underdone

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "underdone" is correct and can be used in written English.
Generally, it is used to describe food that is cooked insufficiently and is less done than desired. For example, "The steak was underdone and needed to be cooked a little longer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

The New York Times - Food

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A little underdone but remember they will continue to cook slightly as they cool.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

His favourite meal of all was his wife's Irish stew, or an underdone cheese omelette browned under the grill.

The Economist

But "the people in between/ Looked underdone and harassed/ And out of place and mean/ And horribly embarrassed".Charles Jennings is one of the people in between, and in "People Like Us" he is, self-confessedly, all of those other things too.

The Economist

You can also always be sure that their shtick is never knowingly underdone, from the duelling green lasers to the big perspex piano to Bellamy's shamelessly stagey way of drrrawing ouuut a syllable.

Independent

England might have liked another practice match but with all the top-six batsmen in their Test order now having made at least one fifty or hundred, they cannot claim to be underdone in that department.

Independent

Veal blanquette is a dialogue between the velvety, almost fonduelike white-wine sauce and the fibrous textures of the underdone root vegetables — turnip squares, a beet the palest pink imaginable.

The New Yorker

One by-product of silicone is a substance the chemists call "bouncing putty;" it is soft & pliable, like slightly underdone taffy.

The New Yorker

The Salt Guy declared the risotto, with Parmesan cheese, caramelized onions, and baby leeks, "brothy and underdone" — but he was overruled.

The New Yorker

Everything in "Contagion" is staged with great physical conviction but without exaggeration — the tumult is neither overdone nor underdone.

The New Yorker

That night, Angel chatters about food groups as she makes dinner — a can of chili dumped over an underdone squash and a package of frozen cheese bread — then takes over the TV.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It almost rescues the wan pulled pork and sometimes-underdone ribs ($14.95 each for platters).

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing food as "underdone", be specific about which aspect is undercooked (e.g., "The center was underdone").

Common error

Avoid using "underdone" metaphorically to describe tasks or projects that are incomplete. While creative, it's generally reserved for describing food that hasn't been cooked sufficiently.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "underdone" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns, typically referring to food, to indicate that it has not been cooked sufficiently. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct in this function. Ludwig's examples shows its use in phrases like "underdone squash" or "slightly underdone shrimp".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

The New York Times - Food

15%

The Guardian - Sport

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "underdone" is a common adjective primarily used to describe food that has not been cooked sufficiently. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is grammatically sound. Analysis of various sources, particularly from news and media outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian, reveals its frequent application in food reviews and discussions about cooking. While "underdone" maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal contexts, it’s important to avoid misusing it metaphorically in non-food related situations. Related phrases like "undercooked" and "insufficiently cooked" offer similar meanings, with slight variations in formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undercooked

Direct synonym, focusing specifically on the act of cooking to an insufficient degree.

insufficiently cooked

More formal way of saying "underdone", emphasizing the lack of sufficient cooking.

rare

Often used for meats, indicating a specific degree of undercooking.

half-cooked

Implies the cooking process is only partially completed.

slightly raw

Emphasizes the raw or uncooked aspect of the food.

not fully cooked

A general term indicating the cooking process was not completed.

incompletely cooked

Similar to "not fully cooked", emphasizing the lack of completeness.

needing more cooking

Focuses on the need for additional cooking time.

partially baked

Specifically refers to baked goods that have not been baked long enough.

not thoroughly heated

Highlights the lack of sufficient heat application.

FAQs

How can I use "underdone" in a sentence?

You can use "underdone" to describe food that hasn't been cooked enough, such as, "The chicken was slightly underdone, so I cooked it longer".

What is a synonym for "underdone"?

A synonym for "underdone" is "undercooked", which also means not cooked enough.

Which is correct, "underdone" or "undercooked"?

"Underdone" and "undercooked" are both correct and can often be used interchangeably, though "undercooked" more directly implies the act of cooking.

What does it mean if food is "underdone"?

If food is "underdone", it means it hasn't been cooked for the proper amount of time or at the correct temperature, resulting in it being insufficiently cooked.