hardly cooked

USAGE SUMMARY

'hardly cooked' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe something that is not sufficiently cooked. It is usually used in combination with another word, such as 'hardly cooked fish'. For example: "I didn't enjoy the fish because it was hardly cooked."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For four weeks, we ate when and where we wanted, and I hardly cooked at all.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I hardly cook any more.

The Guardian

"How could I not be?" But, she added ruefully, "The irony is that because my daughter's away at college I hardly cook anymore".

The New York Times

I can hardly cook a pot of macaroni & cheese so how did this mom allegedly help kill & dismember her hubby's former lover?! #DismemberedMom.

Vice

In my kitchen, they're the experts; I hardly cook at all, and they often assign me the task of grinding pepper or doing the dishes.

Vice

But now that we have a cook he hardly cooks.

The New York Times

In his condo, there was an expensive Viking gas stove that he'd turned on only two or three times, because he hardly ever cooked.

The New Yorker

They hardly get cooked into apple sauce.

Huffington Post

"You hardly ever cook, so this will be more convenient," he said.

The New York Times

We hardly ever cook meat at home, but I'm omnivorous as the guest of others.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I hardly ever cook duck at home," said Eberhard Muller, the chef and an owner of Lutece in Manhattan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing food, use "hardly cooked" to emphasize that it was cooked very little, implying a preference for more thorough cooking, or expressing a complaint about the preparation.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly cooked" when you mean "slightly warmed". "Hardly cooked" suggests a significant lack of cooking, while "slightly warmed" implies a minimal temperature increase without significant cooking.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly cooked" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically modifying a noun to indicate the degree to which something has been cooked. Ludwig indicates it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hardly cooked" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase used to describe something that has been cooked very little, often implying a negative assessment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly describes a state of insufficient cooking. While relatively rare in occurrence, the phrase finds its use in diverse contexts, particularly within news and media sources. Alternatives like "undercooked" or "lightly cooked" offer similar meanings, providing writers with a range of options to express the degree of cooking. It's important to use the phrase when referring to a distinct lack of cooking rather than a mere warming to ensure accuracy and avoid miscommunication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undercooked

This single word directly describes food that hasn't been cooked enough.

barely cooked

Similar to "hardly cooked", indicating the cooking process was minimal.

scarcely cooked

Highlights the minimal extent to which the food was cooked.

lightly cooked

Emphasizes a minimal amount of cooking, resulting in food that is only slightly cooked.

slightly cooked

Similar to "lightly cooked", stressing a small degree of cooking.

insufficiently cooked

A more formal way of saying not cooked enough.

not fully cooked

A straightforward way to express the lack of complete cooking.

partially cooked

Indicates the food was cooked, but not completely.

rarely cooked

Focuses on the infrequency of cooking rather than the degree of cooking.

raw

Indicates the food is completely uncooked.

FAQs

What does "hardly cooked" mean?

The phrase "hardly cooked" means something was cooked very little or insufficiently. It implies the item remains largely in its raw state.

What can I say instead of "hardly cooked"?

You can use alternatives like "undercooked", "lightly cooked", or "barely cooked" to convey a similar meaning, depending on the specific nuance you wish to express.

Is "hardly cooked" grammatically correct?

Yes, "hardly cooked" is grammatically correct. "Hardly" is an adverb modifying the adjective "cooked".

What's the difference between "hardly cooked" and "rarely cooked"?

"Hardly cooked" refers to the degree of cooking, meaning something was cooked very little. "Rarely cooked" refers to the frequency of cooking, meaning something is not often cooked. They have different meanings.