nearly cooked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly cooked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe food that is almost fully cooked but not quite there yet. Example: "The chicken is nearly cooked; just a few more minutes in the oven should do it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Once the meat is burnished, it's nearly cooked through.

The New York Times - Food

They trailed by 5 points with 46.2 seconds left in regulation, nearly cooked.

The New York Times - Sports

Turn scallops, and sear on other side until they are browned and nearly cooked through.

The New York Times - Food

Add shrimp, and sauté, turning once, until shrimp are nearly cooked through and opaque, about 3 minutes.

The New York Times - Food

When it was nearly cooked, she let me spoon it on, before sticking it under the grill.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Turn and brown the other side until chop is firm and nearly cooked through, 3 or 4 minutes.

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Seeing 10,000 pieces of art in one room is enough to nearly cook your eyeballs.... BEST ANTI-PORTRAIT TO DANIEL COVES Just enough detail but not fussy.

Huffington Post

It also leaves the outer layer nearly fully cooked before you've really begun cooking the rest of the steak.

WikiHow

Repeat until they begin to set, and then stir continuously until they're nearly as cooked as you like them; always take them off the heat before they're done.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

On the other hand, 2-acetylthiazole a product of non-enzymatic browning reactions between reducing sugars and amino acids in the presence of H2S [28], has been identified in nearly all cooked or roasted food aromas [28].

Chemistry Central Journal

She nearly always cooked at the same time.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "nearly cooked", consider whether "almost cooked" might be a clearer or more concise alternative, especially in informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly cooked" when the food is significantly undercooked; reserve it for situations where the cooking process is very close to completion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly cooked" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a noun (typically a food item). It describes the state of something that has undergone a cooking process and is approaching completion but is not yet fully cooked. As Ludwig AI says, it is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

28%

Science

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nearly cooked" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase that describes food that is approaching a state of being fully cooked. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and widely applicable. It appears commonly in news, media, and cooking-related contexts. While similar phrases like "almost cooked" and "partially cooked" exist, "nearly cooked" effectively conveys the immediacy and closeness to completion. When using this phrase, ensure the food is indeed close to being finished to maintain accuracy and avoid misleading the listener or reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost cooked

Indicates a very slight difference in completion; often interchangeable but emphasizes closeness to being done.

almost done

Shifts the focus from the cooking process to the state of being finished, maintaining a similar meaning.

partially cooked

Highlights that only a portion of the cooking process is complete; less about proximity to completion.

part-cooked

A shorter, less formal variant of "partially cooked", implying the same partial state.

close to being cooked

Expands the phrase to include a more descriptive and literal indication of the food's state.

half-cooked

Specifies approximately 50% completion, adding a quantitative aspect not present in the original.

partly done

Uses a different adjective to describe the state of completion, suitable in contexts where "done" is preferred over "cooked".

nearing doneness

A more formal and technical phrasing to emphasize that the food is approaching ideal cooked state.

nearly ready

Broadens the context beyond just cooking, applicable when describing any preparation nearing completion.

on the verge of being cooked

Emphasizes immediacy in reaching the completely cooked state.

FAQs

How can I use "nearly cooked" in a sentence?

"Nearly cooked" describes food that is almost fully prepared. For example, "The vegetables are "nearly cooked"; they only need a few more minutes of steaming".

What can I say instead of "nearly cooked"?

You can use alternatives like "almost cooked", "partially cooked", or "almost done", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "nearly cooked" or "near cooked"?

"Nearly cooked" is correct. "Near cooked" is not a standard or commonly used phrase in English.

What's the difference between "nearly cooked" and "fully cooked"?

"Nearly cooked" means the food is close to being done but not quite there yet, while "fully cooked" means the food is completely prepared and ready to eat.