Baking & Cooking Terms
In baking there are many terms used in recipes for different cooking or mixing methods. Heres a list of some of the main terms you may come across when baking and an explanation of what they mean to help you with your baking techniques.
|
Boil |
To cook until liquid is so hot it forms bubbles |
|
Broil |
To cook directly under a heating element |
|
Chill |
To place in the refrigerator to lower a food's temperature |
|
Chop |
To cut into pieces with a sharp knife or chopper |
|
Combine |
To mix ingredients together |
|
Cream |
To beat until smooth, soft and fluffy |
|
Cube |
To cut into 1/4-inch cubes |
|
Cut |
To mix a solid fat into a flour mixture with a pastry blender, a fork or two knives |
|
Dice |
To cut food into 1/8-inch cubes |
|
Dot |
Drop bits of butter or cheese here and there over food |
|
Drain |
To pour off liquid |
|
Flour |
To coat greased pans or dishes with a fine coat of flour. Shake out extra flour |
|
Fold |
To mix gently by bringing rubber scraper down through mixture, across the bottom, up and over top until blended |
|
Fry |
To cook in hot fat |
|
Garnish |
To decorate a finished dish with colorful food to make it look pretty |
|
Grate |
Rub against a grater to cut into small shreds |
|
Grease |
To spread the bottom and/or sides of a pan with shortening to prevent sticking |
|
Grill |
To cook directly over a heating element or hot coals |
|
Knead |
To fold, turn, and press dough with heel of your hand in order to develop the gluten and make dough more elastic |
|
Ladle |
To dip and serve liquid with a ladle |
|
Melt |
To heat until it liquefies |
|
Mince |
To chop or cut into tiny pieces |
|
Mix |
To stir foods together |
|
Panfry |
To cook in fat in a skillet |
|
Pare |
To cut off the outside skin, as from an apple or potato |
|
Peel |
To pull off the outer skin, as from a banana or an orange |
|
Pit |
To take out the seeds |
|
Roll |
Flatten and spread with a rolling pin |
|
Saute |
To cook in small amount of fat in a skillet |
|
Scald |
To heat milk just below a boiling point. Tiny bubbles will form around the edge |
|
Shred |
To cut into very thin strips |
|
Sift |
To put dry ingredients like flour through a sifter or sieve |
|
Simmer |
To cook in liquid over low heat so bubbles form slowly |
|
Stir |
To mix round and round with a spoon |
|
Toss |
To mix lightly |
|
Well |
A hole made in dry ingredients in which you pour liquid |
|
Whip |
To beat with a rotary egg beater or electric mixer to add air |
