
Al dente means there should be a little bit of toothsome texture left in the noodle - as in it’s 90% cooked through, but not 100%. Al dente - Usually used in reference to pasta, this terms literally means “to the tooth” in Italian.:) Beginner Cooking Terms and Definitions I’ll be creating an advanced list of cooking terms soon. I’ve compiled them all here for you in one place. Well, two places, actually - this is the list of beginner cooking terms.

While there are an endless number of cooking terms to learn (this book has 850+ pages of them! – affiliate link) there are only a few you really need to know to become a better cook. These are words, phrases, and techniques that might cause confusion if you run across them while cooking. Today we’re going to talk about some of the most commonly misunderstood cooking terms you’ll see in recipes. Confusing cooking terms can even trip up pro chefs sometimes. Unknown cooking terms can cause all sorts of havoc in the kitchen.īut don’t worry.

Have you ever sat down determined to cook a recipe, only to come across one or two mystery cooking terms or words that stops you cold in your tracks? Like, “sweat the onions,” “brine the meat,” or “fold the batter?” And from there, you’re totally lost.
