Definition of Terms Used in Food Preparation




Definition of Terms Used in Food Preparation Source: U.S. Department of Defence

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A. GENERAL INFORMATION No. 2 (1)

DEFINITION OF TERMS USED IN FOOD PREPARATION

Bake ........................................................ To cook by dry heat in an oven, either covered or uncovered.

Barbecue ................................................. To roast or cook slowly, basting with a highly seasoned sauce.

Baste ....................................................... To moisten food with liquid or melted fat during cooking to prevent drying of the

surface and to add flavor.

Batch Preparation ................................... A predetermined quantity or number of servings of food that is to be prepared at

selected time intervals in progressive cookery for a given meal period to ensure

fresh, high quality cooked food to customers.

Beat ........................................................ To make a mixture smooth by using a fast regular circular and lifting motion

which incorporates air into a product.

Blanch..................................................... To partially cook in deep fat, boiling water or steam.

Blend ...................................................... To mix two or more ingredients thoroughly.

Boil ......................................................... To cook in liquid at boiling point (212� F.) in which bubbles rise and break at the

surface.

Braise ...................................................... To brown in small amount of fat, then to cook slowly in small amount of liquid

below the boiling point in a covered utensil.

Bread ...................................................... To cover with crumbs or other suitable dry coating ingredient; or to dredge in a

mixture of flour seasonings, and/or condiments, dip in a mixture of milk and

slightly beaten eggs and then dredge in crumbs.

Broil ........................................................ To cook by direct exposure to heat.

Brown ..................................................... To produce a brown color on the surface of food by subjecting it to heat.

Chop ....................................................... To cut food into irregular small pieces.

Cream ..................................................... To mix until smooth, so that the resulting mixture is softened and thoroughly

blended.

Crimp ...................................................... To pinch together in order to seal.

Cube........................................................ To cut any food into square-shaped pieces.

Dice ....................................................... To cut into small cubes or pieces.

Dock ....................................................... To punch a number of vertical impressions in a dough with a smooth round stick

about the size of a pencil to allow for expansion and permit gases to escape

during baking.

Dredge .................................................... To coat with crumbs, flour, sugar or corn meal.

Fermentation ........................................... The process by which yeast acts on the sugar and starches in the dough to

produce carbon dioxide gas and alcohol, resulting in expansion of the dough.

During this period, the dough doubles in bulk.

Flake ....................................................... To break lightly into small pieces.

Fold ........................................................ To blend two or more ingredients together with a cutting and folding motion.

Fry .......................................................... To cook in hot fat.

Garnish ................................................... To decorate with small pieces of colorful food.

Glaze....................................................... A glossy coat given to foods, as by covering with a sauce or by adding a sugary

syrup, icing, etc.

Gluten ..................................................... A tough elastic protein that gives dough its strength and ability to retain gas.

Grate ....................................................... To rub food on a grater and thus break it into tiny pieces.

Grill ........................................................ To cook, uncovered, on a griddle, removing grease as it accumulates. No liquid

is added.

Knead...................................................... To work dough by folding and pressing firmly with palms of hands, turning

between foldings.

Marinade................................................. A preparation containing spices, condiments, vegetables, and aromatic herbs, and

a liquid (acid or oil or combination of these) in which a food is placed for a

period of time to enhance its flavor or to increase its tenderness.

Marinate.................................................. To allow to stand in a marinade to add flavor or tenderness.

Mince ...................................................... To cut or chop into very small pieces.

Panbroil .................................................. To cook uncovered in a hot frying pan, pouring off fat as it accumulates.

Pare ......................................................... To cut away outer covering.

Peel ......................................................... To remove the outer layer of skin of a vegetable or fruit, etc.

Progressive Cookery............................... The continuous preparation of food in successive steps during the entire serving

period (i.e., continuous preparation of vegetables, cook-to-order hamburgers,

steaks, fried eggs, pancakes). This procedure ensures fresh, high quality cooked

food to customers on a continuous basis. See Batch Preparation.

Proof ....................................................... To allow shaped and panned yeast products like bread and rolls to double in size

under controlled atmospheric conditions.

Reconstitute ............................................ To restore to liquid state by adding water. Also to reheat frozen prepared foods.

Rehydrate................................................ To soak, cook, or use other procedures with dehydrated foods to restore water

lost during drying.

Roast ....................................................... To cook by dry heat; usually uncovered, in an oven.

Roux ....................................................... Roux is a French word for a mixture of flour and fat, cooked to eliminate the raw,

uncooked taste of flour.

Saut� ....................................................... To brown or cook in small amount of fat.

Scald ....................................................... To heat a liquid over hot water or direct heat to a temperature just below the

boiling point.

Scale ....................................................... To measure a portion of food by weighing.

Scant ....................................................... Not quite up to stated measure.

Score ....................................................... To make shallow cuts across top of a food item.

Seasoned Flour or Crumbs ..................... A mixture of flour or crumbs with seasonings.

Shred....................................................... To cut or tear into thin strips or pieces using a knife or a shredder attachment.

Sift .......................................................... To put dry ingredients through a sieve.

Simmer ................................................... To cook gently in a liquid just below the boiling point (190� F. - 210� F.);

bubbles will form slowly and break at the surface.

Slurry ...................................................... A lump-free mixture made by whipping cornstarch or flour into cold water or

other liquids

Steam ...................................................... To cook over or surrounded by steam.

Stew ........................................................ To simmer in enough liquid to cover solid foods.

Stir .......................................................... To mix two or more ingredients with a circular motion.

Temper.................................................... To remove from freezer and place under refrigeration for a period of time

sufficient to facilitate separation and handling of frozen product. Internal

temperature of the food should be approximately 26� F. to 28� F.

Thaw ....................................................... To remove from freezer and place under refrigeration approximately 18-48

hours. Internal temperature should be above 30� F.

Toss ........................................................ To mix ingredients lightly.

Wash ....................................................... The liquid brushed on the surface of unbaked pies or turnovers to give a golden

brown color to the crust or on the surface of proofed breads and rolls before

baking and on baked bread and rolls to give a shine to the crust.

Whip ....................................................... To beat rapidly with wire whip to increase volume by incorporating air.

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