Cooking: English Vocabulary List

a mixture consisting of flour, milk, and eggs, used for making pancakes, or for covering food before frying

"She mixed the cake batter thoroughly"

"The cook mixed the pancake batter until it was smooth without any lumps."

to combine different substances together

"Blend the fruits into a smoothie."

"You can blend the vegetables into a smooth soup by using a high speed immersion blender directly in the cooking pot."

to cook food by holding it under oil

"I deep-fry the chicken."

"Many people prefer to deep-fry their potatoes because it gives them a crispy and golden texture on the outside."

to cause something frozen become warmer to melt away the ice or frost

"Defrost the chicken before cooking it."

"You should defrost the frozen chicken completely before cooking it to ensure that it cooks evenly and thoroughly."

to crush food into a soft mass

"Mash the potatoes with butter."

"The baby loves to eat mashed bananas because they are soft sweet and easy to swallow without any teeth."

to warm previously cooked food

"Reheat the leftovers in the microwave."

"You can reheat the leftover pizza in the oven for a few minutes to make the crust crispy again like before."

to cut food into small pieces or shreds using a tool with sharp holes

"Grate some cheese for the pasta."

"She used a cheese grater to grate a thick layer of parmesan cheese over the hot pasta dish before serving it."

(of food) requiring to be chewed a lot in order to be swallowed easily

"The candy is chewy."

"The bagels were chewy and dense and they were perfect for breakfast when toasted and spread with cream cheese and smoked salmon for a New York style meal."

having a smooth and soft texture

"The yogurt is creamy."

"The creamy mashed potatoes were smooth and buttery and melted in her mouth with every single bite."

(of food) having a firm, dry texture that makes a sharp, crunching sound when broken or bitten

"The chicken is crispy."

"The crispy fried chicken had a golden brown crust that made a satisfying sound when she bit into it at the dinner table."

firm and making a crisp sound when pressed, stepped on, or chewed

"The apple is crunchy."

"The crunchy granola bars were her favorite snack because they satisfied her craving for something sweet and also provided some healthy fiber."

(of food) preserved and sold in a can

"We ate tinned beans."

"The tinned food had a shelf life of five years so the campers stocked up on beans and soup for their long trip."

the feeling of wanting food

"I worked up a huge appetite after the long hike."

"My appetite for delicious food grows stronger with every meal I eat."

a large and formal meal for many people, often for a special event

"The banquet was elegant."

"The wedding banquet featured a seven course meal with speeches and dancing afterward."

a meal with fine food, typically for many people, celebrating a special event

"The feast was huge."

"The family prepared a grand feast for Thanksgiving including turkey stuffing and pumpkin pie."

a meal served late in the morning, as a combination of breakfast and lunch

"We had brunch at a nice cafe on Sunday."

"They met for brunch at eleven o'clock ordering pancakes eggs and fresh coffee."

a time in the early evening or afternoon when people have a light meal

"Grandma enjoys cookies during teatime every afternoon"

"In England teatime traditionally occurs in the afternoon with sandwiches scones and tea."

a small tool with a pointy spiral metal for pulling out corks from bottles

"Use the corkscrew for bottles."

"He fumbled in his pocket for the corkscrew to open the wine."

objects that are made of glass, particularly ones used for eating and drinking

"The expensive glassware broke during dinner"

"The cabinet displayed crystal glassware that was only used for special occasions like anniversaries."

a deep dish with a lid, used for serving soup

"The tureen is large."

"The hostess brought the soup to the table in a large porcelain tureen with a lid."

to cut a piece of cooked meat into smaller pieces

"Please carve the turkey."

"The chef will expertly carve the roast beef for each guest at the table."

to break down food in the body and to absorb its nutrients and necessary substances

"It takes time to digest heavy food."

"It takes several hours for the stomach to digest a heavy meal especially if it contains a lot of fat or protein."

to crush something into small particles by rubbing or pressing it against a hard surface

"Grind the coffee beans into powder."

"You should grind the coffee beans just before brewing to get the freshest and most flavorful cup of coffee."

to cook something at a temperature just below boiling, allowing it to bubble gently

"Let the sauce simmer for twenty minutes."

"Let the sauce simmer on low heat for about twenty minutes to allow all the different flavors to blend together nicely."

to cook using the steam of boiling water

"Steam the vegetables until they are tender."

"It is healthier to steam your vegetables instead of boiling them because steaming preserves more of the natural vitamins and minerals."

to cook something at a low temperature in liquid in a closed container

"Stew the meat for several hours."

"You can stew the beef for several hours with carrots and potatoes to make a warm and hearty winter meal."

‌to make already cooked food warm again

"Please warm up food."

"Could you please warm up the leftover pasta in the microwave before we eat dinner?"

to mix ingredients with a wire whisk or fork in cooking or baking to achieve a specific texture

"Whip the cream now."

"You need to whip the egg whites until they form stiff peaks for the meringue."

to force liquid out of something by firmly twisting or pressing it

"Squeeze the lemon for juice."

"She had to squeeze the lemon firmly to extract all of the juice for the lemonade recipe."

(of drink or food) having no pleasant or strong flavor

"The sauce is bland."

"The doctor recommended a bland diet for his recovery, so he ate plain rice and boiled chicken."

(of food) having large pieces

"The soup is chunky."

"The soup was chunky with large pieces of vegetables and meat and it was very filling and satisfying."

having a smooth and soft texture

"The soup is creamy."

"The soup is creamy and smooth and feels rich and luxurious on your tongue."

(of food) having a firm, dry texture that makes a sharp, crunching sound when broken or bitten

"The chicken is crispy."

"The chicken is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside perfectly cooked and delicious."

a meal with many dishes from which people serve themselves at a table and then eat elsewhere

"The buffet is open."

"The hotel breakfast buffet offered scrambled eggs bacon fresh fruit and pastries."