What’s the Difference? Answers to 25 Common Food Mixups

updated May 30, 2019
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(Image credit: Faith Durand)

You’ve probably encountered ingredients in recipes and other food products that sound really similar and have wondered what their differences are. What’s the difference between pinot gris and pinot grigio? Are polenta and cornmeal just really the same thing in different languages? Here are 25 common food mixups that we’ve demystified so that you’re armed with the right information.

Similar-sounding ingredients can often be used interchangeably, but sometimes there are actually big differences in the compositions of these ingredients and how best to use them. Read up on these common food mixups and learn what makes each item unique, plus learn how to identify them correctly in the future!

Produce

(Image credit: Faith Durand)

Dairy and Eggs

Meat and Seafood

(Image credit: Sean D)

Baking Ingredients

Pantry Ingredients

(Image credit: Faith Durand)

Dishes

Beverages

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