To broil or to boil: that is the question! Knowing common cooking terms can improve your healthy cooking skills and turn anyone into a home chef!.
Bake - To cook in the oven. When you bake, food cooks slowly with gentle heat, causing the natural moisture to evaporate slowly and enhancing flavor.
Basting - To brush or spoon liquid, like water, over meat during roasting, this adds flavor and prevents drying out.
Beat- To smooth a mixture by briskly whipping or stirring it up with a spoon, fork, wire whisk, rotary beater or electric mixer.
Blanch- To boil briefly. After 30 seconds in boiling water, plunge the vegetable or other food or into ice water to stop the cooking – great for green beans, asparagus, and broccoli.
Blend- To mix two or more ingredients together to make sure they are equally distributed throughout the mixture.
Boil- To cook food in heated water or other liquid, like water or broths , that is bubbling vigorously.
Braise: To cook food slowly using heat from an oven or stovetop with a little bit of liquid which is usually water or broth. Braising tenderizes the meat, which also gives it great flavor, like in a juicy, tender pot roast.
Broil- To cook food directly under the heat source (in the oven this means only the top burner is on at a very high temperature..
Broth or Stock - A flavorful liquid made by gently cooking meat, seafood or vegetables (and/or their by-products, such as bones and trimming) often with herbs, in liquid (usually water).
Brown -A quick sauté, pan/oven broiling, or grilling method, done either at the beginning or end of meal preparation, often to enhance flavor, texture or eye appeal
Chop- To cut into irregular pieces. Coarsely chopped are bite-sized pieces. Finely chopped are smaller.
Coat- To evenly cover food with flour, crumbs or a batter.
Combine -To blend two or more ingredients into a single mixture.
Dash- A measure approximately equal to 1/16 teaspoon.
Dice- To cut into cubes or square shapes. Fine dice=1/8-inch. Small dice=1/4-inch. Medium dice=1/2-inch.
Marinate- To coat or immerse foods in a liquid or dry rub, to add flavor before cooking and eating.
Mash- To beat or press a food to remove lumps and make a smooth mixture.
Mince - To cut food into tiny irregular pieces. The smallest form of chopped..
Mix -To beat or stir two or more foods together until they are thoroughly combined.
Puree -To mash or sieve food into a thick liquid.
Reduce- To cook liquids down so that some of the water evaporates often causing the remaining mixture to thicken.
Roast- To cook uncovered in the oven.
Sauté- To cook food quickly in a small amount of oil in a skillet or frying pan over direct heat.
Season -To enhance the flavor of foods by adding ingredients like: pepper, oregano, basil, cinnamon and a variety of other herbs, spices, condiments and vinegars.
Shred -To cut or tear into long narrow strips, either by hand or by using a grater or food processor.
Simmer- A very low boil that cooks food in a liquid at a low enough temperature so that small bubbles begin to break the surface and around the edge of the pot..
Steam -To cook over boiling water in a covered pan, this method keeps foods' shape, texture and nutritional value intact better than methods such as boiling. Best to use a wire basket for this.
Stir-Fry- The fast cooking of small pieces of meat and vegetables over very high heat with continual and rapid stirring.
Toss -To thoroughly combine several ingredients by mixing lightly.
Vinaigrette- Refers to any sauce made with vinegar, oil and seasonings.
Whisk - To mix or fluff by beating; also refers to the utensil used for this action.
Zest (noun) - The thin brightly colored outer part of the rind of citrus fruits. They contain volatile oils used as a flavoring. Can be grated or in strips.
Zest (verb) - The act of removing the outer part of citrus fruits using a paring knife, grater, microplane or “zester.”
Article copyright © 2014 American Heart Association. This recipe is brought to you by the American Heart Association's Simple Cooking with Heart © Program. For more articles and sim