Have
you ever been confused between a jam and a jelly? Or maybe a prawn and a
shrimp? You are not alone. There are many food items that appear so
identical they are often mistaken for one another despite being
different. Some of them, like a cucumber and a zucchini, are so similar
in appearance that it often becomes hard to differentiate between theToday, we will look at a few such
food pairs that have commonly confused all of us. We will help
you differentiate between these identical foods so that you can easily
tell them apart the next time.
That small confusion can lead to embarrassing mistakes and also surprise
our taste buds.
1. Jam vs. jelly
Both
jam and jelly have fruits as their main ingredients but the main
difference between the two is the shape they eventually take. Jam has a
chunkier texture and a spreadable consistency while jelly has a much
smoother consistency. Moreover, jam is prepared with crushed fruit or
pulp, and jelly is primarily made with fruit juice.
For making jam,
fruit is chopped, crushed, and cooked with sugar. To make jelly, fruit
juice is boiled with sugar, rather than crushed fruit pieces that give
it a firm, gel-like texture.
2. Nectarines vs. peaches
Nectarines
and peaches are extremely similar summer fruits, but they do have some
slight differences in size, texture, and taste. Both fruits are almost
genetically identical and are often used interchangeably in cooking.
However, peaches have a dominant form of a gene that gives them a fuzzy
skin and a softer texture. Nectarines are smooth and have a slightly
firmer texture than peaches. They also tend to be a little smaller.
Since peaches have thicker coats, they need to be peeled while the
firmer texture of nectarines makes an excellent fruit for the grill.
3. Cupcake vs. muffin
There
are many out there who believe that cupcakes and muffins are the same.
It can be hard to pinpoint the difference between the two as they
usually have the same ingredients - flour, eggs, butter, sugar, and
milk. However, it is the mixing process and the consistency of the
batter that separates cupcakes and muffins.
Cupcakes are made by creaming the butter and sugar together to make a smooth and fluffy batter. Moreover, cupcake batter is beaten much longer than muffin batter which helps produce a consistency of air bubbles throughout the cupcake. The muffin batter, meanwhile, remains quite lumpy as it is beaten only briefly. Muffins also have less sugar, more whole grains, and more fruit which is why it is considered a healthier option and often taken during breakfast.
Cupcakes are made by creaming the butter and sugar together to make a smooth and fluffy batter. Moreover, cupcake batter is beaten much longer than muffin batter which helps produce a consistency of air bubbles throughout the cupcake. The muffin batter, meanwhile, remains quite lumpy as it is beaten only briefly. Muffins also have less sugar, more whole grains, and more fruit which is why it is considered a healthier option and often taken during breakfast.
4. Yam vs. sweet potato
In many supermarkets, sweet potatoes
are labeled as yams since they look so similar. However, they have
certain differences. True yams have bumpy, rough, and scaly skin that is
black or brown in color. They are also cylindrical in shape and have a
white, purple, or reddish flesh. Yams are produced mainly in Africa and
Asia and are not found easily in supermarkets. Meanwhile, sweet potatoes
have tapered ends and elongated shapes and are found in a variety of
colors. Also, sweet potatoes are sweeter, less dry, and starchy.
Both yams and sweet potatoes are root vegetables but belong to different families. Yams are members of the genus Dioscorea and belong to their own special family, Dioscoreaceae. On the other hand, sweet potatoes come from the species Ipomoea batatas, in the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae.
5. Banana vs. plantain
We’re all, of course, well aware of bananas.
It is the most common and widely consumed fruit in the world. However,
this delicious yellow fruit is often confused with its apparent twin,
the plantain. While they may look quite similar, their taste is vastly
different.
Plantains, like bananas, are originally from Southeast Asia but are now grown all over the world. They are usually larger and tougher than bananas and not very sweet. Furthermore, plantains are high on starch while bananas are high on sugar. Plantains are, in fact, better for cooking and are often used as vegetables in different regions of Asia rather than a go-to fruit like a banana.
Plantains, like bananas, are originally from Southeast Asia but are now grown all over the world. They are usually larger and tougher than bananas and not very sweet. Furthermore, plantains are high on starch while bananas are high on sugar. Plantains are, in fact, better for cooking and are often used as vegetables in different regions of Asia rather than a go-to fruit like a banana.
6. Cucumber vs. zucchini
Given
how remarkably similar they look, it’s not surprising that cucumber and
zucchini are often confused for each other. While both of them are
alike in shape and color, there are a few notable differences between
them. For instance, cucumbers are generally hard, waxy, and cool to
touch while zucchinis are warmer, yielding, and slightly gritty. Also,
zucchini have woody stems at one end, and sometimes a flower on the
other. Cucumbers
also have a rough, bumpy exterior while zucchini always have smoother
skin. Their tastes also vary – zucchini has a mild and slightly bitter
flavor while cucumbers are crunchier and cooler. Lastly, cucumbers are
usually favored raw or pickled while zucchini is cooked in a dish.
7. Prawn vs. shrimp
Prawns
and shrimp are often confused. Many even feel that prawns and shrimp
are one and the same. However, while they are closely related, the two
crustaceans are different in their anatomy. Prawns are bigger in size
and don’t have the distinct curve of shrimps. Prawns also have three
sets of claws and branching gills. It’s because of their big size that
prawns are considered more of a delicacy. Shrimp, since they are
smaller, are cooked faster and commonly served in restaurants.
The two are also scientifically distinct. Shrimp belong to the pleocyemata suborder, which includes crayfish, lobsters, and crabs. Prawns, meanwhile, belong to the dendrobranchiata suborder.
8. Ice cream vs. gelato
From
a distance, both ice cream and gelato might appear the same to many of
us. However, while both the desserts contain cream, milk, and sugar,
they have some clear differences. Gelato is an Italian dessert that
requires less cream, more milk, and mostly no egg yolks. Also, gelato is
churned slower and with less air, which makes it denser and creamier
than ice cream. Another big difference between the two is that gelato is
served at a slightly warmer temperature than ice cream which gives it a
silkier texture.