Cooking Techniques and Terms

A comprehensive list of common cooking techniques and terms, detailing various cooking actions and what they involve.

Drizzle

• Description: Lightly pouring a liquid in a thin stream over food.
• Examples:
  • Drizzle honey over pancakes.
  • Drizzle olive oil on salad.

Flip

• Description: Turning food over to cook the other side.
• Examples:
  • Flip the pancake after a minute.
  • Flip the burger on the grill.

Poach

• Description: Cooking food gently in liquid.
• Examples:
  • Poach eggs for breakfast.
  • Poach fish in white wine.

Sprinkle

• Description: Scattering small amounts of ingredients over food.
• Examples:
  • Sprinkle salt over the salad.
  • Sprinkle powdered sugar on a cake.

Bake

• Description: Cooking food by surrounding it with hot air in an oven.
• Examples:
  • Bake a cake for the party.
  • Bake cookies for kids.

Boil

• Description: Heating a liquid until it bubbles and turns to vapor.
• Examples:
  • Boil water before adding pasta.
  • Boil soup on the stove.

Chop

• Description: Cutting food into small pieces.
• Examples:
  • Chop onions into small pieces.
  • Chop carrots quickly.

Slice

• Description: Cutting food into thin, broad pieces.
• Examples:
  • Slice bread evenly.
  • Slice cucumber thinly.

Grill

• Description: Cooking food using direct heat.
• Examples:
  • Grill chicken until golden brown.
  • Grill vegetables for dinner.

Fry

• Description: Cooking food in hot fat or oil.
• Examples:
  • Fry eggs until edges are crispy.
  • Fry fish in olive oil.

Simmer

• Description: Cooking food gently just below the boiling point.
• Examples:
  • Simmer sauce for 20 minutes.
  • Simmer soup until it thickens.

Roast

• Description: Cooking food, usually meat or vegetables, by prolonged exposure to heat in an oven or over a fire.
• Examples:
  • Roast potatoes with garlic and rosemary.
  • Roast a turkey for Thanksgiving.

Steam

• Description: Cooking food using steam.
• Examples:
  • Steam broccoli for 5 minutes.
  • Steam rice on the stove.

Mix

• Description: Combining ingredients thoroughly.
• Examples:
  • Mix flour with sugar.
  • Mix batter thoroughly.

Stir

• Description: Moving food around in a pan or container to mix ingredients or prevent sticking.
• Examples:
  • Stir soup occasionally to avoid burning.
  • Stir coffee with a spoon.

Whisk

• Description: Beating ingredients together to incorporate air.
• Examples:
  • Whisk eggs until fluffy.
  • Whisk cream to make frosting.

Peel

• Description: Removing the outer skin of fruits or vegetables.
• Examples:
  • Peel apples for a pie.
  • Peel potatoes with a knife.

Mash

• Description: Crushing food until it becomes smooth.
• Examples:
  • Mash potatoes until smooth.
  • Mash bananas for cake.

Grate

• Description: Shredding food into small pieces using a grater.
• Examples:
  • Grate cheese over pasta.
  • Grate ginger for tea.

Pour

• Description: Flowing a liquid from one container to another.
• Examples:
  • Pour milk into a bowl.
  • Pour batter into a pan.

Spread

• Description: Evenly distributing a substance over a surface.
• Examples:
  • Spread butter on toast.
  • Spread jam on bread.

Roll

• Description: Shaping food into a round form.
• Examples:
  • Roll dough into a circle.
  • Roll sushi tightly.

Sift (Sieve)

• Description: Passing flour or other ingredients through a sieve to remove lumps.
• Examples:
  • Sift flour before adding it.
  • Sift powdered sugar on cake.

Knead

• Description: Working dough by hand to develop gluten.
• Examples:
  • Knead dough until soft.
  • Knead bread for 10 minutes.

Beat

• Description: Mixing ingredients vigorously to combine them.
• Examples:
  • Beat eggs with a fork.
  • Beat mixture until smooth.

Toast

• Description: Browning food using dry heat.
• Examples:
  • Toast bread lightly.
  • Toast almonds for salad.

Carve

• Description: Cutting meat into slices.
• Examples:
  • Carve turkey into slices.
  • Carve roast beef with a knife.

Marinate

• Description: Soaking food in a seasoned liquid to flavor it.
• Examples:
  • Marinate chicken overnight.
  • Marinate beef in soy sauce.

Coat

• Description: Covering food with a layer of another ingredient.
• Examples:
  • Coat chicken in breadcrumbs.
  • Coat fish with flour.

Dip

• Description: Submerging food briefly in a liquid.
• Examples:
  • Dip strawberries in chocolate.
  • Dip french fries in ketchup.

Brush

• Description: Applying liquid to the surface of food using a brush.
• Examples:
  • Brush pastry with egg wash.
  • Brush oil on vegetables before grilling.

Season

• Description: Adding herbs, spices, or other flavorings to food.
• Examples:
  • Season meat with salt and pepper.
  • Season soup with herbs.

Sear

• Description: Cooking the surface of food over high heat to form a crust.
• Examples:
  • Sear steak on high heat.
  • Sear scallops in butter.

Dice

• Description: Cutting food into small cubes.
• Examples:
  • Dice tomatoes into small cubes.
  • Dice onions finely.

Blanch

• Description: Briefly boiling food and then placing it in cold water to stop cooking.
• Examples:
  • Blanch spinach before sautéing.
  • Blanch tomatoes to remove skin.

Zest

• Description: Grating the outer skin of citrus fruits to obtain flavor.
• Examples:
  • Zest lemon for flavor.
  • Zest orange into batter.

Crush

• Description: Pressing or grinding food into smaller pieces.
• Examples:
  • Crush garlic with a knife.
  • Crush crackers for crust.

Freeze

• Description: Storing food at very low temperatures.
• Examples:
  • Freeze berries for later use.
  • Freeze leftovers.

Defrost

• Description: Thawing frozen food to prepare for cooking.
• Examples:
  • Defrost chicken before cooking.
  • Defrost frozen vegetables.

Measure

• Description: Determining the quantity of ingredients.
• Examples:
  • Measure sugar carefully.
  • Measure flour with a cup.

Chill

• Description: Cooling food in a refrigerator.
• Examples:
  • Chill dough for 30 minutes.
  • Chill salad before serving.

Blend

• Description: Mixing ingredients together in a blender.
• Examples:
  • Blend smoothie until smooth.
  • Blend soup into puree.

Melt

• Description: Heating a solid food until it becomes liquid.
• Examples:
  • Melt butter in a pan.
  • Melt chocolate for cake.

Cool

• Description: Letting food come to room temperature after cooking.
• Examples:
  • Cool cookies before eating.
  • Cool pie on a rack.

Sauté

• Description: Quickly frying food in a small amount of oil or fat.
• Examples:
  • Sauté onions until golden.
  • Sauté mushrooms in butter.

Baste

• Description: Moistening food with pan juices or another liquid while cooking.
• Examples:
  • Baste turkey with juices.
  • Baste roast every 20 minutes.

Crack

• Description: Breaking open the shell of an egg or nut.
• Examples:
  • Crack eggs into a bowl.
  • Crack shells gently.

Stuff

• Description: Filling food with another ingredient.
• Examples:
  • Stuff peppers with rice.
  • Stuff turkey with herbs.

Glaze

• Description: Coating food with a glossy mixture.
• Examples:
  • Glaze donuts with sugar icing.
  • Glaze ham with honey.