14 Essential Cooking Terms Everyone Should Know

Did you know that cooking has its own unique language? Think about it. If you've ever listened to a chef working in the kitchen—whether in a restaurant or on TV—you've likely encountered some of this specialized vocabulary. While it would take years to master every cooking term out there, grasping the basics is something everyone should do. We've compiled 14 cooking terms that we believe everyone should be familiar with. ### Key Basic Cooking Terms How many of these could you already define? **Al Dente** – Pasta that is cooked to the point where it offers slight resistance when bitten—often regarded as the ideal texture. **Bake** – Cooking food in an oven using dry heat. **Beat** – To mix ingredients quickly while incorporating air into the mixture. **Boil** – To heat a liquid until it reaches a bubbling state. **Clarify** – To remove solids from a liquid, making it clear. **Cream** – To soften a fat (typically at room temperature) by beating it. **Fillet** – To remove bones from meat or fish. **Fry** – To cook food in hot fat or oil. **Grill** – Cooking food over high heat on a grill. **Lukewarm** – A temperature that is neither hot nor cold, typically around room temperature. **Marinade** – A flavorful liquid used to soak meat or vegetables to tenderize them and enhance their flavor. **Pickle** – To preserve fruits, vegetables, or meats by soaking them in brine. **Saute** – To cook meat or vegetables quickly in a small amount of fat, just until they turn brown. **Steam** – To cook food by using steam in a pressure cooker or boiler with a tight-fitting lid. ### Pursue a Career in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management Transform your lifelong passion into a rewarding career. Our Culinary & Restaurant Management Certificate offers professionals an intensive program, providing hands-on food and beverage managerial skills along with culinary training in just 20 weeks. ### Keep Learning in the Culinary Arts These 14 terms are just the basics. If you're eager to learn more, there are countless great resources available. What will you discover in a Culinary Arts program? Explore the world of restaurant management. As Wolfgang Puck once said: “Cooking is like painting or writing a song. Just as there are only so many notes or colors, there are only so many flavors – it’s how you combine them that sets you apart.” So, take your time to explore the world of cooking and absorb as much knowledge as you can. You may be amazed at how much is out there to discover.