slightly cooked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly cooked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe food that has been cooked to a minimal degree, often indicating that it is not fully cooked or is intentionally left undercooked for texture or flavor. Example: "The chef recommended the steak be served slightly cooked to enhance its tenderness and flavor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Cook, stirring often, for 5 to 10 minutes until the tomatoes have slightly cooked down.

The New York Times - Health

Instead, our gastric juices were stimulated by salads, fruit, slightly cooked vegetables, herb teas and water.

The Guardian - Travel

My piece of slightly cooked black cod, placed on a nori-wrapped puck of rice, was gently kissed by a sweetened sea eel reduction; a companion's piece was swimming in the dark, intense, mesmerizing liquid.

The New York Times

And over the next three hours, they showed up as a purée beneath filaments of mortadella in a quiche-like canapé and as pleasantly poppy, slightly cooked accessories to a fillet of white salmon.

The New York Times - Food

Chopped scallops, slightly cooked to bring out the sweetness, get kicked into hyperdrive with a bright-green purée of asparagus and kale; a copious amount of Jonah crab is covered with a luscious saffron-scented bouillabaisse sabayon, the richness cut with peppery nasturtium leaves.

The New Yorker

I'm still stunned by dishes like new-style (slightly cooked) sashimi and a whole repertoire of morsels from the sea underutilized by everyone else.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Industrial-size gear can whip up industrial-level heat, he said, which can slightly cook the ingredients and spoil the distinctive tang of freshness.

The New York Times - Food

For the dipping sauce, combine the garlic, ginger, chillies and vinegar and leave for about 5 minutes – the vinegar will slightly "cook" the ingredients.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Some cooks recommend heating the milk and cream before adding to the egg mixture to help thicken and slightly cook the eggs.

WikiHow

Cook a little longer to fry meat slightly; cook even longer if you prefer crisper meat.

The New York Times

He sent it back and it came back only slightly less cooked.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly cooked" to describe a process and not an opinion. When specifying your opinion, rather use other alternatives such as "undercooked" or "rarely cooked".

Common error

Avoid using "slightly cooked" as a catch-all term for any underdone food. It implies a deliberate choice, not a mistake. Use more specific terms like "undercooked" if the intention was to fully cook the item.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly cooked" functions as an adjective modifying a noun, typically food items. It describes the degree to which something has been cooked, indicating a minimal or partial cooking process, as seen in Ludwig's examples involving black cod, scallops, and tomatoes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Wiki

22%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "slightly cooked" is a descriptive term used to indicate that food has been cooked to a minimal degree. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and appropriate for use in written English. It commonly appears in contexts related to cooking, recipes, and restaurant reviews. While its usage is relatively uncommon, it serves a specific purpose in describing the doneness of food, conveying that it has been cooked partially and intentionally. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the intended level of cooking and that the food is safe to consume at that state of doneness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partially cooked

Emphasizes that the cooking process is incomplete.

lightly cooked

Focuses on the gentleness or briefness of the cooking.

undercooked

Highlights the fact that the food is not fully cooked, potentially implying a negative connotation.

rarely cooked

Indicates a very minimal amount of cooking, closer to raw.

minimally cooked

Stresses the small extent of the cooking involved.

briefly cooked

Focuses on the short duration of the cooking process.

gently cooked

Indicates a low heat or careful cooking method.

barely cooked

Emphasizes how little cooking was done.

flash cooked

Suggests a very quick cooking method at high heat.

seared

Specifically refers to cooking the surface of the food quickly at high heat.

FAQs

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

You can use "slightly cooked" to describe the state of food that has been cooked to a minimal degree. For example, "The chef served the tuna "slightly cooked", leaving the center rare".

What's the difference between "slightly cooked" and "undercooked"?

"Slightly cooked" suggests a deliberate choice to cook something partially, while "undercooked" implies that it wasn't cooked enough unintentionally. The first is a stylistic choice while the second is a mistake.

Is it safe to eat food that is "slightly cooked"?

The safety of eating food that is "slightly cooked" depends on the type of food. Some foods, like certain vegetables, are safe and even preferable when "slightly cooked", while others, like poultry, need to be fully cooked to avoid foodborne illnesses.

What are some examples of dishes that are often served "slightly cooked"?

Examples of dishes that are often served "slightly cooked" include seared tuna, some types of steak (cooked rare), and certain vegetables like asparagus that can be "lightly steamed" to retain their crispness.