Cooking
Verbs and nouns related to cooking food
12 wordsEnglish (United States)
/ˈsiːzən/
each of the four divisions of the year marked by particular weather patterns
noun
Examples
- Autumn is my favourite season.
- The rainy season starts in June.
to add salt, pepper, herbs, or spices to food to improve its flavor
verb
Examples
- Season the meat generously with salt and pepper before grilling.
- She seasoned the soup with cumin and a squeeze of lemon.
/stiːm/
the gas formed when water boils; power or energy generated by steam under pressure
noun
Examples
- Steam rose from the boiling kettle.
- The industrial revolution was powered by steam.
to cook food by exposing it to steam from boiling water
verb
Examples
- Steam the broccoli for five minutes to keep it tender and bright green.
- She steamed the dumplings in a bamboo basket over a wok of boiling water.
/roʊst/
to cook food, especially meat or vegetables, with dry heat in an oven or over an open fire until browned
verb
Examples
- Roast the chicken at 200°C for about ninety minutes until the juices run clear.
- She roasted the vegetables with olive oil, salt, and thyme.
/bɔɪl/
to heat a liquid until it reaches 100°C and produces vigorous bubbles, or to cook food in boiling liquid
verb
Examples
- Boil the pasta in salted water for about ten minutes.
- She boiled the eggs for exactly seven minutes to get a jammy yolk.
/ɡrɪl/
a device with a metal grate used for cooking food over direct heat
noun
Examples
- He cleaned the grill before firing it up for the barbecue.
- The restaurant has an open-flame grill that gives the meat a smoky flavor.
to cook food on a metal grate directly over or under a heat source, giving it a charred flavor
verb
Examples
- Grill the steaks for four minutes on each side over high heat.
- She grilled the peppers until the skins blistered and turned black.
/ˈrɛs.ɪ.pi/
a set of instructions for preparing a dish, including a list of ingredients
noun
Examples
- She found an old family recipe for apple pie in her grandmother's notebook.
- The chef shared his secret recipe for the award-winning sauce.
something likely to lead to a particular outcome
noun
Examples
- Leaving teenagers unsupervised all summer is a recipe for trouble.
- Hard work and patience are the recipe for success.
/fraɪ/
to cook food in hot oil or fat in a pan over direct heat
verb
Examples
- Fry the onions in butter until they turn golden and soft.
- He fried the chicken pieces until the skin was crispy.
/slaɪs/
a thin, flat piece cut from something larger
noun
Examples
- She cut a slice of bread for her son.
- He ordered a slice of pizza at the counter.
to cut something into thin flat pieces
verb
Examples
- Slice the tomatoes thinly for the salad.
- He sliced through the rope with a knife.
/kʊk/
to prepare food by heating it
verb
Examples
- She cooks dinner for the family every evening.
- I learned to cook from my grandmother.
a person who prepares food for eating
noun
Examples
- He works as a cook at a local restaurant.
- She is an excellent cook.
/tʃɒp/
to cut food into pieces using a sharp knife with quick, downward strokes
verb
Examples
- Chop the onion finely before adding it to the pan.
- She chopped the parsley and scattered it over the finished dish.
/beɪk/
to cook food using dry heat in an oven, without adding fat or liquid directly
verb
Examples
- She baked a loaf of sourdough bread every Sunday morning.
- Bake the cookies at 180°C for twelve minutes until the edges are lightly golden.
/ɪnˈɡriː.di.ənt/
any of the individual foods or substances that are combined to make a dish or product
noun
Examples
- She checked the ingredients list on the label before buying the sauce.
- Fresh herbs are the key ingredient that makes this soup so flavourful.