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Cooking Vocabulary: Essential English Words for the Kitchen

2 октября 20242 окт 2024

9 мин

Learning English through cooking is not only fun but also practical! Whether you enjoy cooking at home or simply want to expand your vocabulary, learning the language of the kitchen will help you understand recipes, cooking shows, and even hold conversations about food. Let’s dive into some essential cooking vocabulary that every English learner should know.

1. Common Cooking Actions

Here are some basic verbs used in cooking that will help you understand what to do with ingredients.

Chop – To cut something into small pieces with a knife.
Example: Chop the onions before adding them to the pan.
Slice – To cut something into thin, flat pieces.
Example: Slice the bread into even pieces.
Boil – To heat water or another liquid until bubbles form and it reaches its boiling point.
Example: Boil the potatoes for 15 minutes.
Fry – To cook food in hot oil.
Example: Fry the chicken until it is golden brown.
Bake – To cook food in the oven.
Example: Bake the cake at 180°C for 30 minutes.
Grill – To cook food using direct heat, usually from above or below.
Example: Grill the steak for 5 minutes on each side.
Stir – To move food or liquid around with a spoon or other utensil.
Example: Stir the soup occasionally to prevent it from burning.
Steam – To cook food with the steam from boiling water.
Example: Steam the broccoli for five minutes.
Simmer –To cook liquid or food gently just below the boiling point, where small bubbles form but don’t boil rapidly.
Example: Let the soup simmer for 30 minutes.
Whisk – To beat or stir ingredients quickly with a whisk to add air and make them light and fluffy.
Example: Whisk the cream until soft peaks form.
Blend – To mix ingredients together until smooth using a blender or by stirring.
Example: Blend the ingredients until you get a smooth sauce.
Grate – To shred food into small pieces using a grater.
Example: Grate the cheese for the pizza.
Peel – To remove the outer layer or skin of fruits or vegetables.
Example: Peel the carrots before cutting them.
Marinate – To soak food in a flavorful liquid (called a marinade) before cooking to enhance its flavor.
Example: Marinate the chicken overnight for best results.
Knead – To work dough by pressing, folding, and stretching it with your hands to make it smooth and elastic.
Example: Knead the dough for 10 minutes until it becomes soft.
Drain – To remove liquid from food, often by pouring it through a colander or strainer.
Example: Drain the pasta after boiling.
Grind – To break down food into smaller pieces or powder, often with a grinder or food processor.
Example: Grind the coffee beans before brewing.

Phrasal Verbs for the Kitchen

Cut up – To cut something into smaller pieces.
Example: Cut up the vegetables before adding them to the soup.
Boil over – When a liquid boils so much that it flows over the edge of the pot.
Example: Watch the pot so the water doesn’t boil over.
Warm up – To heat something that has already been cooked.
Example: I’ll warm up the leftovers from last night’s dinner.
Turn down – To reduce the heat on the stove or oven.
Example: Once the soup starts boiling, turn down the heat and let it simmer.
Turn up – To increase the heat.
Example: Turn up the heat if the water isn’t boiling fast enough.
Whip up – To quickly prepare a meal.
Example: I can whip up a quick salad for lunch.
Throw away – To discard something, often food that is no longer good.
Example: If the bread is moldy, just throw it away.
Eat out – To eat at a restaurant instead of at home.
Example: We decided to eat out tonight because no one felt like cooking.
Chop up – To cut into very small pieces, often used interchangeably with "cut up."
Example: Chop up the garlic before adding it to the pan.
Clean up – To clean the kitchen or dishes after cooking.
Example: Don’t forget to clean up after we finish baking the cake.
Mix in – To add one ingredient to another and stir them together.
Example: Mix in the flour slowly until the dough is smooth.
Serve up – To put food onto plates and serve it.
Example: After the food is ready, I’ll serve it up to everyone.
Heat up – To make food warmer, similar to "warm up."
Example: Heat up the soup in the microwave for two minutes.
Run out of – To use up all of something so that none is left.
Example: We’ve run out of sugar. Can you go buy some more?
Put away – To store food or utensils in their proper place.
Example: After you finish cooking, don’t forget to put away the ingredients.

2. Measurements and Ingredients

Knowing how to measure and name ingredients is key to following recipes accurately.

Cup – A standard unit of volume used in recipes, especially in the US.
Example: Add one cup of flour to the bowl.
Tablespoon (tbsp) – A larger spoon used to measure ingredients.
Example: Add two tablespoons of olive oil to the pan.
Teaspoon (tsp) – A smaller spoon used for measuring smaller amounts.
Example: Use one teaspoon of salt.
Pinch – A very small amount of something, usually salt or spices.
Example: Add a pinch of pepper to taste.

Ingredients Vocabulary

Flour – A powder used in baking, made from ground wheat.
Example: You’ll need flour to make the dough.
Spices – Various plant-derived ingredients used to add flavor to food (e.g., cinnamon, paprika).
Example: Add some spices to enhance the flavor.
Herbs – Fresh or dried leaves of plants used for flavor (e.g., basil, parsley).
Example: Chop some fresh herbs to garnish the dish.
Dough – A thick mixture made from flour and liquid, often used for bread, pastries, or pizza.
Example: Knead the dough for 10 minutes.

3. Kitchen Tools and Utensils

Familiarize yourself with these common kitchen items to better understand recipes and cooking instructions.

