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.
Contents
Cooking Verbs List
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 Verbs with Pictures and Examples
Break
To separate something into smaller pieces.
- Example: Break the chocolate into small pieces before melting it.
Melt
To change a solid substance into a liquid by heating it.
- Example: Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat.
Spread
To apply a thin layer of a substance over a surface.
- Example: Spread the jam on the toast evenly.
Layer
To arrange something in layers, one on top of the other.
- Example: Layer the lasagna noodles with the meat sauce and cheese.
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.
Fry
To cook something in hot oil or fat.
- Example: Fry the chicken until it’s golden brown.
Peel
To remove the skin or outer layer of something.
- Example: Peel the potatoes before boiling them.
Mix
To combine two or more substances together.
- Example: Mix the flour and sugar in a bowl.
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.
Saute
To cook food quickly in a small amount of oil or fat over high heat.
- Example: Saute the onions until they’re translucent.
Taste
To sample food to assess its flavor.
- Example: Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
Cut
To divide something into smaller pieces using a knife or other cutting tool.
- Example: Cut the vegetables into bite-sized pieces.
Chop
To cut something into small, irregular pieces.
- Example: Chop the nuts finely for the salad.
Slice
To cut something into thin, flat pieces.
- Example: Slice the bread for the sandwiches.
Grate
To shred something into small pieces using a grater.
- Example: Grate the cheese for the pizza topping.
Boil
To heat a liquid until it reaches its boiling point and bubbles rapidly.
- Example: Boil the water before adding the pasta.
Steam
To cook food by exposing it to steam from boiling water.
- Example: Steam the vegetables until they’re tender.
Pinch
To take a small amount of something between your fingers.
- Example: Pinch some salt and pepper to season the dish.
Pour
To transfer a liquid from one container to another.
- Example: Pour the milk into the mixing bowl.
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.
Barbecue
To cook food on a grill or over an open flame.
- Example: Barbecue the burgers on the grill until they’re cooked through.
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.
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.
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.
Weigh
To measure the weight of something using a scale.
- Example: Weigh the flour and sugar before adding them to the mixing bowl.
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