Error
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
  • Error loading component: com_comprofiler, 1
Text Size
The Magic Pan Official
GLOSSARY OF COOKING TERMS


This glossary came from the Magic Pan low-yield production manual from 1981. No corrections or changes have been made.


A
a la - According to a style.
a la Carte - Foods prepared to order; each dish priced separately.
a la mode - Usually refers to ice cream on top of pie, but may mean other dishes served in a special way, as beef a la mode, which calls for a scoop of mashed potatoes.
Arrowroot - Thickening agent, similar to cornstarch, from a tropical plant of the same name.
au Jus - Served with natural juices or gravy without thickening.

B
Baking - Cooking with indirect heat in an oven.
Basting - Moistening a roast with water, dripping, or seasoned sauce while it is roasting to prevent it from drying out or scorching. Improves flavor.
Batter - Mixture of flour and liquid to a consistency that can be stirred and poured, as for cake, griddle cakes, flapjacks. Also used as a dip for coating fruit or vegetables for frying or deep frying.
Beignets - Fritters.
Blending - Thorough mixing of two or more ingredients.
Blintzes - Thin pancakes rolled around a filling of cream cheese, chopped meat or fruit.
Boiling - Process of cooking foods in water at 212°F. (See Simmering)
Braise - To brown meat, fish or vegetables in a small amount of fat. Then liquid is added and the whole cooked, covered, on top of the range or in the oven.
Braising - Cooking slowly in a small amount of liquid.
Braziere - Oval stew pan with handles at each end. Covered.
Broiling - To cook by exposing food to intense direct heat, as beneath the broiler unit of a range or over charcoal as in specialty steakhouses. Pan broiling: Cooking with little or no fat on top of the range.
Brown Sauce - Fat is allowed to brown before flour is added; the mixture or roux, is browned before liquid is added. Has many uses.

C
Cacciatori - Chicken casserole cooked with vegetables. Famous Italian dish which used to be made of wild poultry. “Cacciatori” means “hunter’s”.
Capers - Green buds of a Mediterranean bush, pickled.
Carmelizing - The process of cooking sugar until it turns brown, for use as flavoring or for coloring foods.
Coating - Dipping food into seasoned flour or crumbs; or alternately in egg mixture and flour or crumbs. Used before frying or baking chops or chicken.
Creaming - Cooking term which means working one or more foods until soft and creamy, such as sugar and shortening as a base for making cakes.
Crisping - To make salad greens firm and brittle in moderate heat followed by cold water. To chill in ice water.
Cutting in - Blending fat and flour with a knife until well mixed as for biscuits or pie crust. Flaky.

D
Diced - Cut in small cubes.
Dotting - To put small pieces, as of butter, on top of foods prior to broiling or baking.
Dredging - Coating with flour or bread crumbs.
Drippings - Fat and juice which drip from roasting meats. Valuable for basting meat during roasting process to prevent it from drying out or burning. Flavorful base for gravies.
Dusting - Sprinkling with flour or fine sugar.

E
En brochette - Broiled on a skewer.

F
Fat - Term applied to solid and liquid edible fats; lard, cooking oils, salad oils, butter, shortening, hydrogenised vegetable oils, etc.
Fines Herbes - Mixture of chopped or minced chives, garlic, parsley, tarragon. Used for seasoning sauces and stews.
Florentine, a la -- With spinach.
Folding in - A method of blending the ingredients, such as folding in beaten egg whites to make a custard light and fluffy.
Fritters - Food dipped in batter and fried.
Frosting - Outer coating of sugary concoctions poured over cakes or cup cakes.
Frying - Cooking in fat on top of range at a temperature of 400°F. In deep fat frying, the food is immersed in hot fat, usually in a wire basket which permits handling without damage.

G
Garnish - To adorn or decorate.
Glace’ - Glazed, iced, frosted.
Gratin, au - Sprinkled with bread crumbs and grated cheese and baked until brown.
Grating - Shredding in various degrees of fineness on graters.
Gravy, gravies - Sauces made with juices from fried or roasted meats, usually thickened with flour.
Grille - Grilled or broiled.

H
Half and Half - Half milk and half cream.
Herb Bouquet - Mixed herbs used for seasoning.
Herbs - Cultivated plants which are combined with foods to improve flavor.
Hollandaise Sauce - Yellow sauce of custard consistency. Egg yolks, lemon juice, butter, salt and pepper, thickened by cooking over boiling water while stirring constantly.
Hors d’oeuvres - Small appetizers or canapes.

I
Italienne, a 1 - Italian style.

J
Jigger - Measuring glass for dispensing liquor.
Julienne - To cut in long, thin strips.
Jus - Natural juices (unthickened) resulting from frying or pan broiling meats, or roasts.

K
Kabob - Pieces of meat (or fish) broiled on a skewer.
Kneading - To mix or work dough into a plastic mass by folding it over, pressing and squeezing, usually with the hands. A method of working more flour into the dough.

