Topics / Food Vocabulary
Food and Cooking Vocabulary in English
Meals, restaurants, recipes, and the words for taste, ingredients, and cooking. 145 words, A1 to B2.
145 words
Meals and Eating Out
FoodA1Things that people and animals eat.“The food smells good.”EatA1To put food in your mouth and swallow it.“Let’s eat now.”MealA2Food eaten at a particular time, such as breakfast or dinner.“Lunch is my favourite meal of the day.”BreakfastA1The first meal of the day.“I eat breakfast at seven.”LunchA1A meal in the middle of the day.“We have lunch at one.”DinnerA1The main meal of the day, often in the evening.“Dinner is at eight.”SnackA1A small amount of food between meals.“I had a snack after school.”HungryA1Wanting or needing food.“I am hungry. Let’s eat.”ThirstyA1Wanting or needing a drink.“I am thirsty. Can I have some water?”DrinkA1To take liquid into your mouth and swallow it.“Drink some water.”WaterA1The clear liquid that falls as rain and that we drink.“Please drink more water.”MenuA1A list of food you can order in a restaurant.“Can I see the menu, please?”RestaurantA1A place where you pay to sit and eat a meal.“We had dinner in a restaurant.”CafeA2A small place that serves drinks and simple food.“Let’s meet at the cafe on the corner.”CafeteriaB1A self-service restaurant, especially in a hospital, college, or workplace.“The hospital cafeteria closes at 7pm; vending is not a hot meal.”TakeawayA2Hot food you buy and take home to eat (British English).“We ordered a takeaway after the late meeting.”Fast FoodB1Hot food prepared and served quickly, often from a chain (often uncountable).“Fast food on the high street is not a free-school-meal; use the canteen till.”WaiterA1A man whose job is to bring food to people in a restaurant. Waitress is often used for a woman; waiter is also used for any server.“The waiter brought the menu.”WaitressA1A woman whose job is to bring food to people in a restaurant.“The waitress took our order.”ChefA1A person whose job is to cook food, especially in a restaurant.“The chef made a delicious soup.”DishA2Food cooked in a particular way, or a plate for serving food.“Biryani is my favourite dish.”DessertA2Sweet food eaten at the end of a meal.“Would you like ice cream for dessert?”PuddingA1A sweet food you eat after a meal (British); also a cooked sweet dish.“What would you like for pudding?”BillA1A piece of paper that shows how much you must pay.“Can we have the bill, please?”TipA2Extra money for good service, or a useful piece of advice.“Leave a small tip if the service was good.”OrderA2To ask for food or goods in a restaurant or shop, or to tell someone to do something.“We ordered rice and chicken.”ServeA2To give food or drink to someone, or to do work for others.“They served tea and biscuits after the meeting.”PortionB2A part of a whole; also an amount of food for one person.“Quote the portion of household income spent on rent, not a café serving.”DietB1The food and drink that a person or animal usually has.“A balanced diet includes fruit and vegetables.”VegetarianA2A person who does not eat meat or fish.“My brother is a vegetarian.”VeganA2Containing or using no animal products.“This cake is vegan, so there are no eggs in it.”PicnicA1A meal you eat outside, for example in a park.“We had a picnic by the river.”BarbecueA2A meal cooked outside on a fire or grill.“We had a barbecue in the garden on Sunday.”