Knife – A tool used for cutting.
Example: Use a sharp knife to chop the vegetables.
Cutting board – A surface on which you place food to cut.
Example: Always chop your vegetables on a cutting board.
Whisk – A tool used to mix ingredients or beat eggs.
Example: Whisk the eggs until they are light and fluffy.
Spatula – A flat tool used to flip or move food.
Example: Use a spatula to flip the pancakes.
Oven – A kitchen appliance used for baking or roasting.
Example: Preheat the oven to 200°C.
Colander – A bowl-shaped tool with holes, used for draining water from foods like pasta or washed vegetables.
Example: Drain the pasta using a colander.
Ladle – A large, deep spoon used for serving soups, stews, or sauces.
Example: Use the ladle to serve the soup into bowls.
Peeler – A tool used for removing the skin from fruits and vegetables.
Example: Use the peeler to remove the skin from the potatoes.
Grater – a kitchen tool used to shred or grate foods into smaller pieces. It usually has a flat or box-like shape with sharp-edged holes of different sizes. You rub the food, like cheese, vegetables, or zest from citrus fruits, across the surface to break it down into fine shreds or slices.
Example: Grate the cheese using the fine side of the grater for a smoother texture.

4. Describing Food and Taste

These words will help you describe the food you prepare or eat.

Tender – Soft and easy to cut or chew.
Example: The steak was tender and juicy.
Crispy – Food that is crunchy on the outside.
Example: The fried chicken was perfectly crispy.
Spicy – Food that has a strong, hot flavor.
Example: Indian cuisine is known for being spicy.
Savory – Food that is salty or spicy, not sweet.
Example: The soup had a rich, savory flavor.
Sweet – Food that tastes of sugar or honey.
Example: The dessert was sweet but not too sugary.

5. How to Practice Cooking Vocabulary

To truly master these words, try integrating them into your daily life:

Cook with English Recipes: Find simple recipes in English and try to follow them. As you cook, pay attention to the new words and actions you encounter.
Watch Cooking Shows in English: Cooking shows are a great way to hear vocabulary in action. You’ll learn not only cooking terms but also the natural flow of the language.
Practice Speaking: When cooking, say the steps out loud in English. For example, “Now I’m chopping the onions” or “Next, I’ll bake the cookies.”
Create Your Own Recipe: Write down one of your favorite recipes in English, using the vocabulary you’ve learned. Share it with friends or practice by explaining it aloud.

Cooking Vocabulary Exercise: Essential English Words for the Kitchen

Part 1: Match the Cooking Verbs

Match each cooking verb with its correct definition.

Chop
Boil
Fry
Slice
Grate
Knead
Bake
Peel
Marinate
Simmer

A. To cook food in hot oil

B. To heat liquid until bubbles form

C. To shred food into small pieces

D. To cook food in an oven

E. To cut food into thin, flat pieces

F. To soak food in a flavorful liquid before cooking

G. To work dough with your hands

H. To cook just below boiling point

I. To cut food into small pieces with a knife

J. To remove the outer layer of fruits or vegetables

Part 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct cooking verb from the list: grill, stir, blend, drain, steam, whisk, cut up, chop up, turn down, warm up.

Make sure to ______ the soup occasionally so it doesn’t stick to the pan.
______ the chicken breasts into small pieces before frying them.
After the pasta is cooked, ______ the water and set the pasta aside.
I need to ______ the vegetables before putting them into the salad.
______ the broccoli for about 5 minutes to keep it tender and fresh.
______ the ingredients together until the mixture is smooth.
Use a fork to ______ the eggs until they’re light and fluffy.
______ the steak on high heat for 5 minutes on each side.
Can you ______ last night’s leftovers for dinner?
When the soup starts boiling, ______ the heat and let it simmer.

Part 3: Phrasal Verbs Practice

Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete the sentences: eat out, throw away, mix in, run out of, put away, clean up, heat up, serve up.

After dinner, make sure to ______ the kitchen and wash the dishes.
We’re going to ______ at a restaurant tonight.
If you want to make the batter smooth, slowly ______ the flour.
I’m going to ______ the soup before we eat it.
Can you ______ the sugar? I think we’re out.
If the milk smells bad, just ______ it ______.
Please ______ the ingredients after you finish cooking.
Once the food is ready, I’ll ______ it ______ for everyone.

Part 4: Describe the Food

Use the correct adjective from the list to describe the food: tender, crispy, spicy, sweet, savory.

The fried chicken was so ______, with a perfect crunch on the outside.
I like my steak to be ______ so it’s easy to cut and chew.
This cake is so ______, it tastes just like honey.
My soup has a deep, rich, ______ flavor.
Be careful with the sauce—it’s really ______!

Part 5: Recipe Writing

Write down a simple recipe for your favorite dish using at least 5 of the cooking verbs and phrasal verbs from the exercise.

Answer Key

Part 1: Match the Cooking Verbs

Part 2: Fill in the Blanks

Stir
Cut up
Drain
Chop up
Steam
Blend
Whisk
Grill
Warm up
Turn down

Part 3: Phrasal Verbs Practice

Clean up
Eat out
Mix in
Heat up
Run out of
Throw away
Put away
Serve up

Part 4: Describe the Food

Crispy
Tender
Sweet
Savory
Spicy