cast Iron Pan vs. Nonstick Pan
- Cast Iron Pan: Heavy, durable, and versatile, retaining heat well but requiring seasoning at the bottom of the pan.
- Nonstick Pan: Lightweight and easy to clean, designed for low-fat cooking and better for low heat.
Muffin Pan vs. Cupcake Pan
- Muffin Pan: Typically has larger, deeper wells for muffins or larger baked goods.
- Cupcake Pan: Slightly smaller wells, designed for cupcakes or smaller treats.
Blender vs. Food Processor
- Blender: Designed for liquids and soft ingredients, great for smoothies, soups, and purees.
- Food Processor: Better for solid or tough ingredients, perfect for chopping, shredding, and making doughs.
Hand Mixer vs. Stand Mixer
- Hand Mixer: A handheld electric device for light mixing, whisking, or whipping tasks.
- Stand Mixer: A larger, stationary appliance with multiple attachments for heavy-duty tasks like kneading dough.
Mandoline vs. Spiralizer
- Mandoline: A flat slicing tool with adjustable blades for creating thin, uniform slices.
- Spiralizer: A tool designed to turn vegetables into long, spiral shapes (e.g., zucchini noodles).
Stockpot vs. Saucepan
- Stockpot: A large, tall pot used for boiling, making stocks, or cooking large quantities.
- Saucepan: A smaller, deep pot with a handle, ideal for making sauces or boiling small amounts of liquid.
Rolling Pin vs. Pastry Roller
- Rolling Pin: A long cylinder, often used for rolling out dough evenly.
- Pastry Roller: A smaller, handheld roller for detailed or small-scale rolling tasks.
Colander vs. Strainer
- Colander: A bowl with large holes, used for draining water from pasta or rinsing vegetables.
- Strainer: A fine-mesh tool used to sift flour, strain liquids, or separate finer particles.
Meat Thermometer vs. Instant-Read Thermometer
- Meat Thermometer: Designed to stay in meat during cooking to monitor internal temperature.
- Instant-Read Thermometer: A quick, handheld tool to check temperature after cooking or during short pauses.
Ladle vs. Skimmer
- Ladle: A deep, spoon-like tool used to serve soups or stews.
- Skimmer: A flat, perforated tool for removing food or foam from boiling liquids.
Dutch Oven vs. Casserole Dish
- Dutch Oven: A heavy, thick-walled pot, often cast iron, for braising, baking, or slow-cooking.
- Casserole Dish: A glass or ceramic dish used for oven-baked recipes.
Meat Mallet vs. Tenderizer
- Meat Mallet: A hammer-like tool used to flatten or tenderize meat.
- Tenderizer: A tool with small blades or needles that puncture the meat to break down fibers.
Baking Sheet vs. Roasting Pan
- Baking Sheet: A flat sheet with or without a rim, used for baking cookies or roasting vegetables.
- Roasting Pan: A deep pan with a rack, designed for roasting meat and collecting drippings.
Tongs vs. Spatula
- Tongs: A gripping tool for flipping or picking up food without piercing it.
- Spatula: A flat tool for flipping, spreading, or scraping food.
Rubber Spatula vs. Spatula
- Rubber spatula: Has a flexible, non-abrasive blade, ideal for scraping, folding, and mixing without damaging surfaces or bowls.
- Spatula: A broader term that can refer to a variety of flat, broad utensils, often used for flipping or turning food, such as in frying or grilling.
Microplane vs. Box Grater
- Microplane: A small, handheld tool for finely grating zest, garlic, or cheese.
- Box Grater: A larger, multi-sided grater with different-sized grating surfaces.
Steamer vs. Double Boiler
- Steamer: Kitchen appliance or setup used to cook food by exposing it to steam, typically in a perforated basket placed over boiling water.
- Double Boiler: Consists of two stacked pots, where the lower pot holds simmering water to gently heat the upper pot, often used for melting delicate ingredients like chocolate or making custards.


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Ha ha! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this article! I totally learned something new about baking powder and I am very excited about finally knowing what it does chemically in a recipe. I admit I might still be confused about Yams…lol.
Yeah, the yams/sweet potato thing is so confusing! Luckily, I don’t use them much so not much to worry about!
This was extremely helpful. I can follow a recipe well and I like to think I’m a good cook but for some reason I would always confuse baking powder and baking soda. Mystery solved!
