Cooking and baking play integral roles in every culture, and German culture is no exception. From sizzling bratwurst to decadent Black Forest cherry cake, German cuisine offers a delightful array of sweet, savory, and hearty dishes.
Whether you delight in the art of cooking and baking or simply revel in enjoying the delicious results, it's invaluable to grasp the vocabulary needed to discuss food and its preparation in German. In this guide, you'll discover essential German words and phrases related to cooking. Additionally, you'll uncover authentic German recipes to recreate these culinary delights at home!
Cooking Verbs in german
German cooking vocabulary
- backen to bake
- braten to roast
- kochen to cook
- frittieren to fry
- grillen to grill
- sautieren or anschwitzen to sauté
- köcheln to simmer
- kochen to boil
- dämpfen to steam
- schmoren to stew/to braise
- flambieren to flambé
- mischen to blend
- vermischen to mix
- rühren to stir
- schaufeln to scoop
- schneiden to cut
- hacken to chop
- abschneiden to slice
- vorbereiten to prepare
- putzen to clean
- vorheizen to preheat
- auspressen to squeeze
- messen to measure
- schmecken to taste
- schälen to peel
- wieder aufwärmen to reheat
- marinieren to marinate
- pürieren to puree
- auftauen to defrost
- zerdrücken to mash
- einlegen to pickle
- überziehen to glaze
- abgießen to drain
- kneten to knead
- filetieren to fillet
- einweichen to soak
- bröseln to crumb
- ausrollen to roll out
- auflösen to dissolve
German Cooking Verbs: Preparing Ingredients
Before embarking on your culinary journey, it's crucial to master the art of ingredient preparation. This sets the stage for delicious outcomes, ensuring your dishes are cooked to perfection. Below, we'll delve into essential German cooking verbs that cover the foundational techniques of ingredient preparation.
| Verb (German) |
Verb (English) |
Description |
| schneiden |
to cut |
To cut ingredients into smaller pieces. |
| hacken |
to chop |
To chop ingredients finely. |
| schälen |
to peel |
To peel the skin off fruits or vegetables. |
| reiben |
to grate |
To grate ingredients into small pieces using a grater. |
| würfeln |
to dice |
To dice ingredients into small cubes. |
| rühren |
to stir |
To mix ingredients with a spoon or spatula. |
Basic Cooking Methods
Cooking methods are essential for turning raw ingredients into delicious meals. Whether you're boiling, frying, baking, or grilling, each technique adds its own unique flavor and texture to your dishes. Here, we'll explore the fundamental cooking methods that are the foundation of many culinary creations.
| English Verb |
German Verb |
Description |
| To boil |
kochen |
To cook food in boiling water or liquid. |
| To fry |
braten |
To cook food in hot oil or fat, typically in a pan. |
| To bake |
backen |
To cook food in an oven using dry heat. |
| To grill |
grillen |
To cook food over direct heat, usually on a grill. |
| To roast |
rösten |
To cook food, usually meat, uncovered in an oven or over an open flame. |
| To steam |
dämpfen |
To cook food using steam from boiling water. |
| To sauté |
anbraten |
To cook food quickly in a small amount of oil or fat over high heat. |
| To simmer |
köcheln |
To cook food gently in liquid at or just below the boiling point. |
| To broil |
grillen (im Ofen) |
To cook food with direct heat, typically in an oven. |
| To stew |
schmoren |
To cook food slowly in a closed container with a small amount of liquid. |
Basic Sentence Formula for Using German Cooking Verbs
Once you've learned several German cooking verbs, it's important to understand how to use them in sentences. This basic formula will guide you in constructing clear and concise statements to describe your cooking actions.
