To cook in liquid just below boiling point
Cooked to be firm to the bite
Grilling, Roasting, and Sautéing are dry cooking methods.
Gently mixing ingredients to keep air in
Soaking food in a flavored liquid before cooking
A1-A2 Cooking Terms
A1-A2 cooking terms are simple, common, and essential words used in recipes and kitchens. They help beginners understand how food is prepared and cooked.
- Bake: To cook food in an oven.
- Boil: To cook in water that bubbles strongly.
- Chop: To cut into small pieces.
- Cook: To prepare food by heating it.
- Fry: To cook food in hot oil.
- Mix: To combine two or more things.
- Peel: To remove the skin from fruits or vegetables.
- Pour: To flow a liquid from one container to another.
- Roast: To cook food in an oven with dry heat (usually meat or vegetables).
- Slice: To cut food into thin, flat pieces.
- Stir: To move a spoon or other utensil around in food to mix it.
- Toast: To brown bread or other food by heat.
Bake, Boil, Chop, and Fry are A1-A2 cooking terms.
B1-B2 Cooking Terms
B1-B2 cooking terms are more specific and detailed. They often describe precise techniques or the desired outcome of a recipe.
- Al dente: Pasta or vegetables cooked so they are still firm when bitten.
- Caramelize: To cook sugar or foods containing sugar until they turn brown and sweet.
- Glaze: To coat food with a shiny, often sweet, layer.
- Grill: To cook food over direct heat, usually on a barbecue or grill pan.
- Poach: To cook food gently in simmering liquid.
- Sauté: To cook food quickly in a small amount of oil or butter.
- Simmer: To cook in liquid just below boiling, with small bubbles.
- Steam: To cook food using the vapor from boiling water.
- Temper: To slowly mix hot and cold ingredients to prevent curdling.
- Whisk: To beat ingredients together quickly, usually with a wire tool.
Simmer, Sauté, Caramelize, Poach, and Temper are B1-B2 cooking terms.
Cooking Terms in Context
Using cooking terms in sentences helps you understand their meaning and use.
- Bake: I will bake a chocolate cake for your birthday.
- Boil: Boil the pasta for 8 minutes.
- Chop: Chop the onions finely.
- Fry: Fry the chicken until it’s golden brown.
- Mix: Mix the flour and sugar together.
- Peel: Peel the potatoes before cooking.
- Roast: Roast the vegetables with some olive oil.
- Simmer: Let the soup simmer for 20 minutes.
- Sauté: Sauté the mushrooms in butter.
- Steam: Steam the broccoli until it’s tender.
- Grill: Grill the steak for 5 minutes on each side.
- Poach: Poach the eggs in boiling water.
- Whisk: Whisk the eggs and sugar until fluffy.
- Fold: Fold the egg whites into the batter gently.
- Marinate: Marinate the meat overnight for extra flavor.
Bake
Both use gentle heat in liquid.
Conclusion
Cooking terms are essential for understanding recipes and enjoying food preparation.
- A1-A2 terms cover basic actions like chop, boil, bake, and fry.
- B1-B2 terms include more precise techniques such as sauté, simmer, poach, and fold.
- Learning cooking terms helps you follow recipes correctly and expand your kitchen skills.