Happy to help! I used to think they were interchangeable, not that they had specific uses!!
This is SO fantastic! The only one I felt I was sure on was the frosting vs icing. But I wasn’t exactly right there either. I thought of it as you did, that icing was thinner and able to be drizzled. I’m also intrigued that I have probably never eaten a true yam!
Right?! I had such fun researching this because I wasn’t sure either!
This is such a great resource! It seriously can get so confusing in the cooking world with all these different meanings or words that mean the same thing but how would anyone know that! Thanks to this – they will!
I was confused for a while. Still was on a few until I did a little research!
Nice explanation people can get confused with all the cooking terms. Me as an avid cook appreciate the information =)
I cook all the time and still had trouble with a few as well!
This is nice explanation, its true it get confusing and this is really was helpful. Gonna have to share with family and friends. Great job!
Thanks! I had to research a few as well since I wasn’t sure the meaning and I love to cook!
The icing verses frosting is not one I have thought about but is interesting. I always took batter has something you poured where dough was far too thick for that. I had no idea the differences of broth, stock, and consomme. What a fascinating post!
It’s funny because the batter vs dough is what got me thinking about it all! I wasn’t sure if it was how it was cooked, how it was prepared, or (as is the case) the consistency.
YES to the lemon zest, orange too! My dad just made stock with the turkey bones…
Thanks for this interesting post, I never thought about it until now and I love thinking about new things like this and learning : )
fun read!
Happy to teach new things! They were all nagging at me so I had to look it up and figured others may want to know as well.
I am definitely going to come back to this post! It is so helpful as I am doing my best to be a great cook for my family!
I hope it helps! There’s a lot to learn when trying to cook more, but it’s definitely worth it!
I’m a jam girl myself. Jelly is too jiggly and watery. I do like preserves when I want to be fancy and eat them at a hotel or something. Strangely I don’t buy preserves though. Weird shopping habits I guess.
It’s funny the habits we get into! I prefer jam or preserves as well.
These are certainly common confusions – thanks for clearing it all up Steph!!
You’re welcome! They are all ones I would mess up, so decided to finally do some research!
This is extremely helpful! Thank you so so much…I had no idea what the difference was between baking soda and baking powder, thank you so much for clarifying it for me.
I didn’t either. I just knew there was a difference and you couldn’t use one in place of the other!
Oh this is funny I used to use dough and batter interchangeably. I know they are not the same ugh
I did too. Or at least, I always wondered why there were two different terms and never thought more about it until I started writing recipes and figured it would be good to know!
Awesome information! I always use sweet potatoes and yams interchangeably, good to know the difference. When following a recipe I have to check and quickly get whatever is needed, baking powder or baking soda because I have one next to the other and get easily confused.
I think a lot of people mix up the two, I know I did! And I keep my baking soda and powder together too. I always check 2 or 3 times before adding it into a recipe since they also look very similar!
This is super useful! I always wondered about baking soda/ baking powder!
Me, too! All I knew was that you can’t mix them up or your recipe either won’t work or won’t taste good!
ah, that takes me back to culinary school! We had dictionaries and all! I wonder how we managed to learn all these hahaha! What a great post! Unleashing our inner chefs!
Oh I’m sure there were so many more things you learned in culinary school! I’ve been self-taught in the kitchen, so had to do some searching online over the years for various things like this.
Wow, I didn’t know there was a big difference for commonly cooking terms that sound like each. I always thought frosting and icing meant the same thing. Thanks for the information!
I figured there had to be some difference, but I had no idea what it was until doing some searching online. It’s funny how we can interchange words so easily and not know it!
This was a great post to come across. I create a lot of recipes, so I need to make sure I use the proper terms. I had never thought about the difference between icing and frosting before!!
Most of these I hadn’t thought much about until I started reading and writing recipes.
This is a really helpful article on commonly confused terms. I actually had the yam problem a couple years ago and had to research to find the correct item to make sweet potatoes for thanksgiving and that’s when I realized the difference!
I’ve never made the sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving, so it wasn’t something I really considered. It’s only recently that we’ve made sweet potatoes for a few meals that I learned the difference.
This is such a great informative post! To be honest,I have learned a lot from this post so thanks for sharing ☺
I’m so glad you were able to get some new information from this! I learned a lot doing the research for the post, too!