- 1[intransitive, transitive] to prepare food by heating it, for example by boiling, baking, or frying it Where did you learn to cook? cook something What's the best way to cook trout? Who's going to cook supper? Add the onion and cook for three minutes. He cooked lunch for me. cook somebody something He cooked me lunch. Topic CollocationsCookingpreparing
- prepare a dish/a meal/a menu/dinner/the fish
- weigh out 4oz of sugar/the ingredients
- wash/rinse the lettuce/spinach
- chop/slice/dice the carrots/onions/potatoes
- peel the carrots/onion/potatoes/garlic/orange
- grate a carrot/the cheese/some nutmeg
- remove/discard the bones/seeds/skin/rind/peel
- blend/combine/mix (together) the flour and water/all the ingredients
- beat/whisk the cream/eggs/egg whites
- knead/shape/roll (out) the dough
- heat the oil in a frying pan
- preheat/heat the oven/the broiler
- bring to a boil
- stir constantly/gently with a wooden spoon
- reduce the heat
- simmer gently for 20 minutes/until reduced by half
- melt the butter/chocolate/cheese
- dissolve the sugar in water
- brown the meat for 8-10 minutes
- drain the pasta/the water from the pot/in a colander/in a strainer
- mash the potatoes/banana/avocado
- cook food/fish/meat/rice/pasta/a Mexican dish
- bake (a loaf of) bread/a cake/a pie/potatoes/muffins/cookies/fish
- boil cabbage/potatoes/an egg/a hot dog/water
- fry/deep-fry/stir-fry the chicken/vegetables
- broil meat/steak/chicken/sausages
- roast potatoes/peppers/meat/chicken/beef
- sauté garlic/mushrooms/onions/potatoes/vegetables
- steam rice/vegetables/spinach/asparagus/dumplings
- toast bread/nuts
- microwave food/popcorn/a frozen dinner/a TV dinner
- serve in a glass/on a bed of rice/with potatoes
- arrange the slices on a plate/in layers
- carve the meat/chicken/turkey
- dress/toss a salad
- dress with/drizzle with olive oil/vinaigrette
- top with a slice of lemon/a scoop of ice cream/whipped cream/syrup
- garnish with a sprig of parsley/fresh basil leaves/lemon wedges/a slice of lime/a twist of orange
- sprinkle with salt/sugar/herbs/parsley/freshly ground black pepper
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- 2[intransitive] (of food) to be prepared by boiling, baking, frying, etc. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce.
- 3[intransitive] be cooking (informal) to be planned secretly Everyone is being very secretive—there's something cooking. Idioms
verb jump to other results
NAmE//kʊk//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they cook he / she / it cooks
past simple cooked
-ing form cooking
to change facts or figures dishonestly or illegally His accountant had been cooking the books for years.
to ruin someone's chances of success Phrasal Verbscook up
Check pronunciation: cook