ESL Podcast 441 - Preparing Food for Cooking

to iron - to flatten out a piece of fabric so that it is not wrinkled (does not have lines) by moving a hot, flat piece of metal over the top of it

My shirt would look much better if I ironed it.

tablecloth - a large piece of fabric placed over a dining table for decoration and to protect the table

She was very embarrassed when she spilled a glass of red wine onto the white tablecloth at her friend's house.

to set the table - to put silverware, napkins, plates, cups, and other things on the table before people eat

Please set the table for six people tonight.

to scrub - to move one's hand or a tool against something quickly and with a lot of strength to clean it

The pot was so dirty that he had to scrub it for almost 10 minutes.

to peel - to remove the skin from a fruit or vegetable; to remove the outer layer of something, usually by using a small knife or a special tool

Do you peel peaches or do you eat them with the skin?

to rinse - to clean something by running water over it

We ran out of hot water while I was shampooing, so I had to rinse my hair in cold water.

scut work - the worst work; the most unpleasant things to do

Why do you get to do all the interesting things while I have to do the scut work, like making photocopies?

to cut up (something) - to cut something into smaller pieces, usually using a knife

Please cut up the banana so that we can put the pieces on top of our cereal.

to chop - to cut something into many smaller pieces, usually using a knife and a quick, repetitive motion

Please chop the nuts into very small pieces.

to sauté - to cook something, usually vegetables, in hot butter or oil until it is soft

The first step in making the sauce is to sauté onions and mushrooms in butter.

to steam - to cook something by putting it over boiling water so that it does not touch the water, but is heated by the water vapor

For dinner tonight, let's grill some chicken, cook a pot of rice, and steam some broccoli.

to beat - to stir something very quickly, mixing a lot of air with it

Will you use an electric mixer or will you beat the mixture for the cake by hand?

to slice - to cut something into flat, thin pieces

Does the bakery slice the bread or do you have to do it by yourself?

to toss - to stir something lightly so that pieces are distributed evenly

He tossed the pasta with olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese.

to whip up - to make something to eat in a very little time

On busy weeknights, she can whip up a meal for her family in just 15 minutes.

gourmet - related to very delicious, high-quality food

I prefer going to gourmet restaurants but my wife prefers to eat home-cooked food.

dish - one type of cooked or prepared food

Roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie are typical dishes for Thanksgiving in the United States.