Cooking Terms Step By Step

To Boil Put ingredients into the saucepan or pot Turn the heat on under the saucepan to a high temperature Stir the ingredients as needed Watch the ingredients for steam to form Continue heating until bubbles form and rise to the top and burst or pop

To Simmer Put ingredients into the saucepan or pot Turn the heat on under the saucepan to a medium temperature Stir the ingredients as needed Watch the ingredients for steam to form

To Melt Place the ingredient to be melted into a saucepan or microwave safe bowl If using a saucepan place the saucepan onto the stove top and turn the heat on to LOW! Continue stirring until the ingredients have gone from a solid state to a liquid state If using a microwave safe bowl place the ingredients into the microwave on 50% power for 1 minute or longer depending on the amount of ingredients to be melted. Watch and stir the ingredients until they have gone from a solid state to a liquid state

To Scald Put ingredients into the saucepan or pot Turn the heat on under the saucepan to a medium temperature about a 3 Stir the ingredients as needed Dip a metal spoon into the ingredients when the spoon comes out coated (covered) with the ingredients then you have scalded the ingredients

To Combine Measure out each ingredient and add them to a mixing bowl

To Blend, Mix or Stir Measure and add ingredients to the bowl or pan to be used Using a wooden spoon or wire whisk in a circular motion begin to mix the ingredients together Based on the recipe directions continue to do so until “Well blended” or “well combined”, etc

To Cream Measure and add ingredients to a bowl Using an electric mixer or wooden spoon mix ingredients together If using an electric mixer use medium speed Continue to mix ingredients together until the ingredients look creamy and smooth

To Whip Measure and add ingredients to the bowl Plug in mixer and place beater correctly into the sockets Place the beaters into the ingredients in the bowl Turn the mixer on to a 6 or higher (high speed) Continue whipping until the ingredients are well combined and have increased in size (gotten larger)

To Beat Measure and add ingredients to the bowl Plug in mixer and place beater correctly into the sockets Place the beaters into the ingredients in the bowl Turn the mixer on to a 5 or a 6 (medium-high speed) Continue beating until the ingredients are well combined

To Fold-In Measure and add ingredients to a bowl Using a rubber scraper or wooden spoon gently combine the ingredients together by: Moving the rubber scrapper or wooden spoon down the middle of the ingredients Scraping along the bottom of the bowl Coming up the sides of the bowl Lifting the ingredients from the bottom of the bowl to the top Continuing to gently move the ingredients from the top to the bottom and then from the bottom to the top

To Sift Place a sheet of wax paper on the table or counter where you will be working Place the sifter onto the wax paper Scoop up or measure the ingredient (s) to be sifted and place them inside the sifter Lift up the sifter and either turn the knob or shake the sifter to sift the ingredients and add air to the ingredient (s)

To Cut-In Place the measured ingredients into a bowl Using a fork and knife or a pastry blender begin to mix the ingredients together by: If using a fork and knife; Place the fork into the shortening or thicker ingredient and use the knife to cut the thicker ingredient into smaller pieces Then coat or cover the thicker ingredient with the powdered ingredient The resulting food should look like small lumps If using a pastry blender; Place the pastry blender into the bowl and use the blades of the pastry blender to cut the shortening or thicker ingredient into smaller pieces Then use the pastry blender to mix the small pieces or shortening with the powdered ingredients by going down and lifting up the ingredients together

To Knead Lightly sprinkle flour onto a countertop or table Remove the dough from the bowl Using your hands fold the dough in half Then press the dough down using your fists Repeat folding the dough in half and pressing it down with your fists We knead the dough to form “gluten” this is the glue that holds your food product together

To Coat Add measured ingredients into a bowl or a bag, etc. Using a wooden spoon or other piece of equipment mix the ingredients together until the 1 ingredient covers the other ingredient completely

To Grate Prepare ingredient by making it small enough to handle in 1 hand (this can be cutting it down to size) Place grater on top of a sheet of wax paper or onto a plate Using a pressing motion downward- press the ingredient against the grater and move it downward while continuing to press against the grater The ingredient falls to the underside of the grater in Small pieces

To Shred Prepare ingredient by making it small enough to handle in 1 hand (this can be cutting it down to size) Place shredder on top of a sheet of wax paper or onto a plate Using a pressing motion downward- press the ingredient against the shredder and move it downward while continuing to press against the shredder The ingredient falls to the underside of the shredder in Long thin pieces

To Toss Add ingredients to a bowl Using tongs or 2 wooden spoons combine ingredients Together by lifting and dropping them over and over again and again to mix them together.

To Chop Prepare by getting out a cutting board and a sharp knife If necessary rinse or wash the ingredient you are about to chop Lay the ingredient down onto the cutting board Using the knife cut in a downward motion cutting the ingredient in half Now cut the ingredient in a downward motion cutting it into fourths Continue to cut the ingredient until it is in small irregular shaped pieces

To Slice Prepare by getting out a cutting board and sharp knife Rinse or wash the ingredient you are about to slice. Lay the ingredient on it side down on the cutting board Using the knife cut in a downward motion forming a round or irregular shaped circle Continue cutting in a downward motion down the side of the ingredient forming either thick or thin round or irregular shaped circles (based on the recipe for thick or thin slices)

To Dice Prepare by getting out a cutting board and sharp knife If necessary rinse or wash the ingredient you are about to Dice Lay the ingredient down on the cutting board Using the knife cut in a downward motion cutting the ingredient in half Continue cutting the ingredient in a downward motion cutting in into fourths Continue to cut the ingredient until it is in small pieces about the size of a pea (1/2” to ¼” in size)

To Mince Prepare by getting out a cutting board and sharp knife and/or a food chopper I necessary rinse or wash the ingredient you are about to Mince Lay the ingredient down on the cutting board If using a food chopper; First use the knife to cut down the ingredient, cutting the ingredient into small pieces so that they will fit under the food chopper Place the ingredients under the food chopper plastic shield and then using forceful pushes, push down the food choppers mechanism several times to cut the ingredients into the smallest pieces possible Check periodically to see how small the ingredients are by lifting up the edge of the plastic shield; continue chopping as needed

To Mince continued: If using a knife: First use the knife to cut down the ingredient, cutting the ingredient in half, then fourths Continue cutting the ingredients until it is in the smallest pieces possible

To Cube Prepare by getting out a cutting board and sharp knife If necessary rinse or wash the ingredient you are about to Cube Lay the ingredient down on its side on the cutting board Using the knife cut in a downward motion cutting the ingredient into about 1” slices Lay the thick slices down on the cutting board cut them into 1” slices again and again cutting horizontally ( ----) then vertically ( III)

Cooking Terms Step-By-Step Do you have any questions? Do you know how each term works? Could you answer questions about each term now?