| Sentence Structure |
| Ich + Verb + Object |
This structure translates to "I + verb + object" in English. Here's how it works:
| Example Sentence in German |
English Translation |
Explanation |
| Ich schneide die Zwiebeln. |
I cut the onions. |
"Ich" means "I". "Schneide" is the verb "to cut" conjugated for "I". "Die Zwiebeln" means "the onions", which is the object of the sentence. |
| Ich koche die Nudeln. |
I cook the pasta. |
"Koche" is the verb "to cook" conjugated for "I". "Die Nudeln" means "the pasta". |
| Ich brate das Fleisch. |
I fry the meat. |
"Brate" is the verb "to fry" conjugated for "I". "Das Fleisch" means "the meat". |
| Ich backe den Kuchen. |
I bake the cake. |
"Backe" is the verb "to bake" conjugated for "I". "Den Kuchen" means "the cake". |
Types of Cooking Verbs
Learning different cooking verbs in German is essential for mastering various culinary techniques. Each verb corresponds to a specific cooking action, helping you describe and understand recipes more effectively. Below are some common German cooking verbs along with their English translations and pronunciation guides:
| German Verb |
English Translation |
Pronunciation |
| kochen |
to boil |
[ˈkɔχən] |
| backen |
to bake |
[ˈbakən] |
| dämpfen |
to steam |
[ˈdɛmpfən] |
| braten |
to fry |
[ˈbʀaːtən] |
| grillen |
to grill |
[ˈɡʀɪlən] |
| erhitzen |
to heat |
[ɛɐˈhɪtsən] |
| pochieren |
to poach |
[pɔˈçiːʀən] |
| köcheln |
to simmer |
[ˈkœçəln] |
| gratinieren |
to brown |
[ɡʀaˈtiːniːʀən] |
| anschwitzen |
to sauté |
[ˈanʃvɪtsən] |
| schneiden |
to cut |
[ˈʃnaɪ̯dən] |
| waschen |
to wash |
[ˈvaʃən] |
| rühren |
to stir |
[ˈʀyːʀən] |
| unterrühren |
to stir in |
[ˈʊntɐˌʀyːʀən] |
| mischen |
to mix |
[ˈmɪʃən] |
| reiben |
to grate |
[ˈʀaɪ̯bn̩] |
| vorheizen |
to preheat |
[ˈfoːɐ̯haɪ̯tsn̩] |
| schälen |
to peel |
[ˈʃɛːlən] |
| abschrecken |
to rinse with cold water |
[ˈapʃʀɛkən] |
| gießen |
to pour |
[ˈɡiːsən] |
| bestreuen |
to sprinkle |
[bəˈʃtʀɔʏ̯ən] |
| kneten |
to knead |
[ˈkneːtən] |
| wiegen |
to weigh |
[ˈviːɡən] |
| abschmecken |
to taste/to season |
[ˈapʃmɛkən] |
| servieren |
to serve |
[zɛʀˈviːʀən] |
Utensils
Using the right utensils is crucial for efficient cooking. Here are some essential kitchen tools and their German names:
| German Term |
English Translation |
Pronunciation |
| das Schneidebrett |
the cutting board |
[das ˈʃnaɪ̯dəˌbʀɛt] |
| das Messer |
the knife |
[das ˈmɛsɐ] |
| die Schüssel |
the bowl |
[diː ˈʃʏsəl] |
| die Rührschüssel |
the mixing bowl |
[diː ˈʀyːɐ̯ˌʃʏsəl] |
| der Schneebesen |
the whisk |
[deːɐ̯ ˈʃneːbəzən] |
| der Messbecher |
the measuring cup |
[deːɐ̯ ˈmɛsˌbɛçɐ] |
| der Herd |
the stove |
[deːɐ̯ hɛʀt] |
| der Ofen |
the oven |
[deːɐ̯ ˈoːfən] |
| die Pfanne |
the pan |
[diː ˈpfanə] |
| die Bratpfanne |
the frying pan |
[diː ˈbʀatpfanə] |
| der Topf |
the pot |
[deːɐ̯ ˈtɔpf] |
| die Backform |
the baking tin |
[diː ˈbakfɔʁm] |
| die Auflaufform |
the casserole dish |
[diː ˈaʊ̯flaʊ̯fɔʁm] |
| das Handrührgerät |
the hand mixer |
[das ˈhantʀyːɐ̯ɡəˌʀɛːt] |
| der Stabmixer |
the hand immersion blender |
[deːɐ̯ ˈʃtaːpˌmɪksɐ] |
Abbreviations
Understanding common abbreviations used in recipes can simplify cooking instructions:
| Abbreviation |
Meaning |
| TL |
Teelöffel (teaspoon) |
| EL |
Esslöffel (tablespoon) |
| n.B |
nach Belieben (to taste, at will) |
| Bd. |
Bund (a bunch) |
Helpful Words and Phrases
These words and phrases are useful for understanding recipe instructions and kitchen terminology:
- eine Prise - a pinch
- in Würfel schneiden - to cut into cubes
- in dünne Scheiben schneiden - to cut into thin slices
- schaumig schlagen - to whip until fluffy
- der Teig - the dough
- zu entkernen - to deseed
- halbieren - to halve
- vierteln - to quarter
- Ober- und Unterhitze - upper and lower heat (oven setting)
- Umluft - fan (oven setting)
