Cooking Techniques

Technique Definition Tools Used

Saut To cook food in a small -Skillet
amount of fat in a shallow
pan.
Season To add ingredients such as -Measuring spoons
salt, pepper, herbs, and
spices for increased flavour.
Marinate Placing foods in a liquid to -Covered bowl
absorb flavours, or to
become tender before
cooking.
Sear Quickly browning food at the -Skillet
start of the cooking process
to seal in flavour.
Deglaze Use liquids (such as broth) to -Skillet
remove all the browned,
cooked parts of meat that
have been sauted in a pan.
Reduce Boil down a liquid to -Skillet
concentrate the flavour.
Baste Spoon a liquid over foods -Baster or large spoon
while they are cooking.
Mix Combine ingredients -Spoon or spatula
together by moving them
through each other.
Stir Move food in a rotary motion -Spoon
to merge ingredients,
distribute heat evenly, or
prevent sticking and burning.
Fold In Combine fragile ingredients -Rubber scraper
using a slow, thorough
movement from top to
bottom.
Blend Merge two or more -Electric mixer, blender, or
ingredients, until a new food processor
product or texture is formed.
Cut In Blend flour and a fat (butter -Pastry blender
or shortening) together until
pea-like shapes appear.
 Beat Mix ingredients rapidly until -Electric mixer
they are combined well into
each other.
Whip Move one or more -Electric mixer or whisk
ingredients around very
quickly to incorporate air.
Drain Remove all the extra liquid -Colander
from a food product.
Garnish Adding textures and colours -Zester
to arrange a meal in a visually -Peeler
pleasing way. -Knife
-Scissors
Dot Put pieces of butter on a dish -Knife
before baking. -Spoon
Strain Remove unwanted particles -Strainer
from soup, gravy, or sauce.
Dredge Cover food with flour until -Tongs
completely coated. -Bowl
Bread Dip food into beaten egg, -Fork
then cover the food with -Bowls
bread crumbs.
Flour Prepare a pan to create a -Pan or cookie sheet
non-stick surface for foods.
Mince Cut bits of food into the -Knife or food processor
smallest pieces possible
Dice Cut pieces of vegetables or -Knife
fruit into small squares. -Cutting Board
Chop Cut foods into random sizes -Knife
to prepare for cooking. -Cutting Board
Slice Cut foods into flat, thin -Knife
pieces. -Cutting Board
Cube Cut pieces of food to make all -Knife
sides equal. -Cutting Board
Quarter Divide food into four equal -Knife
parts. -Cutting Board
Tear Pull pieces of food apart. -Forks or hands
Broil Cook foods momentarily at -Broiling pan
very high heat until a crust
forms.
Bake Place food in an oven so that -Loaf pan, cookie sheets,
the heat cooks the food muffin tins, etc.
consistently.
Roast Place uncovered foods in an -Roasting pan
oven so they brown.
Braise Brown foods slightly before -Dutch oven
adding other ingredients and
simmering for a long time.