If you’re learning Spanish and enjoy spending time in the kitchen, mastering cooking vocabulary in Spanish will enhance both your language skills and culinary experiences. From preparing ingredients to using kitchen tools and following recipes, knowing the right words makes a huge difference.

Cooking Vocabulary in Spanish

Let’s dive into the most important categories of cooking vocabulary in Spanish.

Common Verbs Used in Cooking

When following recipes or watching cooking shows, you’ll encounter many essential verbs. These action words are a fundamental part of cooking vocabulary in Spanish and will help you understand and give instructions in the kitchen.

  1. Cocinar (to cook)
  2. Lavar (to wash)
  3. Pesar (to weigh)
  4. Medir (to measure)
  5. Romper (to break)
  6. Quemar (to burn)
  7. Congelar (to freeze)
  8. Descongelar (to defrost)
  9. Cocer (to boil, to cook in hot water)
  10. Hervir (to boil liquids)
  11. Freír (to fry)
  12. Cortar (to cut)
  13. Calentar (to heat)
  14. Hornear (to bake)

Common Kitchen Tools and Utensils

To improve your understanding of cooking vocabulary in Spanish, it’s useful to know the names of the tools and utensils you regularly use in the kitchen. This will help you follow recipes and talk about cooking more effectively.

  1. La sartén (frying pan)
  2. El cazo (saucepan)
  3. La olla (pot)
  4. La cuchara (spoon)
  5. La cuchara de madera (wooden spoon)
  6. La batidora (blender)
  7. La tabla de cortar (cutting board)
  8. El tenedor (fork)
  9. El cuchillo (knife)
  10. El cuchillo de sierra (serrated knife)
  11. El colador (strainer)
  12. El rallador (grater)
  13. El pelador (peeler)
  14. La taza medidora (measuring cup)
  15. La báscula de cocina (kitchen scale)
  16. El cucharón (ladle)
  17. La espátula (spatula)
  18. El molde para hornear (bakind mod)
  19. La vaporera (steamer)
  20. El horno (oven)
  21. El soplete (blowtorch)
  22. El prensa ajos (garlic press)
  23. El pasapurés (food mill)
  24. El mortero (mortar, pestle and mortar)
  25. El guante or la manopla (oven glove)
  26. El pincel de cocina (pastry brush)
  27. El rodillo (rolling pin)
  28. Las pinzas (tongs)

Cooking Methods and Techniques

Understanding cooking techniques is essential when expanding your cooking vocabulary in Spanish. These words describe different ways to prepare food, and knowing them will help you read recipes more confidently and describe how a dish is made.

  1. Asar (to roast)
  2. Asar a la parrilla (to grill)
  3. Cocer al vapor (to steam)
  4. Cocer a fuego lento (to simmer, to braise)
  5. Saltear (to sauté)
  6. Sofreír (to stir-fry)
  7. Estofar (to braise)
  8. Guisar (to stew)
  9. Marinar or macerar (to marinate)
  10. Blanquear (to blanch)
  11. Rehogar (to lightly fry)
  12. Gratinar (to broil, to au gratin)
  13. Escalfar (to poach)
  14. Ahumar (to smoke)
  15. Flambear (to flambé)
  16. Empanar (to bread)
  17. Enharinar (to flour)
  18. Dorar (to brown, to make golden)
  19. Derretir (to melt something soft, e.g. butter, cheese)
  20. Fundir (to melt something harder, e.g. chocolate)
  21. Tostar (to toast)
  22. Reducir (to reduce)
  23. Caramelizar (to caramelize)
  24. Rellenar (to fill)
  25. Pochar (to poach)
  26. Colar (to strain)
  27. Escurrir (to drain)
  28. Remojar (to soak)
  29. Pelar (to peel)
  30. Rallar (to grate)
  31. Espolvorear or rociar (to sprinkle)
  32. Verter (to pour a liquid)
  33. Echar (to pour, to add)
  34. Mezclar (to mix)
  35. Batir (to whisk, to beat)
  36. Amasar (to knead)

Cutting Techniques

Cutting techniques are vital in fields like cooking. Learn how to say each cutting technique in this section.

  1. Trocear (to dice)
  2. Rebanar (to slice)
  3. Picar (to chop, to mince)
  4. Cortar en tiras or mechar (to shred)
  5. Cortar en juliana (to julienne)
  6. Desmenuzar (to crumble)

Cooking Instructions and Recipe Language

When reading or listening to instructions, having a good grasp of the relevant verbs and phrases makes it easier to follow along. This group of terms is a crucial part of cooking vocabulary in Spanish.

  1. Añadir or agregar (to add)
  2. Añadir al gusto (to add to taste)
  3. Remover (to stir, to toss)
  4. Revolver (to stir, to mix)
  5. Servir (to serve)
  6. Enfriar (to chill)
  7. Dejar enfriar (to let cool)
  8. Reservar (to set aside)
  9. Retirar (to remove)
  10. Precalentar (to preheat)
  11. Tapar (to cover)
  12. Probar (to taste)
  13. Decorar (to garnish)
  14. Aliñar (to season, to dress a salad)
  15. Sazonar (to season meat)
  16. Salpimentar (to season with salt and pepper)
  17. Triturar (to mash, to puree)
  18. Estirar (to stretch, to roll out)
  19. Separar (to separate)
  20. Moler (to grind)
  21. Enrollar (to roll)
  22. Pulverizar (to spray)
  23. Desechar (to throw out)
  24. Untar (to spread, to butter)
  25. Poner en capas (to layer)
  26. Cocerse en su propia salsa (to stew in your own juice)
  27. Montar claras a punto de nieve (to whip egg whites to stiff peaks)

Exercises

Now that you’re familiar with many common verbs used in cooking, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice. The following exercises will help you reinforce key cooking actions and make you more comfortable using them in real contexts.

Go to our Vocabulary section in our blog to learn more vocabulary in Spanish about different topics (food, sports, school…).

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

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Vocabulary