precook

verb

pre·​cook (ˌ)prē-ˈku̇k How to pronounce precook (audio)
precooked; precooking; precooks

transitive verb

: to cook partially or entirely before final cooking or reheating

Examples of precook in a Sentence

He precooked the chicken before he grilled it. The pasta should be precooked and allowed to cool.
Recent Examples on the Web Chipotle now prepares certain ingredients ahead of time in centralized locations, marinating chicken in plastic bags rather than large bowls as the chain had done prior, pre-chops tomatoes off-site, uses sous vide to precook steak, and all in all vets everything more thoroughly. Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 30 Nov. 2023 The microwave makes quick work of cooking the chicken and fresh vegetables and the rest — diced tomatoes and beans — come precooked in cans. Julie Giuffrida, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2023 Because they're almost always precooked, boiling crab legs is a cinch for your next fancy dinner. Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2023 Even simply precooking a batch of plain rice can be helpful for building an assortment of meals. Audrey Bruno, SELF, 28 July 2023 If using fresh pineapple, slice thinly and even precook lightly for a similar effect. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 17 July 2023 Modern-day brats are sometimes precooked or smoked to make things easier on the person who is grilling, but Usinger and Stayer say raw brats are best. Jordyn Noennig, Journal Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2023 Or precook them as needed. Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2021 For this casserole, there is no need to precook the rice before adding it to the beef and tomato mixture. Darlene Zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'precook.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of precook was in 1920

Dictionary Entries Near precook

Cite this Entry

“Precook.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precook. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

precook

verb
pre·​cook (ˈ)prē-ˈku̇k How to pronounce precook (audio)
: to cook partially or entirely before final cooking or reheating

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