Learning how to talk about cooking in English goes beyond knowing the names of ingredients. Understanding food preparation methods, kitchen utensils, and measurement terms gives you the tools to read, follow, and even share recipes with confidence. Here you will find the essential vocabulary and a practical example that brings it all together.
What are the main cooking methods in English?
Cooking methods describe the way heat or preparation transforms raw ingredients into a finished dish. Each one produces different textures and flavors, and knowing their names is key for reading any recipe.
- Stir-fry: cooking food quickly in a pan with a small amount of oil [0:18].
- Deep-fry: submerging food completely in hot oil [0:24].
- Boil: heating a liquid until it reaches the point where bubbles form [0:30].
- Raw: food that has not been cooked at all [0:37].
- Bake: cooking in an oven at a lower temperature for less time, typical for cookies and cakes [0:41].
- Roast: cooking in an oven at a higher temperature for longer, like roasting a chicken [0:50].
- Grill: applying heat directly to the surface of the food [0:57].
- Steam: cooking with the vapor produced by boiling water [1:02].
A useful example from the lesson: "The recipe says to grill the chicken first and then roast it in the oven with the potatoes and veggies" [1:07]. Notice how a single recipe can combine more than one method.
What measurement words do recipes use?
Recipes rely on standard units so anyone can replicate the dish. The most common ones are cup, tablespoon, and teaspoon [1:23]. A tablespoon is the larger spoon, while a teaspoon is the smaller one. You will also find fractions like a quarter teaspoon or one and a half cups.
Which utensils and techniques appear in recipes?
Beyond the cooking methods, there are a few extra terms worth remembering:
- Skillet / wok: types of pans used for frying [1:38].
- Saucepan: a deeper pan often used for boiling or simmering liquids [1:43].
- Simmer: to cook a liquid just below the boiling point, producing tiny, gentle bubbles [1:46].
- Mix: to combine ingredients together [1:52].
- Garnish: to decorate or embellish a finished dish, for example with herbs or nuts [1:55].
How do you prepare fried rice step by step?
This recipe puts all the vocabulary into practice. First, gather the ingredients [2:03]:
- Three cups of water.
- One and a half cups of rice.
- Two tablespoons of peanut oil.
- One small onion and one small green bell pepper.
- Three cloves of garlic.
- A quarter teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
- Three green onions.
- Three tablespoons of soy sauce.
- One cup of frozen petite peas.
- Two tablespoons of sesame oil.
- A quarter cup of roasted peanuts (optional).
What are the preparation steps?
The recipe introduces three important cutting techniques right away: chop the onion, slice the green bell pepper, and slice the garlic [2:42].
Then follow these steps [2:53]:
- In a saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in rice, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat peanut oil in a skillet or wok over medium heat. Add onions, bell pepper, garlic, and pepper flakes. Cook for three minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Increase heat to medium-high. Stir in the cooked rice, green onions, and soy sauce. Stir-fry for one minute.
- Add peas and cook for one more minute.
- Remove from heat, add sesame oil, and mix well.
- Garnish with peanuts if desired.
Notice how the recipe uses sequencing words like first, then, and meanwhile to organize instructions clearly. These connectors are just as important as the cooking vocabulary because they help a reader understand the correct order.
Why is practicing recipes useful for learning English?
Writing and sharing your own recipe forces you to use imperative verbs (chop, slice, stir, add, remove), measurement vocabulary, and sequencing language in a real-world context. It is a practical way to reinforce everything covered here.
Try writing your favorite recipe using these terms and share it in the comments. Reading other people's recipes is another great way to pick up new vocabulary and cooking ideas at the same time.
