poorly cooked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poorly cooked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe food that has not been prepared properly, resulting in undesirable texture or taste. Example: "The chicken was poorly cooked, leaving it dry and unappetizing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Prison food consisted of poorly cooked rice and vegetables.

The New York Times

But the chicken entrée, the pheasant entrée, other dishes: forgettable, or poorly cooked.

The New York Times

It can be caught by drinking unpasteurized milk from an infected animal or by eating poorly cooked beef.

The New York Times - Science

It is especially characteristic of trichinosis a disorder resulting from infestation by trichina larvae, which are ingested when poorly cooked infected pork is eaten.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The credibility of the September 11th commission is collapsing like a poorly cooked soufflé in a mess of partisan finger-pointing and publicity-chasing.

The Economist

He makes people try stuff that they think they wouldn't normally like: to realise that not all offal is poorly cooked creamy internal body parts and that offal is quite tasty, texturally pleasing and totally versatile, that is extremely exciting.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

He is also said to "live poorly, cooks his own meals and takes the bus".

BBC

Turkey has a bad name because it's cooked very poorly in lots of places, but it's fantastic if it's good quality and you treat it properly.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There's little point in chronicling the bad; every diner has tales of the stale, the improperly cooked and the poorly seasoned.

The New York Times

I imagine that Adrian probably served Cameron in the "fashionable" Soho restaurant he worked in as a poorly paid cook.

The Guardian - Opinion

It sold poorly, though, and has probably yielded more "cooked book" jokes than hot meals.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing food preparation, use "poorly cooked" to clearly indicate that the food was not adequately heated or prepared, which can affect its taste, texture, or safety.

Common error

Avoid using "poorly cooked" as a catch-all term for all food-related issues. Be specific about what went wrong, such as undercooking, burning, or improper seasoning, to give a more accurate description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poorly cooked" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective modifying a noun (typically food). As Ludwig AI explains, it describes the state of food that has not been adequately prepared through cooking.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

55%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "poorly cooked" is a grammatically sound and frequently used descriptor, primarily functioning as an adjective to indicate that food has not been adequately prepared. As Ludwig AI confirms, its common usage spans across diverse contexts like News & Media and scientific publications. It communicates dissatisfaction or concern about the quality and safety of food. While synonymous terms such as "undercooked" and "badly cooked" exist, "poorly cooked" serves as a versatile and clear way to convey the message that food preparation was inadequate. When using this phrase, it’s useful to specify the exact nature of the problem rather than relying on it as a general catch-all term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undercooked

Focuses specifically on the lack of sufficient cooking time or heat.

underdone

A simpler, more informal way to say undercooked.

badly cooked

A more general term indicating that the cooking process was not done well.

improperly cooked

Emphasizes that the correct cooking methods were not followed.

inadequately cooked

Highlights the insufficient level of cooking achieved.

partially cooked

Suggests that some cooking occurred, but it was not completed fully.

insufficiently heated

Focuses on the lack of proper heating, rather than the cooking process itself.

raw in the middle

Specifically describes the internal state of the food being uncooked.

half-cooked

Indicates that the food is only cooked to about 50 percent.

poorly prepared

Broader term that encompasses not just cooking, but also other aspects of food preparation.

FAQs

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

You can use "poorly cooked" to describe food that hasn't been cooked properly. For example, "The chicken was "poorly cooked", and it was still pink inside".

What's a better way to say "poorly cooked"?

Alternatives include "undercooked", "badly cooked", or "improperly cooked". The best choice depends on the specific reason the food was not properly prepared.

Is it more correct to say "poorly cooked" or "badly cooked"?

Both "poorly cooked" and "badly cooked" are grammatically correct, but "poorly cooked" is often preferred when referring to the technical aspects of food preparation. "Badly cooked" might imply a broader sense of the cooking process being unsuccessful.

What are the risks of eating "poorly cooked" food?

Eating "poorly cooked" food can increase the risk of foodborne illnesses due to bacteria or parasites that may not have been killed by the cooking process.