Cooking
CookA1To make food ready to eat by heating it.“He can cook rice.”CookingB1The activity of preparing food by heating it (often uncountable).“Cooking in halls is only in the shared kitchen, not in bedrooms.”KitchenA1The room where you cook.“Mum is in the kitchen.”RecipeA2A set of instructions for cooking a dish.“Follow the recipe to make the cake.”IngredientB1One of the foods in a recipe; also one part of a plan or mix.“List every ingredient, including allergens, on the canteen menu.”BoilB1To heat a liquid until it starts to produce bubbles and steam.“Boil the water before you add the pasta.”FryA1To cook food in hot oil.“Fry the eggs in a pan.”GrillA1The part of a cooker that heats food from above (British).“Put the toast under the grill.”BakeA2To cook food in an oven.“We can bake potatoes in the hostel oven tonight.”MicrowaveA1A kitchen machine that heats food very quickly.“Heat the soup in the microwave.”ChopB1To cut something into pieces with a knife or similar tool.“Chop the onions and add them to the pan.”SliceA1A thin piece cut from bread, cake, meat, or fruit.“Would you like a slice of cake?”PeelA2To take the skin off a fruit or vegetable.“Peel the potatoes before you boil them.”MixA2To combine two or more things together.“Mix the flour and eggs in a bowl.”StirB2To mix a liquid by moving a spoon; also to cause feeling or trouble (stir up).“Do not stir up rumours about grades before the embargo lifts at midday.”OvenA1The box inside a cooker that heats food from all sides.“The cake is in the oven.”HobB1The flat top of a cooker with rings or zones for pans (UK; US stovetop).“Take the pan off the hob if the sauce starts to stick.”PanA1A metal container you cook food in on the hob.“Fry the eggs in a pan.”SaucepanA1A deep pan with a handle and often a lid, used for cooking on the hob.“Heat the soup in a saucepan.”Frying PanA1A wide shallow pan with a long handle, used for frying food.“Heat the oil in the frying pan.”PotA1A deep round container for cooking, plants, or other things.“Put the plant in a pot.”BowlA2A round, deep dish used for food.“He ate a bowl of soup.”PlateA1A flat dish that you eat food from.“Put the rice on the plate.”KnifeA2A tool with a sharp blade for cutting.“Be careful with that sharp knife.”ForkA1A tool with points, used for picking up food.“Eat the pasta with a fork.”SpoonA1A tool with a round hollow part, used for eating soup or mixing food.“Stir the tea with a spoon.”NapkinA1A piece of cloth or paper you use to keep your mouth and hands clean at a meal.“Put your napkin on your lap.”TableclothB1A cloth spread over a table, especially for a meal.“Put the tablecloth on for parents’ evening; a PE bib is not a cover.”OrganicA2Grown or made without artificial chemicals.“She buys organic vegetables at the market.”FreshA1New, clean, or recently made or picked; not old or from a packet.“I like fresh fruit.”FrozenA2Turned into ice, or kept very cold; also too cold to move easily.“Frozen vegetables are cheaper this week.”RawA2Not cooked; also in a natural state, not processed.“Do not eat raw chicken — it must be cooked well.”HealthyB1Well and not ill, or good for your body.“A healthy diet includes fruit and vegetables.”UnhealthyA2Not good for your health; also not in good health.“Eating chips every day is unhealthy.”CalorieB2A unit for measuring the energy in food.“Quote calories per 100 g from the table, not a diet slogan.”AllergyB1A medical condition in which food, dust, or an animal makes you ill.“He carries a card because of a serious allergy to peanuts.”NutA1A hard fruit with a shell that you can eat.“I am allergic to nuts.”
Taste and Ingredients
TasteA2To have a particular flavour, or to try a little food.“This soup tastes good.”FlavourA2The taste of a food or drink.“Which flavour of ice cream do you want?”DeliciousA2Having a very pleasant taste.“This cake is delicious.”SweetA2Tasting like sugar; or kind in a pleasant way.“This tea is too sweet.”BitterA2Having a sharp, unpleasant taste.“Dark chocolate can taste quite bitter.”CrispB1A thin slice of fried potato eaten cold from a packet (UK; US chip); also firm and fresh.“Crisps are not a packed-lunch substitute on the Year 7 trip.”BreadA1A food made from flour and baked.“We bought bread for breakfast.”ToastA1Bread made brown and crisp by heating it.“Would you like some toast?”ButterA1A yellow food made from cream, spread on bread.“Would you like butter on your toast?”JamA1A sweet food made from fruit, often eaten on bread or toast.“She put jam on her toast.”HoneyA1A sweet, thick food made by bees.“I like honey on yoghurt.”CheeseA1A food made from milk, often yellow or white.“I like cheese on bread.”EggA1An oval food that comes from a bird, often a hen.“I had an egg for breakfast.”MilkA1A white liquid that comes from cows and is used as a drink.“Would you like some milk?”YoghurtA1A thick, slightly sour milk food, often eaten for breakfast.“I had yoghurt and fruit.”CreamA2The thick, pale part of milk, often used in cooking or on puddings.“Would you like cream with your fruit?”OilA2A thick liquid from plants or the ground, used in cooking or as fuel.“Add a little oil to the pan.”VinegarA2A sour liquid used in cooking, salad, and chips.“Add a little vinegar to the salad.”SaltA1A white powder used to give food more taste.