English word list

In the Kitchen

Ingredients, cooking techniques, and essential kitchen tools.

185 words
apple
A common, firm, round fruit produced by a tree of the genus Malus, typically having red, green, or yellow skin.
aubergine
The fruit of the Solanum melongena plant, typically purple and shaped like an egg, which is cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
avocado
The large, usually yellowish-green or black, savory fruit of the avocado tree.
bake
To cook food using dry heat, typically in an oven.
banana
An elongated curved tropical fruit of a banana plant, which grows in bunches and has a creamy flesh and a smooth skin.
barbecue
A social gathering or meal where food is cooked outdoors on a grill or over an open fire.
batter
A liquid mixture of flour, eggs, and milk used in cooking for making pancakes or coating fried food.
bean
The large edible seed of various plants, used as food.
biscuit
A small, flat, baked good which is either hard and crisp or else soft but firm; a cookie.
bitter
Having a sharp, pungent taste; not sweet.
blend
To mix different substances, styles, or elements together so that they combine into a single entity.
blender
An electric kitchen appliance with rotating blades used for mixing, puréeing, or liquefying food.
boil
To heat a liquid until it reaches a high temperature, bubbles, and turns into gas; or for a liquid to reach this state.
boiled
Cooked in boiling water or other liquid.
bottle
A container, typically made of glass or plastic and having a tapered neck, used primarily for holding liquids.
bowl
A roughly hemispherical container used to hold, mix, or present food, such as salad, fruit, or soup.
bread
A common food made from flour, water, and usually yeast, mixed together and baked.
broccoli
A green vegetable with a thick stalk and a head of small green flower buds.
burger
A sandwich consisting of a cooked patty of ground meat or a vegetarian substitute, usually served in a sliced bun.
butter
A soft, fatty foodstuff made by churning the cream of milk.
cabbage
The leaves of the cabbage plant eaten as a vegetable.
cake
A sweet baked food made from flour, sugar, and eggs, often covered in icing.
carrot
A long, orange root vegetable that is often eaten raw or cooked.
cereal
Breakfast cereal.
cheese
A dairy product made from curdled or cultured milk.
chef
The head cook of a restaurant or other establishment who plans menus and supervises the kitchen.
chicken
A common domesticated bird kept by humans for its eggs and meat.
chilli
Alternative spelling of chili
chips
Plural of chip.
chocolate
A sweet food made from ground roasted cocoa beans, usually brown in color and eaten as a treat.
chop
To cut something into pieces with short, vigorous movements, often using a knife or axe.
cinnamon
A spice made from the dried aromatic bark of certain trees, used in cooking as a powder or in sticks.
coconut
A large, hard fruit produced by a tropical palm tree, having a thick fibrous husk, a hard shell, edible white flesh, and clear liquid inside.
coffee
A beverage made by infusing the beans of the coffee plant in hot water.
colander
A bowl-shaped kitchen utensil with holes in it used for draining food that has been cooking in water, such as pasta.
cook
A person who prepares food for eating.
cooker
A large piece of kitchen equipment, such as a stove or a specialized appliance, used for heating and preparing food.
cookie
A small, flat, baked sweet treat that is typically crisp or soft but firm.
corn
Maize, a tall cereal plant widely grown for its large yellow grain.
courgette
The long, green, edible fruit of a variety of squash, harvested before it is fully mature.
cream
The fatty part of milk that rises to the surface or is separated from it.
creamy
having a rich taste or a thick, smooth texture like that of cream
crispy
Having a firm, dry, and brittle texture that breaks easily when bitten or pressed.
cucumber
The edible fruit of the cucumber plant, typically having a green rind and crisp white flesh.
cup
A concave vessel for drinking, usually made of opaque material and with a handle.
curry
A dish originating from South Asian cuisine, consisting of meat, vegetables, or fish cooked in a spiced sauce.
cut
To divide or separate something into pieces using a sharp tool like a knife or scissors.
delicious
Highly pleasing to the sense of taste or smell.
dice
To cut food into small, uniform cubes.
diet
The food and beverage a person or animal consumes.
dish
A vessel such as a plate for holding or serving food, often flat with a depressed region in the middle.
dough
A thick, malleable substance made by mixing flour with other ingredients such as water, eggs, or butter, that is made into a particular form and then baked.
drain
to cause liquid to flow out of a container or space
drink
A liquid intended for swallowing.
duck
An aquatic bird of the family Anatidae, having a flat bill and webbed feet.
eat
To consume food by putting it into the mouth and swallowing it.
egg
The oval object laid by a domestic fowl, such as a chicken, used as food.
fish
A typically cold-blooded vertebrate animal that lives in water, moving with the help of fins and breathing with gills.
flavour
The distinctive taste of a food or drink.
flour
A powder made by crushing grain, especially wheat, used for making bread, cakes, and pastry.
food
Any solid substance that people or animals eat to stay alive and grow.
