Cooking: English Vocabulary List

the instructions on how to cook a certain food, including a list of the ingredients required

"The recipe is simple."

"She followed the recipe carefully and cooked dinner for her family."

a food item that forms part of a recipe or culinary mixture

"One ingredient is missing."

"We added each ingredient one by one before mixing everything well."

to cut something into pieces using a knife, etc.

"Chop the onions for the soup."

"The chef taught me how to chop onions quickly without crying by using a very sharp knife."

to make food look more delicious by decorating it

"Garnish the dish with fresh parsley."

"The chef decided to garnish the plate with a sprig of fresh parsley and a slice of lemon for color."

to raise the temperature of something

"She heats the soup on the stove."

"You can heat the leftover soup in the microwave for about two minutes until it is hot enough to eat."

to soak food in a seasoned liquid, typically containing oil, vinegar, herbs, and spices, to enhance its flavor and softness before cooking

"Marinate the chicken overnight for flavor."

"You should marinate the chicken in a mixture of yogurt and spices for at least two hours before grilling it."

to remove the skin or outer layer of something, such as fruit, etc.

"Peel the orange before eating it."

"It is easier to peel a ripe banana than a green one because the skin comes off more smoothly."

an object that is used for cooking or eating

"The utensil is sharp."

"She placed the utensils in the drawer after washing them."

an electrical device used to blend, mix, or puree food and liquids into a smooth consistency

"The blender is loud."

"She used the blender to make a smoothie."

a flat-bottomed pan with low sides and a long handle, typically used for frying and browning foods

"The frying pan is hot."

"He heated olive oil in a large frying pan before adding the chopped onions and garlic to sauté until they were soft and golden brown."

a pan in the shape of a bowl, especially used for making Chinese dish

"The wok is deep."

"She stir-fried vegetables in the wok."

a bowl typically used in cooking and baking for combining ingredients

"The mixing bowl is large."

"She whisked the batter in the mixing bowl."

the amount that fills a cup, typically a standard measuring cup used in cooking and baking

"Add a cupful of flour."

"She poured a cupful of milk into the bowl."

the amount that fills a spoon, typically a standard eating or measuring spoon

"Add a spoonful of honey."

"She took a spoonful of jam and spread it on the toast."

to repeatedly mix something using a spoon, fork, etc.

"Beat the eggs well."

"She will beat the cream until it forms stiff peaks for the dessert topping."

to cook food directly over or under high heat, typically on a metal tray

"Grill the chicken for dinner."

"We plan to grill hamburgers and hot dogs in the backyard for the family barbecue this weekend."

to cook food, especially fish, in a small amount of boiling water or another liquid

"Poach the fish gently."

"We decided to poach the salmon in a delicate white wine and herb broth."

to cook something, especially meat, over a fire or in an oven for an extended period

"Roast the vegetables in the oven."

"The chef will roast the chicken slowly in the oven until the skin becomes golden brown and crispy."

to cut food or other things into thin, flat pieces

"Slice the bread carefully."

"Please slice the bread into thin even pieces so they will fit into the toaster slots properly."

to move a spoon, etc. around in a liquid or other substance to completely mix it

"Stir the soup occasionally while cooking."

"She used a long wooden spoon to stir the soup gently so that it would not burn at the bottom of the pot."

to make food such as bread or cheese brown by heating it

"Toast the bread until golden brown."

"She likes to toast her bagel until it is golden brown and then spread a thick layer of cream cheese on top."

a sideboard or cabinet in a dining room with drawers and shelves

"The counter held dishes."

"He stood at the counter and paid for his items."

a frame made of metal on which food is cooked over a fire

"We cooked on the barbecue."

"The family gathered around the barbecue, enjoying the delicious grilled burgers and sausages."

a device or object used for combining ingredients together to achieve a certain texture

"The mixer is fast."

"She used an electric mixer to beat the butter and sugar together until the mixture was light and fluffy for the cake batter."

the removable cover at the top of a container

"Put the lid back on the jar."

"He put the lid on the pot to trap the steam and cook the rice faster over low heat."

a spoon that is made of wood

"The wooden spoon is smooth."

"He stirred the thick soup with a long wooden spoon to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot and burning."

a device used to weigh people or objects

"Use the scale to weigh."

"The doctor asked the patient to step onto the scale to record their current weight."

a slight amount of something one can hold between the index finger and thumb

"Add a pinch of salt."

"She added a pinch of sugar to balance the flavor."