Who Thinks Of These Names Anyway?

It’s easy to get complacent with food names we’ve known since childhood. For example, have you ever stopped to ask why they call it almond milk? That’s just the tip of the iceberg! Here are 20 foods with incredibly misleading names that will leave you scratching your head.

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1. Monkey Bread

Don’t worry, we can assure you this treat is not made with or for monkeys. Instead, this 1980s staple is made by coating small chunks of dough in sugar and cinnamon and baking them in a Bundt pan. The pieces pull apart easily making it a fun group snack. 

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2. Mincemeat

To be clear, mincemeat is a mixture of chopped fruits and distilled spirits. It did once contain meat, but hasn’t since the 20th century. Maybe it’s time we rename it? 

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3. Ants On A Log

That’s right, it turns out your parents were lying. These treats aren’t actual ants on logs, but rather raisins on a celery stalk filled with peanut butter. We understand the visual, but the name is still peculiar.

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4. Ladies’ Fingers

This colloquial name for okra brings to mind something unspeakable. Don’t worry, we’re not talking about actual fingers. Despite its confusing nickname, Lady’s Fingers is a uniquely flavored plant—a cornerstone of South American cuisine.

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5. Puppy Chow

We’re still talking about food meant for human consumption, we promise! This yummy treat involves coating Chex cereal in peanut butter and chocolate before tossing it in powdered sugar. It might look like a dog’s breakfast, but it’s delicious!

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6. Beaver Tail

This beavertail-shaped treat is deep-fried dough coated in whatever sugary toppings your heart desires. There’s no beaver involved—just ridiculous amounts of sugar.

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7. Refried Beans

The word ‘refried’ instantly makes you think of twice-fried beans. However, that assumption is based on a poor translation. Instead, these beans are mashed and fried very well—once.

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8. Sweetbreads

There’s nothing sweet about a calf’s pancreas, but that’s what this is. We’re all for not wasting meat, but maybe they could have picked a more fitting name? 

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9. Hamburger

Nothing beats biting into a juicy, well-topped burger after a long day. However, no one ever questions why it’s called a hamburger when there’s no ham involved.  We’re guessing it’s because it tastes too good to ask questions.

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10. Grapefruit

While this sweet and sour citrus fruit does grow in bunches, it’s definitely not a type of grape. We’re not sure who came up with the name, but it doesn’t make much sense!

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11. Albany Beef

A name like that seems fishy…especially because Albany Beef is actually sturgeon. Over in Albany, NY, the fish grew to be as plentiful as this red meat, leading to humorous confusion in the name.

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12. Bombay Duck

No, we’re not talking about an actual duck, but rather a salty fried lizard fish. Though it’s originally from India, travel has brought this meal to North America. 

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13. Head Cheese

Let us state clearly upfront: this is not cheese. It’s a meat jelly that’s made from chunks of calf or pig’s heads. Again, waste not, want not, but maybe don’t ruin cheese for us. 

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14. Rocky Mountain Oysters

There are no oysters in the Rocky Mountains. Nothing like its name, these are actually deep-fried animal testicles! They’ve been described as having a light flavor somewhere between chicken and venison. We’ll have to take someone else’s word for it. 

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15. Egg Cream

This yummy drink doesn’t contain eggs or cream. Instead, it’s made with milk, carbonated water, and flavored syrup. Some egg creams you might know include Manhattan, Brooklyn, and San Francisco. (Not to be confused with the cities).

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16. Grape Nuts

This healthy whole-grain wheat and barley cereal has no connection to either grapes or nuts. While the cereal itself might look like grape seeds, the comparison stops there. Too bad there isn’t a less confusing name for this cereal. 

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17. Welsh Rabbit

Toasted bread topped with a combination of hot cheese sauce and Worcestershire sauce, this food melts in your mouth. Fear not vegetarians, we promise that no rabbits are harmed in the making of this dish. 

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18. Eggplant

This large purple fruit isn’t in any way related to eggs. But apparently a long time ago, it used to grow in small white or yellow bulbs that did look like them. Still, no chicken has ever laid an eggplant. 

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19. Bear Claw

A deep-fried flaky pastry filled with almond paste, glazed, and covered in slivered almonds sounds like absolute heaven. But why do they name it after a bear? It’s supposedly named after its shape, but we don’t really care as long as we can have one.

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20. Almond Milk

Back to the age-old topic: almonds don’t secrete milk. However, processing them in water and filtering out the pulp makes for a watery nut-flavored beverage. More importantly, it’s an excellent alternative for people who struggle to consume dairy products. 

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