fork
A utensil with spikes (tines) used to put solid food into the mouth or to hold food down while cutting.
fresh
(of food or flowers) Recently produced, picked, or prepared; not frozen, dried, or preserved in cans.
fridge
A large electric cupboard used for keeping food and drinks cold; a refrigerator.
fried
Cooked in hot fat or oil.
frozen
Turned into ice or hardened by extreme cold.
fruit
The sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seed and can be eaten as food.
fry
To cook food in hot fat or oil.
garlic
A plant related to the onion, having a strong-smelling bulb that is widely used as a flavoring in cooking.
ginger
A hot, fragrant spice made from the rhizome (root) of a tropical plant, used in cooking, baking, and medicine.
glass
An amorphous solid, often transparent substance, usually made by melting silica sand with various additives.
gram
A unit of mass equal to one-thousandth of a kilogram.
grape
A small, round, smooth-skinned edible fruit, usually purple, red, or green, that grows in bunches on vines.
grater
a kitchen tool with a rough surface used for cutting food into very small pieces or shreds
grill
A metal frame or device used for cooking food over an open fire or hot coals.
grilled
Cooked on a metal frame over fire or hot coals.
herb
A green, leafy plant used to add flavor or seasoning to food.
homemade
Made or prepared at home, especially food, rather than purchased from a store.
honey
A sweet, viscous, gold-colored fluid produced from plant nectar by bees, often consumed by humans.
hot
Having or giving off a high temperature; relating to heat.
hungry
Affected by hunger; having the physical need for food.
ice
Water frozen into a solid state.
jam
A sweet food made by boiling fruit and sugar until it is thick, usually spread on bread.
jug
A serving vessel or container, typically circular in cross-section and higher than it is wide, with a small mouth or spout and a handle.
juice
The liquid that comes from a plant, especially from fruit or vegetables, often drunk as a beverage.
kilo
A short form of kilogram, a unit of mass equal to one thousand grams.
kitchen
A room or area used for cooking and preparing food.
knife
A tool or utensil consisting of a handle and a sharp blade, usually used for cutting food or other materials.
ladle
A deep-bowled spoonlike utensil with a long, usually curved, handle.
lamb
A young sheep.
lemon
A yellowish, oval citrus fruit with sour juice.
lettuce
The leaves of the lettuce plant, eaten as a vegetable, often in salads or sandwiches.
lid
The top or cover of a container.
lime
A small green citrus fruit with a sour taste, somewhat smaller than a lemon.
litre
A metric unit of volume or capacity, equal to one cubic decimetre.
mango
The oval tropical fruit of the mango tree, which has a smooth skin, sweet juicy orange-yellow flesh, and a large stone.
marinate
to soak food in a seasoned liquid before cooking to add flavor or soften it
meal
Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time, and usually in a comparatively large quantity (as opposed to a snack).
measure
To find out the size, weight, or amount of something by using a standard unit or tool.
meat
The flesh of an animal used as food.
melon
The large, round or oval fruit of various plants of the gourd family, typically having a sweet fleshy interior.
melt
To change from a solid state to a liquid state, usually because of heat.
microwave
A kitchen appliance that cooks or heats food very quickly using electromagnetic waves; a short form of microwave oven.
mild
Not sharp, spicy, or bitter; having a gentle flavor.
milk
A white liquid produced by female mammals to nourish their young, commonly used as a food and beverage by humans.
mince
To cut food, especially meat, into very small pieces using a knife or a machine.
mix
To combine two or more substances or things together to form one mass or whole.
mushroom
The fleshy fruiting body of a fungus, typically appearing above ground and often used as food.
noodle
A string or flat strip of pasta or other dough, usually cooked by boiling and served in soup or with a sauce.
oil
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum, or from animal or vegetable fats, that is typically used as fuel or for cooking.
omelette
A dish made with beaten eggs cooked in a frying pan without stirring, often folded and filled with cheese, vegetables, or meat.
onion
The edible bulb of a plant with a strong taste and smell, used as a vegetable.
orange
Any round citrus fruit with a yellow-red colour when ripe and a sour-sweet taste.
overdone
Cooked for too long, resulting in a dry or burnt state.
pan
A wide, flat metal container with a handle, used for cooking food.
pasta
Dough made from wheat and water, sometimes mixed with egg, formed into various shapes, and typically boiled for eating.
pea
The small, round, edible green seed of the legume Pisum sativum.
peach
A soft, juicy stone fruit with downy, yellow-red skin and sweet yellow flesh.
peanut
A legume resembling a nut, the fruit of the plant Arachis hypogaea, native to South America.
pear
An edible fruit produced by the pear tree, similar to an apple but typically elongated towards the stem.
peel
To remove the skin or outer covering of a fruit or vegetable.
peeler
A household utensil used for removing the skin from fruit or vegetables.
pepper
A hollow green, red, or yellow vegetable with seeds inside, which can be eaten raw or cooked.
