Preparation & Cooking Terms

Bake To cook in the oven by dry heat

Beat To mix rapidly using an electric mixer

Blend To mix two or more ingredients together thoroughly –Spoon –Whisk –Electric mixer To mix two or more ingredients together thoroughly –Spoon –Whisk –Electric mixer

Crumble To break into small pieces and scatter over another food

Chill To refrigerate food until it is cold

Combine To mix two or more ingredients together

Cream To combine sugar and shortening until soft and smooth Use electric mixer To combine sugar and shortening until soft and smooth Use electric mixer

Chop To use a French chefs knife and cut into small pieces

Cube To cut into pieces that are the same size

Dice To cut into very small cubes

Glaze To coat with a thin sugar syrup

Grease To coat food or pan with oil or grease

Knead Work dough with hands

Level To even off a measuring cup with a straight edge spatula

Mix To combine two or more ingredients

Mince To chop into very small pieces (as small as possible)

Peel To pull off the outer covering of a fruit or vegetable

Press To pack or push down on a mixture

Preheat To heat the oven to the baking temperature –Before putting food in oven To heat the oven to the baking temperature –Before putting food in oven

Puree Grind fruits and vegetables into a soft paste Usually done with blender Grind fruits and vegetables into a soft paste Usually done with blender

Slice To cut into thin flat pieces

Shred To cut into small, long pieces

Stir To mix with a circular motion or figure eight motion

Season To add flavoring to foods

Whip To beat rapidly to incorporate air

Boil To heat a liquid until bubbles constantly rise to the surface and break

Simmer To heat a liquid just before it boils. Bubbles start to rise to the top but does not break the surface

Toss To tumble a mixture very lightly with a spoon and fork

Drain To remove excess liquids from a food

Garnish To decorate a food or dish with small colorful food.