Cooking Terms

For the beginners, it is important to know what is the meaning of the terminologies for cooking your food recipes. Here's the list of cooking/culinary terminologies and their meanings:

Au jus - To serve with the natural juices or gravy.

Bake - Cook by dry heat in an oven; or to cook pancakes on a griddle.

Baking sheet - Good baking sheets (also called cookie sheets) are thick, and the best are insulated. Nonstick baking sheets can make life easier.

Baking (Pizza) stone - It is best to bake pizza and bread directly on a hot surface, and a baking stone provides the hot surface needed.

Barbecue - To roast meat slowly on a spit or grill over coals, or in the oven, basting frequently with a highly seasoned sauce.

Baste - To moisten foods during cooking with drippings, water or seasoned sauce, to prevent drying or to add flavor.

Beat - To work a mixture smooth with a regular, hard, rhythmic movement.

Blanch - To immerse fruits or nuts in boiling water to remove skins or make easy to peel.

Blend - To mix two or more ingredients until smooth and uniform.

Blind bake - To bake a pie crust before it is filled to create a crisper crust.

Boil - Cook in boiling liquid in which bubbles rise vigorously to the surface.

Braise - To brown meat or vegetables in small quantity of hot fat, then to cook slowly in small amount of liquid either in the oven or on top of the stove

Broil - Cook by exposure to direct heat under the broiler of a gas or electric range, in an electric broiler, or over an open fire.

Brown - To cook food quickly on top the stove (in fat or without fat), under a broiler, or in the oven to develop a richly browned, flavorful surface and help seal in the natural juices.

Brush - To spread food with butter or margarine or egg, using a small brush.

Butterfly - To split a food such as shrimp, boneless lamb leg or pork chop, horizontally in half, cutting almost but not all the way through, then opening (like a book) to form a butterfly shape.

Candy - To cook fruit in a heavy sugar syrup until transparent, then drain and dry.

Caramelize - To melt sugar slowly over very low heat until sugar is liquid, deep amber in color and caramel flavored.

Chill - To refrigerate food or let it stand in ice or iced water until cold.

Chop - To cut food into small pieces with a knife or small cutting appliance.

Chow (Stir-fry) - A basic cooking method in Oriental kitchens.

Clarify - To clear a liquid, , by adding slightly beaten egg white and egg shells; the beaten egg coagulates in the hot liquid and the particles which cause cloudiness adhere to it

Coat - To roll foods in flour, nuts, sugar, crumbs, etc., until all sides are evenly covered; or to dip first into slightly beaten egg or milk, then to cover with whatever coating is called for in a recipe.

Coats spoon - When a mixture forms a thin, even film on the spoon.

Coddle - To cook slowly and gently in water just below the boiling point

Combine - To mix various ingredients together.

Cook - To prepare food by applying heat in any form.

Core - To remove the core or center of various fruits, such as apples, pears and pineapple, and vegetables, such as lettuce and cabbage.

Correct the seasoning - To check for salt, pepper or herbs to make sure the dish has turned out as expected.

Cream - To rub, whip or beat with a spoon or mixer until mixture is soft and fluffy

Crimp - To pinch or press dough edges - especially pie crust edges - to create a decorative finish and/or to seal two layers of dough so the filling does not seep out during baking.

Crisp - To make firm and brittle in very cold water or in refrigerator

Curdle - To coagulate, or separate, into solids and liquids.

Cut - To break up food into pieces, with a knife or scissors.

Cut in - To mix shortening with dry ingredients using a pastry blender, knife or fork.

Deep-Fry - Cooking in enough fat to cover the food completely..

Deglaze - After meats or vegetables have been browned, wine or stock is added to the pan over high heat, and the rich coloring that remains in the pan is gently scraped with a wooden spoon and combined with the wine or stock.

Devein - To remove the dark intestinal vein of a shrimp by using the tip of a sharp knife, then rinsing the shrimp in cold water.

Develop - Allow food to sit for a time before serving so the flavors have a chance to blend or brighten.

Devil - To coat with a hot seasoning, such as mustard or a hot sauce

Dice - To cut food into small cubes of uniform size and shape, usually about 1/4 inch in size.

Dissolve - To make a liquid and a dry substance go into solution.

Dot - Scatter small amounts of specified ingredients, usually butter, or nuts, chocolate, etc. on top of food. This adds extra richness and flavor and helps promote browning.

Dredge - To sprinkle, coat or cover with flour, crumbs, cornmeal or other seasoned mixture.

Drizzle - To slowly pour a liquid, such as melted butter or a glaze in a fine stream, back and forth, over food.

Dust - To sprinkle a food or coat lightly with flour, sugar, cornmeal or cocoa powder.

Emulsify - To bind liquids that usually cannot blend smoothly, such as oil and water.

Ferment - To bring about a chemical change in foods or beverages.

Fillet - A strip or compact piece of boneless meat or fish.

Flambe - To sprinkle with brandy or liqueur and ignite and serve flaming.

Fold; Fold in - To combine two ingredients or two combinations of ingredients by two motions

Fork-tender - A degree of doneness for cooked vegetables and meats.

Fricassee - To cook pieces of fowl or meat by braising and serving with a thickened sauce.

Fry or Pan-Fry - To cook in a small amount of fat on top of the stove

Garnish - To decorate any foods.

Glace - To coat with a thin sugar syrup cooked to the crack stage.

Glaze - To cover with aspic; to coat with a thin sugar syrup; to cover with melted fruit jelly. Cold meats, fish, fruit, etc., are often glazed.

Grate - to rub on a grater to shred or flake.

Grill - See "Broil."

Hack - When cutting up chickens or thin boned meats, one "hacks" with a cleaver, thus cutting the meat into large bite-size pieces and retaining the bone.

