Cooking Verbs in English

Knowing cooking verbs is helpful when you spend a lot of time in the kitchen. This reference covers the basic terms, explains their meanings, and shows them in pictures and examples. This can make your kitchen experience smoother and more enjoyable when talking with others in English.

Cooking Verbs List

Cooking VerbsPin
Cooking Verbs – Created by 7ESL

Cooking verbs or kitchen verbs are verbs that frequently appear when reading the cooking instructions in recipes. Learn these useful cooking terms to enhance your cooking vocabulary words.

  • Break
  • Melt
  • Spread
  • Layer
  • Roll out
  • Fry
  • Peel
  • Mix
  • Whip
  • Saute
  • Taste
  • Cut
  • Chop
  • Slice
  • Grate
  • Boil
  • Steam
  • Pinch
  • Pour
  • Add
  • Barbecue
  • Roast
  • Bake
  • Stir
  • Weigh

Learn these cooking words to improve your vocabulary in English.

Cooking WordsPin
Cooking Words – Created by 7ESL

Cooking Verbs with Pictures and Examples

Break

To separate something into smaller pieces.

  • Example: Break the chocolate into small pieces before melting it.

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Melt

To change a solid substance into a liquid by heating it.

  • Example: Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat.

MeltPin

Spread

To apply a thin layer of a substance over a surface.

  • Example: Spread the jam on the toast evenly.

SpreadPin

Layer

To arrange something in layers, one on top of the other.

  • Example: Layer the lasagna noodles with the meat sauce and cheese.

LayerPin

Roll out

To flatten dough or pastry with a rolling pin to a desired thickness.

  • Example: Roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface.

Roll outPin

Fry

To cook something in hot oil or fat.

  • Example: Fry the chicken until it’s golden brown.

FryPin

Peel

To remove the skin or outer layer of something.

  • Example: Peel the potatoes before boiling them.

PeelPin

Mix

To combine two or more substances together.

  • Example: Mix the flour and sugar in a bowl.

MixPin

Whip

To beat a substance with a whisk or mixer to incorporate air and make it fluffy.

  • Example: Whip the cream until it forms stiff peaks.

WhipPin

Saute

To cook food quickly in a small amount of oil or fat over high heat.

  • Example: Saute the onions until they’re translucent.

 

SautePin

Taste

To sample food to assess its flavor.

  • Example: Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

TastePin

Cut

To divide something into smaller pieces using a knife or other cutting tool.

  • Example: Cut the vegetables into bite-sized pieces.

 

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Chop

To cut something into small, irregular pieces.

  • Example: Chop the nuts finely for the salad.

ChopPin

Slice

To cut something into thin, flat pieces.

  • Example: Slice the bread for the sandwiches.

 

SlicePin

Grate

To shred something into small pieces using a grater.

  • Example: Grate the cheese for the pizza topping.

GratePin

Boil

To heat a liquid until it reaches its boiling point and bubbles rapidly.

  • Example: Boil the water before adding the pasta.

 

BoilPin

Steam

To cook food by exposing it to steam from boiling water.

  • Example: Steam the vegetables until they’re tender.

SteamPin

Pinch

To take a small amount of something between your fingers.

  • Example: Pinch some salt and pepper to season the dish.

PinchPin

Pour

To transfer a liquid from one container to another.

  • Example: Pour the milk into the mixing bowl.

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Add

To put something into a mixture or dish to increase its flavor or quantity.

  • Example: Add the garlic and herbs to the tomato sauce.

AddPin

Barbecue

To cook food on a grill or over an open flame.

  • Example: Barbecue the burgers on the grill until they’re cooked through.

BarbecuePin

Roast

To cook food in an oven, usually at a high temperature.

  • Example: Roast the chicken in the oven for 1 hour and 30 minutes.

RoastPin

Bake

To cook food in an oven, usually at a lower temperature than roasting.

  • Example: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes at 350°F.

BakePin

Stir

To mix a substance by moving it around in a circular motion.

  • Example: Stir the risotto constantly until the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed.

 

StirPin

Weigh

To measure the weight of something using a scale.

  • Example: Weigh the flour and sugar before adding them to the mixing bowl.

 WeighPin