Cooking Dictionary for KidsLearning What Basic Terms Mean
Cooking with kids is a lot of fun. Help your child understand what some of the terms used in cooking mean.
When cooking with a child, you may come across words like dash, dissolve, and whip. Help your child know what these words mean to make cooking easier and less frustrating for her. Cooking should be a fun experience to share with your child, and this dictionary may help. Al denteAn item, such as pasta or vegetables, cooked until it is tender but still firm, not soft. AromaticsIngredients, such as herbs, spices, and vinegars, used to enhance the flavor and smell of food. BakeTo cook in an oven. BeatTo mix ingredients together with a fork, whisker, or mixer at a high speed. The purpose of this action is to add air to the mixture, which makes it smooth. BlendTo mix two or more ingredients together with a spoon or mixer. BoilTo heat liquid to the point that it bubbles vigorously. The point at which liquid boils is 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius). BroilTo bake something at a very high temperature in the oven under the broiler. This helps turn foods brown on top. If not watched carefully, though, it can burn food quickly. It is very important to follow cooking directions when using a broiler. CelsiusA measure of temperature where 0 degrees is the freezing point and 100 degrees is the boiling point of water. You will often see this abbreviated as C. CheeseclothA light, fine mesh gauze used for straining liquids and making sachets. ChillTo place food in the refrigerator to make it cold. ChopTo cut into small pieces on a cutting board. CoolTo let food recently cooked stand at room temperature until no longer warm. CreamTo mix butter and sugar together in a bowl with a spoon or whisk until it becomes creamy. CubeTo cut food into small square pieces. DashA small amount of an ingredient such as pepper or salt, meaning to shake out one drop or sprinkle from a shaker. DiceTo cut into cubes of the same small size. DissolveTo stir a dry or powdered ingredient with liquid until it disappears. DollopA small serving. DoughA mixture of flour and water that is thick enough to roll and knead. You can also drop it from a spoon. DrainTo remove liquid from food by putting it into a colander to separate the food from the liquid. The liquid will "drain" into the sink or a pot. DrizzleTo pour lightly from a spoon over food. DustTo lightly cover food with a dry ingredient, such as confectioner's sugar. FahrenheitA measure of temperature where 32 degrees is the freezing point and 212 degrees is the boiling points. You will often see this abbreviated as F. FoldTo combine ingredients using a gentle up and down motion with a spoon. GrateTo rub food on a grater's punched holes to make small pieces of food. GrindTo cut or crush food in a grinding machine or blender. KneadTo mix dough into a smooth texture by pressing and folding with your hands until soft and smooth. MeasureTo use measuring cups and spoons to get the right amount of an ingredient. MeltTo turn a solid into liquid by placing it over heat. MinceTo chop very finely. MixTo combine ingredients together so they are blended evenly. PeelTo remove the skin of a food using a peeling instrument (such as cucumbers and carrots). RoastTo cook in the oven using dry heat. SauteTo cook quickly in a pan over medium-high heat with a small amount of fat or liquid. ShredTo rub a large food across a surface with medium to large holes or slits to make small pieces. SiftTo put a dry ingredient in a sifter to break up the lumps and make it fine. SimmerTo cook over a low heat to keep a food warm, but not let it boil. SliceTo cut food into thin pieces with a knife. StirTo mix in a rounded motion with a spoon or whisk. TossTo mix several ingredients by lightly shaking the bowl the ingredients are in. WhipTo beat rapidly, usually with a spoon, whisk, or blender, to add air into the mixture. WhiskTo beat ingredients together with a wire whip until they are well blended.
The copyright of the article Cooking Dictionary for Kids in Kids Activities is owned by Denise Oliveri. Permission to republish Cooking Dictionary for Kids in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Related Articles
Related Topics
Reference
More in Partners & Parents
|