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Questions tagged [language]

Questions about naming and translation of culinary terms and phrases.

Although this site is in English, we have a number of users from non-English-speaking countries. If any user has a question about the proper terminology for a concept, tool, or food in English or in other languages, this is the proper category. This is also the tag to use for translation questions either from or into English.

This tag is also used for differentiation between two terms with similar meanings (parboil vs. blanching, noodle vs. pasta) or for request for definitions for classification.

233 questions
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What is a refrigerator tray in older recipes?

Many older cookbooks call for filling a “refrigerator tray”. For example, in the 1960 Better Homes and Gardens Dessert Cook Book the recipe for “Banana Ice Cream” says to “Pour into refrigerator trays. Freeze till firm.” and in Anne London’s 1972…
Jerry Stratton
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Why is fish not considered as meat?

While reading a thread on cooking, an old question popped into my head: I am an Asian and had no problems with dishes with both meat and “fish.” But some of my elder German friends say that meat and “fish” don't fit. Why is fish not considered as…
Ching Chong
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15
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2 answers

What's the process of making black garlic called?

it's not caramelized – it doesn't get hot enough. it's not fermented – the process is enzymatic, not due to fungus, yeast, or bacteria. it's not pickled – no acid brine is added it's not curing – no salt, nitrates, nitrites, or sugar are added…
pleasePassTheCheese
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14
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4 answers

What makes cake a Sponge Cake? And what doesn't?

I've been watching the Great British baking show and they refer to basically every cake as a sponge. I live in the USA and grew up in Australia. We just called cake, cake. I know how to make a victoria sponge, and a genoise and neither of these…
Rose
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14
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1 answer

What other English names are there for dried grapes?

In the US we refer to basically all dried grapes as raisins. In cooking shows in the UK I hear them refer to sultanas. I've also read that dried currants are really dried grapes, not actually the currant fruit that's been dried. Are there any other…
Steve Hiner
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14
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4 answers

What is the difference between noodles and pasta?

Is pasta just a fancy name for noodle? Or is pasta always an Italian style noodle? Is all pasta noodles? Or the other way around? This may be more of a language question than an actual food question...
Robert
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14
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4 answers

Is the "gamey" taste of venison just a polite name for "rotten"?

I have had a theory for a long time that it is the blood in the deer which causes the gamey flavor. Hunters gut the deer soon after a kill, but they don't bleed it or chill it for hours or days. It takes time to haul it from the woods, then drive…
Brent
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13
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2 answers

Why do we use the term Quick "Bread"?

I know there are questions here already about Quick bread vs cake, or muffins vs cupcakes. But I'm not asking about the sugar, fat ratio thing. I'm more interested in the "bread" part of it. To me whether it is American white bread, or Italian or…
Steve Paparatto
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4 answers

what is a 10 cent package of instant potatoes and biscuit mix

I am converting my mother's recipes in a book for our family. The recipe calls for a 10 cent package of instant potatoes and biscuit mix. does anyone have any idea of what that would equal out to be. Not sure how old the recipe is. My mother passed…
chris
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13
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5 answers

What is the difference between roasting, baking, and broasting?

For example, when making a turkey for Thanksgiving, I generally place it in the oven (covered in foil or a turkey bag), and cook it for many hours at the recommended heat setting. I can crock-pot a "roast" cut of meat for many hours, or put it in…
warren
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5 answers

What's the US equivalent of double and single cream?

I can find whipping cream, half and half, and even clotted cream where I'm staying in the US but not double or single cream, are these familiar terms or is there a US equivalent term?
tonylo
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What is the meaning of the term whole grain?

Often I have read that whole grains are healthy. So, what is a whole grain and what is a non-whole grain? The Pasta I have says "Durum wheat" as the ingredient. What should I understand by that?
Aquarius_Girl
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13
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2 answers

What is wok hai and how do I get it in my food?

There is something special about food cooked in a wok called wok hai? What is it and how do I get my food to have it?
nohat
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13
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What is the difference in blanching and parboiling?

From the time I was very young and just beginning to cook, I always heard about blanching but never heard of parboiling. I learned how to blanch vegetables to prepare for freezing, removing skins from tomatoes and nuts, etc., all pretty…
Cindy
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12
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1 answer

What's the difference between a deep fryer and a chip pan?

As described in the Wikipedia article, a chip pan is a pan that contains oil for frying. The oil is heated to a high temperature, and then usually a metal basket is lowered into the pan for frying of things, such as chips. The article contains this…
Zebrafish
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