L
Larding - Inserting thin strips of salt pork into surface of meat or fish which is to be roasted.
Liqueur - Comparable to cordials. Strong, sweet, syrupy alcoholic compounds. Liquor -- Distilled alcoholic beverages. Includes all whiskies, brandies and
cordials or liqueurs

M
Marbled - Lean meat streaked with thin slices of fat or crepes with golden brown streaks.
Marinade - Mixture of vinegar, wine, spices, etc. for fish, meats and salads.
Marinate - To allow food to soak or steep in a marinade sauce.
Melting - Making fluid by application of heat.
Melting Point - The temperature at which a specified solid becomes liquid.
Minced - Chopped fine.
Mincing - Chopping fine, similar to grinding.
Mixing - Combining two or more ingredients.
Mocha - Flavoring of coffee or coffee and chocolate.
Mousse - Light frozen dessert made of whipped cream, seasoned and flavored.

N
Newburg Sauce - Sherry-flavored cream sauce.

0
Oils, cooking or salad - Liquid fats, mostly vegetable, pressed from corn, cottonseed, safflower, nuts, olives, etc.
Oxidation - Process which hastens chemical action by combining oxygen from the air with other compounds. Speeds up the growth of bacteria.

P
Paddle - Small flat wooden instrument for working butter or stirring batter. Pan Broiling -- Cooking in a hot uncovered skillet with very little fat.
Pan Frying - To cook in an open skillet on top of the range, usually with a small amount of fat.
Parboiling - To boil until partially cooked.
Parching - To dry up with heat; usually to brown with dry heat.
Pare, paring - To cut or trim away rind, peel, or skin from fruit or vegetables.
Pate - Paste made of meat or liver.
Peeling - Removing outer skin of fruits or vegetables.
Piquant - Spicy. Highly seasoned.
Poaching - Cooking eggs, fish, etc. in water that bubbles lightly to prevent overcooking.
Portion Control - Method used to obtain even-size portions for all customers: 1) to treat all fairly; 2) to keep control over food costs.
Potage - Soup.
Provencale, a la - White or brown sauce with tomatoes, onions, garlic, mushrooms.
Puree - Mashed and sieved vegetable and fruit pulp.

R
Ragout - Thick savory stew.
Ramekins - Shallow china dishes in which food may be baked and also served.
Reine, a la - Style of preparing.
Rendering - Melting fat out of suet or other animal fats.
Ricer - Device for ricing cooked potatoes by forcing them through small holes.
Roasting - Cooking in the oven with very little moisture.
Rotisserie - Restaurant which specializes in broiled or barbecued meats.
Roulade - Rolled, as meat.
Roux - Thickening agent for sauces and gravies.

S
Salamander - A broiler-like stove with heat from above and a shelf below. Open front so that dishes may be put on lower shelf for glazing.
Sauté - To cook in a small amount of fat. Turn and brown on each side. Less fat used than for frying.
Savories - Seasoned desserts such as Cheese Straws, Deviled Shrimp, etc.
Savory - Leaves of an aromatic herb of the mint family.
Scalding - To heat to a temperature just below boiling.
Scalloping - Creamed food cooked in a casserole.
Scoring - To cut gashes as on pie crust or ham before baking.
Searing - Browning the surface of meat by intense heat.
Shellfish - Any aquatic animal with a shell.
Shortening - Fat used for making breads, cakes, pies, or pastry.
Simmering - Slow cooking adjust below boiling point.
Simple Syrup - Sugar and water in equal proportions boiled until sugar is dissolved.
Skewering - To fasten meat or poultry on long spike during broiling or barbecuing.
Soufflé - Light fluffy baked custard. Beaten egg white blended into sauce just before baking produces the fluffiness.
Soup - A dish produced by cooking meat, poultry, fish, etc., in water or milk.
Sours - Cocktails made of liquor, lemon juice, sugar and seltzer.
Spices - Vegetable flavorings for food. Usually dried.
Spit - Pointed rod to hold meat or poultry for roasting. in front of a fire, or barbecuing.
Steaming - Cooking in steam, as in a steam-jacketed kettle or pressure cooker.
Steeping - To soak in a liquid below boiling point.
Stewing - Cooking in a small amount of water on top of the range.
Stirring - Mixing food with a circular motion.
Stock - The liquid in which mat, poultry, fish or vegetables have been boiled.

T
Table d’Hotel - Fixed price meal. A complete meal as described on the menu for a set price.
Tablespoon - A large spoon for eating soup, for service at the table or as a measuring unit in cooking. Abbreviated as Tbsp.
Tablespoonful - As much as a level tablespoon will hold (not heaping).
Tidbit - A small taste, as an appetizer or canape.
Toasting - Application of direct heat until surface is browned.
Truss - To skewer or tie wings and legs of poultry before roasting.

V
Veloute Sauce - White sauce. Used as a base for many other sauces, as well as for creamed dishes.
Vermicelli - Long, thin, spaghetti-like threads of noodle dough.

W
Whipping - Beating rapidly to increase volume by mixing in air; as in whipping cream or egg whites.
White Sauce - Cooking fat, flour and seasonings with milk.

FPSP (4/81)

Donation Drive

Please help us get The Magic Pan Project up and running again. Your donation will help install the recipe software needed to bring back the recipes, and help pay for our hosting. Thank you!
$ 400
donation thermometer
donation thermometer
$ 0
donation thermometer
0%
Updated
27/1/2009
Back to Top