Conversion Table

Al dente: A term used to describe the firmness of pasta, rice and vegetables - cooked so as to be still firm when bitten.

Au gratin: A breadcrumb or grated cheese topping that is sprinkled over food and grilled until well browned and crusty.

Bake blind: The process of baking a pie crust or other pastry without the filling. It becomes even more important when the crust will be filled with an unbaked or ‘wet’ filling, which will cause the pastry to become soggy if not baked first. Bake blind by covering the base of the pastry shell with greaseproof or baking paper and then filling it with dried beans and baking it for 10 minutes at 180˚C. Remove the paper and beans and bake for a further 5 – 10 minutes.

Baste: To spoon or brush cooking juices or other hot liquid over meat or other food while cooking to keep it moist.

Beat: To stir (cooking ingredients) vigorously to make a smooth or frothy mixture, or using an electric beater.

Blanch: A quick method of cooking food by placing it in boiling water for a short while and refreshing it in ice cold water to either loosen the skin, or to prepare it for freezing or preserving.

Blend: To combine two or more ingredients until smooth using either an electric beater or a food processor.

Boil: To cook in liquid (water or stock) over high heat.

Bone: To remove the bones from meat, chicken or fish.

Braise: To fry food lightly (usually brown it) and then stew it slowly in a closed container.

Butterfly: To flatten food, like chicken, by splitting it down the centre but not cutting through it entirely.

Caramelise: To melt sugar over heat, continuously stirring it, to convert into caramel.

Coring: To remove the middle part of fruits that contain seeds.

Cut in: A method of blending to mix butter, margarine or other solid fat or liquid into dry ingredients using a knife or spatula.

Deep-fry: To fry food in an amount of fat or oil sufficient to cover it completely, until golden and crisp.

Deglaze: To make a gravy or sauce by adding liquid to the cooking juices and food particles in (a pan in which meat has been cooked).

Dice: To chop food into small uniformly sized squares.

Dollop: To add a large mass of food (like ice-cream, cream cheese, whipped cream etc) casually and without measuring.

Flake: To gently break up food, like fish, into smaller pieces using a fork.

Fold in: To mix ingredients lightly to incorporate air using a spatula or metal spoon.

Glaze: To brush with syrup, egg or marinade to give a shine to meat, pastry and scones.

Gratin: A breadcrumb or grated cheese topping that is sprinkled over food and grilled until well browned and crusty.

Grease: To apply oil, butter, fat or non-stick spray to a roasting tray, oven dish or cake pan to ensure that food doesn't stick to it.

Grill: A device on a cooker that radiates heat downwards for cooking food. It can be achieved in the oven (from the top) or in a griddle pan (from the bottom).

Infuse: To allow the flavour of an ingredient soak into a liquid until the liquid takes on the flavour of the ingredient.

Julienne: To cut food into uniformly shaped matchsticks (short and thin strips).

Knead: To work dough into a soft uniform texture by folding and stretching it using the heel of your hand.

Marinate: To place food in a marinade (such as a sauce or liquid mixture) to allow flavours to develop, and to impart the flavours of the marinade into the food.

Mince: To finely chop food into small pieces.

Parcook or parboil: Partly cooking food by boiling.

Poach: To cook chicken, fish or fruit gently by simmering in a small amount of liquid. Or to cook an egg without its shell in or over boiling water.

Prove: To allow a mixture, usually containing yeast, to rise in a warm place.

Puree: A smooth cream of liquidised or crushed fruit or vegetables.

Reduce: To boil vigorously in order to concentrate a liquid with the ultimate goal of intensifying the flavour or to thicken the consistency.

Roast: To cook meat or vegetables by prolonged exposure to heat in an oven or over a fire.

Roux: A mixture of fat (especially butter) and flour used in making sauces.

Rub in: To mix butter, margarine or other fat into dry ingredients by using your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Sauté: To fry lightly in a little oil or fat over high heat to brown food evenly.

Score: Shallow, diagonal cut slits made on the surface of meat or vegetables for rendering fat, crisping and to allow for the absorption of flavour.

Seal or sear: To brown the surface of meat, chicken or fish quickly to seal in the juices.

Shallow fry: Shallow frying is used to lend a crispy texture to small, delicate foods without the need to completely submerge them in oil.

Simmer: The process of cooking food in hot liquid (gently bubbling), keeping it just below boiling point.

Steam: To cook food by heating it in steam from boiling water.

Water bath: To wrap a springform pan in foil ensuring that no water gets inside the pan. Place boiling water into a deep oven pan, being sure to only fill it up to a third, and then place the springform pan inside. Often used when baking cheesecake.

Whip: To beat (cream, eggs or other food) into a froth, usually to incorporate air or to increase the volume.

Whisk: To beat or stir (like cream or eggs) with a light, rapid movement.

Zest: Scraping off the outer coloured part of the peel (a piece of citrus fruit) for use as flavouring.