had been cooked

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been cooked" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase to describe an action that took place before something else in the past. For example, "The dinner had been cooked before their arrival."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Many had been cooked by the flames.

The New York Times

When it subsided, the fish had been cooked just right.

The New York Times - Food

The next day, a braised oxtail had been cooked so long it was mush.

The New Yorker

The whelk, which had been cooked in its shell, was slightly less successful.

The New Yorker

Second was chicken and shrimp étouffée that had been cooked with more peppers, onions and celery.

The New York Times

If it had been cooked for any longer it would have been like wallpaper glue.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But the next night it had been cooked a minute too long.

The New York Times

They had been cooked in the tandoor after being marinated in tamarind, nutmeg, ginger and garlic — with predictably delicious results.

The New York Times

The grain had been cooked to mash by now, and a thick, lacy foam had bubbled to the surface.

The New Yorker

Dishes that had been cooked by the group of students contained pork, prompting the woman to abstain from trying them.

Independent

We thought that pizza made with the beloved local cheese — Provel — tasted as if it had been cooked with cellophane.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been cooked" to clearly indicate that an action of cooking was completed before another point in the past. This helps to establish a clear sequence of events.

Common error

Avoid using simple past tense ("was cooked") when you need to emphasize that the cooking action happened before another event in the past. "Had been cooked" clarifies the sequence more effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been cooked" functions as the past perfect passive voice. It describes an action (cooking) that was completed before another action or time in the past. Ludwig provides many examples demonstrating this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been cooked" is a grammatically correct and very common construction in English. According to Ludwig, it functions as the past perfect passive voice, effectively indicating that an action of cooking was completed before another point in the past. Predominantly used in News & Media contexts, the phrase helps to establish a clear chronological order. When writing, remember to use "had been cooked" to emphasize sequence in past events, avoid confusing it with simple past tenses. Alternatives like "was prepared" or "was already cooked" can be used depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was cooked

Focuses on the action of cooking itself, without necessarily emphasizing its completion before another past action.

had been prepared

Emphasizes the completion of preparation before another past action, similar to the original phrase but broader in scope.

was already cooked

Stresses that the cooking was completed at an earlier time.

was prepared

Indicates a more general act of getting food ready, which may or may not involve cooking.

had finished cooking

Highlights the completion of the cooking process before another point in the past.

was fully cooked

Highlights that the cooking was done thoroughly or completely.

had undergone cooking

More formal and emphasizes the process of cooking rather than the state of being cooked.

had completed cooking

Emphasizes the completed process of cooking before something else happened.

finished cooking

Highlights the completion of the cooking process, but doesn't necessarily imply a passive voice.

had been roasted

Specifies a type of cooking, limiting the phrase to roasting only.

FAQs

How do I use "had been cooked" in a sentence?

"Had been cooked" indicates an action completed before another point in the past. For example, "The meal "had been cooked" before the guests arrived" shows that cooking finished before arrival.

What's the difference between "was cooked" and "had been cooked"?

"Was cooked" refers to a simple past action, while "had been cooked" indicates an action completed before another past action. "The chicken was cooked" just says it happened. "The chicken "had been cooked" before we got home" gives a sequence.

What can I say instead of "had been cooked"?

You could use phrases like "was prepared" or "was already cooked" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "had been cooked" formal or informal?

"Had been cooked" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than the phrase itself.