40+ Cooking Methods & Food Preparation Techniques in English – Pronunciation & Meaning
Cooking is an essential life skill, and understanding cooking methods and food preparation techniques is crucial for anyone learning English, working in a kitchen, or following recipes. Whether you’re a food lover, a chef, or an English learner, this guide will help you expand your vocabulary, improve your pronunciation, and learn how to describe cooking processes correctly.
📌 Bonus: Download a FREE Cooking Vocabulary PDF on the link below.
Why Learn Cooking Vocabulary?
Knowing cooking and food preparation vocabulary helps in:
✅ Ordering food in restaurants
✅ Following recipes in English
✅ Cooking at home & understanding instructions
✅ Working in a kitchen or culinary environment
✅ Improving English fluency with practical vocabulary
This guide is divided into two sections:
🔹 Cooking Methods – How food is cooked (baking, frying, steaming, etc.).
🔹 Food Preparation Techniques – How food is prepared before cooking (chopping, whisking, kneading, etc.).
Below is a comprehensive list of cooking methods, with pronunciation (IPA) and a brief meaning.
You can also check out the YouTube video we have on this and drop a like if you want to hear how these words are said and pronounced! That’s all the thanks we need!
📌 Table of Cooking Methods:
| Cooking Method | Pronunciation (IPA) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bake | /beɪk/ | Cooking food in an oven using dry heat. |
| Roast | /rəʊst/ | Cooking food in an oven at high heat, often uncovered. |
| Grill | /ɡrɪl/ | Cooking food over direct heat, usually on a metal rack. |
| Broil | /brɔɪl/ | Cooking with direct heat from above, often in an oven. |
| Toast | /təʊst/ | Browning food with heat, usually bread. |
| Boil | /bɔɪl/ | Cooking food in hot, bubbling water. |
| Simmer | /ˈsɪm.ər/ | Cooking food in liquid at a temperature just below boiling. |
| Poach | /pəʊtʃ/ | Cooking food gently in hot liquid without boiling. |
| Steam | /stiːm/ | Cooking food with the heat of rising water vapor. |
| Blanch | /blɑːntʃ/ | Quickly boiling food, then cooling it in ice water. |
| Braise | /breɪz/ | Cooking food slowly in liquid after browning it first. |
| Stew | /stjuː/ or /stuː/ | Cooking food slowly in liquid for a long time. |
| Fry | /fraɪ/ | Cooking food in hot oil or fat. |
| Deep-fry | /diːp fraɪ/ | Submerging food completely in hot oil. |
| Pan-fry | /pæn fraɪ/ | Cooking food in a small amount of oil in a pan. |
| Stir-fry | /stɜːr fraɪ/ | Quickly frying food in a small amount of oil while stirring. |
| Sauté | /soʊˈteɪ/ | Cooking food quickly in a small amount of fat. |
| Air-fry | /ɛər fraɪ/ | Cooking food using hot air circulation instead of oil. |
| Barbecue (BBQ) | /ˈbɑː.bɪ.kjuː/ | Cooking food slowly over an open flame or hot coals. |
| Charbroil | /ˈtʃɑːr.brɔɪl/ | Cooking food on a grill with gas or infrared heat. |
(The full list continues in the downloadable PDF!)
📌 Want more cooking words? Download our FREE Cooking Vocabulary PDF on the link below
🔪 20+ Food Preparation Methods in English – Pronunciation & Meaning
Before cooking, food must be prepared using different methods. Here are some essential food preparation techniques:
| Preparation Method | Pronunciation (IPA) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Chop | /tʃɒp/ | Cutting food into rough, uneven pieces. |
| Dice | /daɪs/ | Cutting food into small, even cubes. |
| Mince | /mɪns/ | Cutting food into very small pieces. |
| Julienne | /ˈdʒuː.li.ən/ | Cutting food into thin strips. |
| Grate | /ɡreɪt/ | Rubbing food against a rough surface to make small pieces. |
| Slice | /slaɪs/ | Cutting food into thin, flat pieces. |
| Peel | /piːl/ | Removing the outer skin of fruits or vegetables. |
| Core | /kɔːr/ | Removing the center of a fruit. |
| Stir | /stɜːr/ | Mixing ingredients with a spoon. |
| Whisk | /wɪsk/ | Beating liquid quickly to add air. |
| Blend | /blɛnd/ | Mixing ingredients smoothly in a blender. |
| Knead | /niːd/ | Working dough with hands to make it smooth. |
| Roll | /roʊl/ | Flattening dough with a rolling pin. |
| Mash | /mæʃ/ | Crushing food into a soft texture. |
📌 Looking for more food prep vocabulary? Check out our FREE lists and Crib sheet on the link below.
Understanding Cooking and Food Preparation in English
Cooking is more than just following a recipe—it’s about understanding the methods and techniques used to prepare food properly.
Whether you’re an English learner, a chef, or someone who enjoys cooking at home, knowing cooking vocabulary helps you communicate effectively in the kitchen and follow recipes with confidence.
Many English recipes and cooking shows use specific terms like sauté, blanch, poach, and sear—but what do these words really mean?
If you’ve ever been confused about whether to bake or roast, or whether you should simmer or boil, this guide will help you understand the differences and learn how to pronounce them correctly.
Why Cooking Vocabulary Matters for English Learners
If you are learning English as a second language (ESL), cooking-related words can improve your practical communication skills.
Whether you’re ordering food in a restaurant, talking about your favorite dishes, or following a recipe in English, these words help you speak more naturally and fluently.
For professionals in the culinary industry, understanding the correct English terms for different cooking and food preparation techniques is essential.
Knowing whether to chop, dice, or mince an ingredient, or whether a dish should be fried, grilled, or baked, ensures that recipes are followed accurately and that there is clear communication in the kitchen.
Cooking vs. Food Preparation – What’s the Difference?
Many people confuse cooking methods with food preparation techniques. The main difference is:
- Cooking Methods refer to how food is cooked, such as baking, frying, grilling, and steaming. These techniques involve heat and change the texture and taste of food.
- Food Preparation Techniques refer to how food is prepared before cooking, such as chopping, slicing, whisking, or kneading. These steps happen before cooking begins and help ensure the food is ready for the cooking process.
By learning both cooking and food preparation terms, you’ll have a complete understanding of kitchen vocabulary in English!
Start Using Cooking Vocabulary Today!
Now that you’ve learned over 60 cooking and food preparation terms, you’re ready to:
✅ Follow English recipes more easily.
✅ Communicate better in the kitchen.
✅ Improve your English pronunciation with real-world words.
📌 Which cooking method do you use most often? Let us know in the comments!
- https://www.howtocook.recipes/40-key-culinary-techniques-and-cooking-methods-explained/
- https://www.kitchensanity.com/cooking-techniques/
- https://makingenglishfun.com/2024/05/11/20-english-food-idioms-to-improve-your-english-with-printables/
- https://makingenglishfun.com/2023/11/21/10-traditional-foods-from-the-united-kingdom/
- https://makingenglishfun.com/portfolio/free-food-fruit-and-vegetables-colouring-word-search/
- https://makingenglishfun.com/portfolio/food-word-scramble-worksheets/
Making English Fun!
I have been a teacher of English for over 15 years, in that time i made hundreds and thousands of resources and learnt so much i think its worth sharing. Hopefully to help teachers and parents around the world.
