Spanish cooking verbs are action words that help you describe preparing food, following recipes, and talking about meals. They are essential for reading recipes, giving instructions, and sharing your favorite cooking tips.
Common Cooking Verbs
These are the foundational Spanish verbs used in kitchens. They cover the basic actions you’ll encounter in most recipes.
| Spanish Verb | English Verb | Spanish Example | English Example | Spanish Tip | English Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cocinar | to cook | Me gusta cocinar paella. | I like to cook paella. | Use cocinar for general cooking. | Common in all cooking contexts. |
| hornear | to bake | Vamos a hornear un pastel. | We are going to bake a cake. | Hornear is for oven baking. | Usually involves sweet or bread items. |
| freír | to fry | Fríe las papas hasta que estén doradas. | Fry the potatoes until golden. | Use con aceite (with oil). | Watch for irregular yo form: frío. |
| asar | to roast / grill | Asamos pollo en la parrilla. | We roast chicken on the grill. | Asar can mean roasting or grilling. | Context tells the exact method. |
| mezclar | to mix | Mezcla los ingredientes en un bol. | Mix the ingredients in a bowl. | Mezclar is for combining things. | Could be done with spoon or whisk. |
Preparation Verbs
These verbs describe the steps you take before the actual cooking begins.
| Spanish Verb | English Verb | Spanish Example | English Example | Spanish Tip | English Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cortar | to cut | Corta las cebollas en rodajas. | Cut the onions into slices. | Cuidado con los dedos. (Careful with your fingers.) | Can mean slice, chop, etc. |
| pelar | to peel | Pela las manzanas. | Peel the apples. | Used for fruits and vegetables. | Usually before slicing or cooking. |
| picar | to chop / mince | Pica el ajo finamente. | Chop the garlic finely. | Picar is usually for small pieces. | Also means “to sting” in another context. |
| rallar | to grate | Ralla el queso parmesano. | Grate the Parmesan cheese. | Use with cheese, carrots, etc. | Requires a grater (rallador). |
| batir | to beat / whisk | Bate los huevos con azúcar. | Beat the eggs with sugar. | Batir adds air into mixtures. | Use a whisk (batidor) or mixer. |
Cooking Process Verbs
Describe what happens during cooking or how to control the cooking.
| Spanish Verb | English Verb | Spanish Example | English Example | Spanish Tip | English Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| hervir | to boil | Hierve agua para la pasta. | Boil water for the pasta. | Use “agua,” “caldo,” etc. | Boiling = 100°C / 212°F. |
| cocinar a fuego lento | to simmer | Cocina a fuego lento por 30 minutos. | Simmer for 30 minutes. | “Fuego lento” = low heat. | Slow cooking for flavors. |
| dorar | to brown | Dora la carne por ambos lados. | Brown the meat on both sides. | Creates a tasty crust. | Use con aceite o mantequilla. |
| sazonar | to season | Sazona con sal y pimienta. | Season with salt and pepper. | Add spices or herbs here. | Taste as you go! |
| evaporar | to evaporate | Deja que el líquido se evapore. | Let the liquid evaporate. | Reduces sauce concentration. | Covers thickening techniques. |
Simmer for 30 minutes.
Cocina a fuego lento por 30 minutos.
“Cocinar a fuego lento” means “to simmer,” which is cooking gently at low heat.
Serving and Finishing Verbs
These verbs help you talk about the final steps and presenting the food.
| Spanish Verb | English Verb | Spanish Example | English Example | Spanish Tip | English Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| servir | to serve | Sirve la sopa caliente. | Serve the soup hot. | Can be used for plating or pouring. | Use con cuidado (carefully). |
| decorar | to garnish / decorate | Decora con hojas de perejil. | Garnish with parsley leaves. | Adds visual appeal. | Also used in baking. |
| emplatar | to plate | Emplata con cuidado. | Plate carefully. | More formal, used in restaurants. | Focus on presentation. |
| acompañar | to accompany | Acompaña con arroz blanco. | Accompany with white rice. | Means “to go with” a dish. | Common in menus. |
| refrigerar | to refrigerate | Refrigera el postre antes de servir. | Refrigerate the dessert before serving. | Use to store food cold. | Important for food safety. |
Plate carefully.
Emplata con cuidado.
“Emplatar” means “to plate,” focusing on the presentation of the dish.
Reflexive Cooking Verbs
Some cooking verbs are reflexive, meaning the subject does the action to themselves. These are common in instructions.
| Spanish Verb | English Verb | Spanish Example | English Example | Spanish Tip | English Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| calentarse | to heat up (oneself/something) | La sopa se calienta en cinco minutos. | The soup heats up in five minutes. | Reflexive indicates the action happens by itself. | Se + verb = passive or accidental action. |
| derretirse | to melt | El chocolate se derrite rápido. | The chocolate melts quickly. | Used for substances changing state. | Se shows it happens naturally. |
| cortarse | to cut oneself | Ten cuidado para no cortarte. | Be careful not to cut yourself. | Reflexive shows the subject is affected. | Common in warnings. |
| limpiarse | to clean oneself | Lávate y límpiate las manos. | Wash and clean your hands. | Part of hygiene before cooking. | Combine with lavarse (to wash oneself). |
| servirse | to serve oneself | Sírvete un poco más. | Serve yourself a little more. | Reflexive for helping oneself. | Polite and common at meals. |
Summary and Tips
Spanish cooking verbs let you navigate recipes and kitchen talk with confidence. Start with common verbs and gradually add more specific ones. Practice using them in real cooking scenarios or writing your own recipes.
- Use cocinar for general cooking; specify with hornear (bake), freír (fry), asar (roast).
- Use reflexive forms (se + verb) to describe natural or automatic cooking processes.
- Pay attention to context: asar can mean roast or grill; picar means chop small.
The soup heats up in five minutes.
La sopa se calienta en cinco minutos.
The reflexive form “se calienta” indicates the soup heats itself (automatic process).
Flashcards (1 of 25)
- English Verb: to cook
- English Example: I like to cook paella.
- English Tip: Common in all cooking contexts.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