pie
A baked dish consisting of a filling of fruit, meat, or vegetables, enclosed in or covered by a pastry crust.
pinch
A very small amount of a substance, usually powder, that can be held between the thumb and a finger.
pineapple
The ovoid fruit of the pineapple plant, which has very sweet white or yellow flesh, a tough, spiky shell and a tough, fibrous core.
plate
A slightly curved but almost flat dish from which food is served or eaten.
pot
A flat-bottomed vessel (usually metal) used for cooking food, possibly excluding saucepans.
potato
A starchy plant tuber eaten as a vegetable, or the plant itself.
pour
To cause a liquid or loose substance to flow in a steady stream from a container.
preheat
to heat something in advance, especially an oven, before using it for cooking
raw
Not cooked.
recipe
A set of instructions for making or preparing food dishes.
rice
The small seeds of a grass plant that are cooked and eaten as food.
rich
Containing a large amount of fat, sugar, eggs, or cream, often resulting in an intense flavor.
roast
To cook food, especially meat or vegetables, by prolonged exposure to heat in an oven or over a fire.
roll
A small, individual loaf of bread, often round or cylindrical.
salad
A cold dish consisting of a mixture of small pieces of food, usually vegetables or fruit, often served with a dressing.
salmon
A large edible fish with pinkish-orange flesh that is born in fresh water, migrates to the ocean, and returns to rivers to spawn.
salt
A common white substance, consisting mainly of sodium chloride, used to season and preserve food.
sandwich
A dish or foodstuff where at least one piece, but typically two or more pieces, of bread serves as the wrapper or container of some other food.
sauce
A liquid or thickened condiment used to add flavor or moisture to food.
saucepan
A deep cooking vessel with a long handle and a lid, used for boiling or stewing food.
saucer
A small shallow dish to hold a cup and catch drips.
sausage
A food item made of ground meat and seasoning, packed in a cylindrical casing.
savoury
Having a salty or spicy taste rather than a sweet one.
scales
A device for measuring weight.
season
To add salt, herbs, pepper, or other spices to food to improve its flavor.
serve
To provide food or drink to someone, especially at a meal or in a restaurant.
shrimp
A small sea creature with a shell, ten legs, and a long tail, often eaten as food.
simmer
To cook something slowly in liquid at a temperature just below the boiling point.
slice
A thin, broad piece cut off from a larger object.
soup
A liquid dish made by boiling ingredients such as meat, vegetables, or fish in stock or water.
sour
Having an acid or tart taste, like that of lemon or vinegar.
spatula
A kitchen utensil consisting of a flat surface attached to a long handle, used for turning, lifting, or stirring food.
spicy
Producing a burning sensation in the mouth, typically from chili peppers or capsaicin.
spinach
A common edible plant with dark green leaves that are eaten as a vegetable.
spoon
An implement for eating, serving, or stirring food, consisting of a small shallow bowl at the end of a handle.
steak
A thick, flat slice of meat, especially beef, usually cooked by grilling or frying.
steam
To cook food by placing it over boiling water so that it is cooked by the hot vapour.
stir
To mix a liquid or other substance by moving an object, such as a spoon, in a circular pattern.
stock
A savory liquid made by simmering bones, meat, seafood, or vegetables in water, used as a base for soups and sauces.
strawberry
The sweet, red fruit of a small plant, which has seeds on its surface.
sugar
Sucrose in the form of small crystals, obtained from plants and used to sweeten food and drink.
sweet
Having the pleasant taste characteristic of sugar or honey.
tablespoon
A unit of volume used in cooking, typically equal to three teaspoons or 15 milliliters.
taste
The sensation produced by the tongue in response to food or drink.
tasty
Having a pleasant or satisfying flavor.
tea
A hot drink made by infusing dried leaves in boiling water, or a cup of this drink.
teaspoon
A small spoon used to stir the contents of a cup or glass.
tender
Soft and easily chewed or cut; not tough.
thirsty
Needing to drink water or any liquid that can supply water.
toast
Bread that has been cooked lightly and browned.
toaster
An electrical device for toasting food, typically sliced bread.
tomato
The soft, red fruit of a plant, eaten as a vegetable in salads and cooked foods.
tray
A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried.
tuna
The edible flesh of the tuna fish, often sold canned or used in sushi.
turkey
A large bird with a fan-shaped tail and a wattled neck, often raised for food.
vegetable
A plant or part of a plant used as food, such as a cabbage, potato, carrot, or bean.
vegetarian
A person who does not eat meat or fish, and sometimes other animal products.
vinegar
A sour liquid made from fermented alcohol, used to flavor food or preserve it.
weigh
To have a specific heaviness or mass.
whisk
to beat or stir a substance, especially cream or eggs, with a light, rapid movement
yeast
A microscopic single-celled fungus used as an ingredient to make bread rise and to ferment beer or wine.
yogurt
A dairy product made by fermenting milk with bacterial cultures, often flavored with fruit or sugar.
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