“The soup needs a little salt.”PepperA1A hot powder used to flavour food; also a vegetable, green or red.“Add salt and pepper.”SugarA1A sweet substance used in food and drinks.“Do you take sugar in your tea?”FlourA1A white or brown powder made from grain, used to make bread and cakes.“Mix the flour with milk.”RiceA1Small white or brown grains that are cooked and eaten.“We eat rice with vegetables.”PastaA1An Italian food made from flour and water, such as spaghetti.“We had pasta for dinner.”PotatoA1A round white vegetable that grows in the ground.“We had rice and potatoes.”ChipsA1Long pieces of potato fried in oil (British). American English often says fries.“Fish and chips is a British meal.”CrispsA1Thin slices of fried potato in a bag (British). American English often says chips.“He ate a packet of crisps.”MeatA1The flesh of an animal used as food.“Some people do not eat meat.”BeefA2Meat from a cow.“We had beef and rice for dinner.”LambA1A young sheep, or the meat from a young sheep.“The lamb is standing by its mother.”ChickenA1A bird kept for eggs and meat, or the meat from it.“We had chicken for dinner.”TurkeyA1A large farm bird, often cooked at Christmas in Britain.“They are cooking a turkey for Christmas.”FishA1An animal that lives in water and that people often eat.“We eat fish on Friday.”SalmonA1A large pink fish, eaten as food (silent l).“We had salmon for dinner.”VegetableA1A plant or part of a plant eaten as food, such as a potato or carrot.“Eat more vegetables.”SaladA2A cold dish of mixed vegetables, often with lettuce.“I had a salad with my sandwich.”SoupA1A liquid food, often made from vegetables.“I had tomato soup for lunch.”SauceA1A thick liquid you put on food to add flavour.“Would you like some sauce with the pasta?”GravyA1A brown sauce made from meat juices, often with roast dinner (British).“Would you like gravy on your potatoes?”CurryB1A dish of meat or vegetables in a spiced sauce, common in British canteens.“Friday curry in the canteen still needs the allergen card on the sneeze screen.”PizzaA2A flat, round bread with tomato, cheese, and other food on top.“We ordered a pizza for dinner.”BurgerA1A round piece of cooked meat or vegetables in a bread bun.“I ordered a burger and chips.”SandwichA2Two pieces of bread with food such as cheese or meat between them.“She packed a cheese sandwich for lunch.”SarnieB1A sandwich (UK informal).“She packed a cheese sarnie for her lunch at work.”PieA1Fruit or meat cooked in pastry.“Would you like a piece of apple pie?”CakeA1A sweet food made from flour, eggs, and sugar, often for birthdays.“We had cake after dinner.”BiscuitA1A small, flat, dry cake; British for cookie.“Would you like a biscuit with your tea?”ChocolateA2A sweet brown food made from cocoa.“She gave me a bar of chocolate.”Ice CreamA1A sweet frozen food made from milk or cream.“Would you like some ice cream?”FruitA1The sweet part of a plant that you can eat, such as an apple.“Eat more fruit.”AppleA1A round fruit that is usually red, green, or yellow.“She ate an apple after lunch.”BananaA1A long yellow fruit.“She ate a banana after school.”OrangeA1A round fruit with a thick orange skin, or the colour of that fruit.“Would you like an orange?”GrapeA1A small round fruit that grows in bunches, green or purple, used for eating or wine.“She ate a bunch of grapes.”StrawberryA1A small red fruit with small seeds on the outside.“Would you like strawberries and cream?”LemonA1A yellow fruit with a sour taste.“Add lemon to the fish.”TomatoA1A soft red fruit used in cooking and salads.“Put a tomato in the salad.”OnionA2A round vegetable with a strong smell and taste, often used in cooking.“Chop an onion for the soup.”GarlicA1A plant with a strong smell and taste, used in cooking.“Add some garlic to the sauce.”CarrotA1A long orange vegetable that grows in the ground.“Rabbits like carrots.”PeaA1A small round green vegetable.“Would you like peas with the fish?”BeanA1A seed that you cook and eat as a vegetable, often from a pod.“We had rice and beans.”CabbageA1A round green or white vegetable with thick leaves.“Cut the cabbage for the salad.”LettuceA1A green leafy vegetable, often eaten in salad.“Wash the lettuce first.”CucumberA1A long green vegetable with a watery inside, often eaten in salad.“Slice the cucumber for the salad.”MushroomA1A fungus with a short stem and a round top, cooked and eaten as food.“We cooked mushrooms with eggs.”HerbA2A plant used to add flavour to food or in simple medicine.“Add some fresh herbs to the soup.”CoffeeA1A hot brown drink made from coffee beans.“Would you like some coffee?”TeaA1A hot drink made by pouring water on tea leaves.“Would you like a cup of tea?”JuiceA1The liquid from fruit, often drunk from a glass.“Would you like some orange juice?”WineA1An alcoholic drink made from grapes.“They had a glass of wine with dinner.”BeerA1An alcoholic drink, usually yellow-brown, made from grain.“He ordered a beer.”FizzyB1Containing bubbles of gas (a fizzy drink).“Fizzy drinks are not sold in the canteen under the school food standards.”ChilliB1A hot pepper used in cooking (UK spelling chilli).“Chilli is optional on the canteen curry; mark the allergen card.”MildA2Not strong or extreme, of weather, food, or illness.“The winter has been mild, so we still walk to work.”