Julienne - Food cut into very thin strips.

Knead - To work and press dough with the heels of your hands so the dough becomes stretched and elastic.

Lard - To insert strips or pieces of fat into uncooked lean meat for added flavor and moisture;

Leavening - Any agent that causes a dough or batter to rise

Liqueur - A sweet, high-alcohol beverage made from fruits, nuts, seeds, spices, or herbs infused with a spirit, such as brandy or rum.

Lukewarm - At a temperature of about 95

Marinate (Marinade) - To let foods stand in a marinade, usually an acid-oil mixture of oil and vinegar or wine, often flavored with spices and herbs.

Melt - To heat solid food, like sugar or fat, until it becomes liquid.

Mince - To cut with knife or scissors into very fine pieces.

Mix - To stir, usually with a spoon, until ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Pan-broil - To cook, uncovered, on a hot surface, usually a skillet.

Pan-fry - To cook or fry on top of the range in a hot, uncovered skillet with little or no fat

Parboil - To boil until partially cooked.

Pare - To cut away coverings of vegetables and fruits.

Pasteurize - To sterilize milk by heating, then rapidly cooling it.

Peel - To strip or slip off outer coverings of some fruits or vegetables.

Pinch - The amount of a powdery ingredient you can hold between your thumb and forefinger

Pipe - To force a food (typically frosting or whipped cream) through a pastry tip to use as a decoration or garnish, or to shape dough, such as that for eclairs.

Pit - To remove the seed or pit.

Plank - To bake or broil meat, fish or vegetables on a wooden or metal plank.

Poach - To cook eggs, fish, chicken, fruit and other delicate foods in hot liquid (below the boiling point), being very careful that food holds its shape.

Pot-roast - To brown meat in a small amount of fat, then finish cooking in a small amount of liquid.

Pound - To flatten meats and poultry to a uniform thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin.

Preheat - To heat oven to stated temperature before using.

Prick - To pierce a food in many or a few places.

Punch down - To deflate yeast dough after it has risen, which distributes gluten (the elastic protein in flour that gives bread its strength) and prevents dough from over-rising.

Puree - To force vegetables, fruits and other foods through a fine sieve, food mill or ricer or blend in an electric blender or food processor to remove skins, seeds and so forth, and to produce a fine-textured substance.

Reconstitute - A procedure used for preparing dried foods, whereby the product is soaked in fresh water for a time.

Reduce - To evaporate some of the liquid in stock or sauce by boiling.

Render - To heat meat fat, cut into small pieces, until fat is separated from connective tissues.

Roast - Cook (Bake) by dry heat in an oven, on a spit in an oven, over charcoal, or in an electric rotisserie.

Roux - A blend of flour and oil or butter used to thicken sauces and gravies.

Rubbed - When whole-leaf herbs, such as sage or bay leaves, are crushed in the hands so that their oils are released, the herbs are then referred to as having been rubbed.

Saute - To fry lightly until golden and tender in a small amount of hot fat on top of range, turning frequently. From the French word that means "to jump."

Scald - To heat liquid just below the boiling point; milk has reached a scalding point when film forms on the surface.

Scallop - To arrange foods in layers in a casserole (such as scalloped potatoes), with a sauce or liquid, and then bake. Usually has a topping of bread crumbs.

Score - To cut narrow grooves or gashes part way through fat, in meats before cooking

Scramble - To stir or mix foods gently while cooking, as eggs.

Sear - To cook at a very high temperature, either on top of range or in oven, for a short time in order to quickly form a brown crust on the outer surface of meat.

Shave - To cut wide, paper-thin slices of food, especially Parmesan cheese, vegetables, or chocolate.

Shirr - To break eggs into a dish with cream or crumbs, then bake.

Shot - A liquid measure that amounts to very little or to taste.

Shred - To cut food into slivers or slender pieces, using a knife or shredder.

Shuck - To remove the shells of oysters, mussels or clams, or the husks of corn.

Sift - To put dry ingredients through a fine sieve.

Simmer - To cook in a liquid that is kept just below the boiling point

Skewer - A long, thin metal or wooden pin used to secure or suspend meat and/or vegetables during cooking.

Skim - To remove fat or froth from the surface of a liquid, such as stock or boiling jelly.

Steam - To cook on a rack or holder over a small amount of boiling water in a tightly covered container.

Steep - To allow food, such as tea, to stand in hot liquid to extract flavor and/or color.

Sterilize - To heat in boiling water or steam for at least 20 minutes, until living organisms are destroyed.

Stew - To cook foods, in enough liquid to cover, very slowly - always below the boiling point.

Stir - To mix, usually with a spoon or fork, until ingredients are worked together.

Stir-fry (Chow) - A basic cooking method in Oriental kitchens

Stock - A liquid in which vegetables or meat has been cooked.

Sweat - To saute over low heat with a lid on. This method causes steam and expedites the cooking time.

Temper - To heat food gently before adding it to a hot mixture so it does not separate or curdle

Tender-crisp - The ideal degree of doneness for many vegetables, especially green vegetables

Terrine - A dish used for the cooking and molding of coarse-ground meat loaves

Toast - To brown and dry the surface of foods with heat, such as bread and nuts.

Toss - To tumble ingredients lightly with a lifting motion, as in a salad.

Truss - To tie meat with metal or wooden pins or skewers, or string, to help meat hold its shape during cooking.

Whip - To rapidly beat eggs, heavy cream, etc., in order to incorporate air and expand volume.

Whisk - To beat ingredients (such cream, eggs, salad dressings, sauces) with a fork or the looped wire utensil called a whisk so as to mix or blend, or incorporate air.

Zest - To remove the colored peel of a citrus fruit. Use a grater, zester or vegetable peeler to remove the outermost part, avoiding the bitter white pith underneath.