Kitchen Vocabulary

About Kitchen Vocabulary

Kitchen Vocabulary is a free word games quiz with 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 5 easy, 5 medium, 5 hard questions. How well do you know cooking terms and kitchen lingo? A typical run takes about 7 minutes, hints are always one tap away, and your streak ticks up the first time you finish a game on a given day.

A few sample questions

1. 1. What does it mean to 'sauté' food?

   Answer: To cook quickly in a small amount of fat over high heat

   To sauté means to cook food quickly in a small amount of oil or butter over relatively high heat while stirring or tossing frequently. The word comes from the French 'sauter,' meaning 'to jump,' describing how the food moves in the pan.

2. 2. What does 'simmer' mean in cooking?

   Answer: To cook in liquid just below the boiling point

   To simmer means to cook food gently in liquid at a temperature just below the boiling point, where small bubbles occasionally rise to the surface. Simmering is gentler than boiling and is used for soups, stews, and sauces.

3. 3. What does it mean to 'dice' an ingredient?

   Answer: To cut it into small, uniform cubes

   To dice means to cut food into small, uniform cube-shaped pieces. A small dice is about 1/4 inch, a medium dice about 1/2 inch, and a large dice about 3/4 inch. Uniform sizes ensure even cooking.

4. 4. What does 'marinate' mean?

   Answer: To soak food in a seasoned liquid to add flavor

   To marinate means to soak food, usually meat, in a seasoned liquid (marinade) to infuse flavor and often to tenderize it. Marinades typically contain an acid (like vinegar or citrus juice), oil, and herbs or spices.

5. 5. What does it mean to 'preheat' an oven?

   Answer: To heat the oven to a specified temperature before putting food in

   To preheat an oven means to turn it on and let it reach the desired cooking temperature before placing food inside. Preheating ensures food cooks evenly from the start and is especially important for baking.

Things you'll learn along the way

• ✓To blanch means to briefly cook food in boiling water and then immediately transfer it to ice water to stop the cooking process. Blanching is used to soften vegetables, loosen skins (like on tomatoes or peaches), and preserve color and texture.
• ✓To deglaze means to add liquid (such as wine, broth, or water) to a hot pan after cooking to dissolve the caramelized food residue (called fond) stuck to the bottom. This creates a flavorful base for sauces and gravies.
• ✓'Al dente' is an Italian term meaning 'to the tooth.' It describes pasta (or rice) that is cooked until it is still firm when bitten, rather than soft all the way through. This is considered the ideal texture for pasta.