It can sometimes be confusing to understand all the words used to describe different ways to prepare and cook foods in a recipe. Here is a reference guide to help.

Bake — to cook something inside the oven

Batter — a mixture made from ingredients like sugar, eggs, flour, and water that is used to make cakes, cookies, and pancakes

Beat — to mix hard and thoroughly with a spoon, fork, whisk, or electric mixer

Blend — to mix foods together until smooth

Boil — to cook in a liquid until bubbles appear or until a liquid reaches its boiling point (water boils at 212°F/100°C). Note: Water cannot get hotter than its boiling point, it can only make steam faster.

Broil — to put food under the broiler part of the oven, where the heat source is on top of the food

Brown — to cook at low to medium heat until food turns brown

Chill — to refrigerate food until it is cold

Chop — to cut food into small pieces with a knife, blender, or food processor

Cool — to let the food sit at room temperature until it is no longer hot

Cream — to mix ingredients like sugar, butter, and eggs together until they are smooth and creamy

Dice — to chop food into small, square (like dice), even-sized pieces

Drain — to pour off a liquid in which the food has been cooked or stored

Drizzle — to sprinkle drops of liquid, like chocolate syrup or an icing, lightly over the top of something, like cookies or a cake

Fold — to gently combine ingredients together from top to bottom until they are just mixed together

Grate — to shred food into tiny pieces with a shredder, grater, blender, or food processor

Grease — to rub a baking pan or a dish with butter, margarine, or oil so food cooked on it won't stick (canned cooking spray will work, too)

Knead — to fold, press, and turn dough to make it the right consistency

Mash — to crush food into a soft mixture, like mashing potatoes

Mince — to cut food into very small pieces

Mix — to stir two or more ingredients together until they are evenly combined

Preheat — to turn the oven on to the desired temperature and let it heat up before putting the food in the oven

Purée — to mix in a blender or food processor until food is smooth and has the consistency of applesauce or a milkshake

Sauté — to cook food on the stovetop in a skillet with a little liquid or oil

Simmer — to cook over low heat until the food almost boils

Slice — to cut food into even-sized pieces

Steam — to put food over a pan of boiling water so the steam can cook it

Stir — to continuously mix food with a spoon

Stir-fry — to cook food on the stovetop in a very hot pan while stirring constantly

Toast — to brown the surface of a food by heating

Whip — to beat rapidly with a whisk, electric mixer, or eggbeater

FIGURE 1.1: Common cooking methods