Introduction
In this article, I give you a list of the more common words associated with the modern kitchen.
They are in alphabetical order (A to Z) and come with a short description of each. Some are items often found in a kitchen while others are tasks/processes.
So, let's cook up a better English vocabulary
Air Fryer: A device used to cook food with hot air.
Apron: A protective garment worn while cooking to prevent spills on clothing.
Baking: The process of cooking food using dry heat, often in an oven.
Bench or Island Bench: an area, often in the middle of the kitchen where people prepare food.
Blender: An appliance for mixing and puréeing ingredients.
Cabinets/Cupboards: Storage units for kitchen utensils, dishes, and food.
Cake Tin: A container, usually made of metal, for baking the mixed cake ingredients in an oven.
Canister: A container for storing dry goods like flour or sugar.
Can Opener: A device, either electric or handheld, used to open metal cans of food.
Chop Sticks: Asian utensils, usually made of bamboo, used to pick up food to eat.
Cleaver: A heavy knife. Used for chopping meat/bones or slicing tough-skinned vegetables such as pumpkins.
Colander: A large bowl with holes used for draining pasta and washing vegetables.
Cookware: Pots, pans, and other utensils used for cooking.
Corkscrew: a tool used to remove the cork from a bottle of wine.
Cutting Board: A surface for chopping and preparing food.
Detergent: A liquid, usually concentrated, used in a sink of hot water to wash dishes.
Dishcloth/Dishmop: for handwashing dirty plates, pans, and cutlery.
Dishwasher: A machine that cleans and sanitizes dishes and utensils.
Draining Board: A rack that stores freshly washed dishes to dry by draining excess water.
Egg Flip: A utensil for turning fried foods such as eggs.
Faucet/tap: A fixture that dispenses water over a sink (see below) for cooking and cleaning.
Freezer: An appliance for freezing and storing food.
Freezer Bags: Plastic bags for holding foodstuffs to store in a freezer.
Fridge: The short form for 'refrigerator' for preserving perishable items.
Garbage/trash can/bin: A container for collecting, then disposing of, kitchen waste.
Garlic Crusher: A hand tool used to crush garlic cloves.
Gladwrap: The brand name for clear plastic film to wrap or cover bowls or plates of food.
Grater: A tool for shredding cheese, vegetables, or other foods.
Jar Lid Remover: A gadget, hand held, used to loosen tight Jar Lids.
Knife Block: A block of wood designed to store kitchen knives in a safe way.
Knives: Cutting tools for various kitchen tasks.
Ladle: a utensil with a long handle and a deep bowl used to transfer liquids from a cooking pot to a bowl.
Microwave: An appliance for heating and reheating food quickly.
Mixer: A device for mixing ingredients, often used in baking.
Mortar and Pestle: A device, often made of stone, used to crush or grind herbs and spices.
Napkins: Cloth or paper for wiping hands and surfaces.
Orange Juicer: A utensil (electric or manual) for squeezing fresh orange or lemon juice.
Oven: A kitchen appliance for baking and roasting.
Pans: Flat-bottomed cookware for frying and sautéing.
Pantry: A room attached to the kitchen or a cupboard used to store canned and packaged foods.
Peeler: A hand-held utensil for removing the skin from fruits and vegetables.
Pepper Grinder: A utensil for grinding whole peppercorns.
Pizza Oven: An oven designed for cooking pizzas on a Pizza Pan, then cut into wedges with a Pizza Cutter.
Placemats: Protective mats for setting the table.
Pots: Metal containers, usually with lids, used for cooking or boiling water.
Pot Holders: Insulated fabric for safe handling of hot pots and pans.
Pressure Cooker: A device to cook foods using steam under high pressure.
Rice Cooker: An electrical device to cook rice using steam.
Salt Cellar: A container for holding salt.
Scales: Devices for measuring ingredients' weight.
Scourer Pad: An abrasive pad to remove caked food or stains from pots, pans, and plates.
Sink: A basin for washing dishes and food preparation.
Spatula: A tool for flipping and scraping food in pans.
Spice Rack: A means to store jars of spices and herbs.
Steamer: Metal or bamboo containers placed over a pot of boiling water to steam food.
Steel Wool: Used as a scourer to remove caked food or stains from pots, pans, and plates.
Stove: A cooking appliance that uses gas or electricity, or even wood.
Tablecloth: A covering for the dining or kitchen table.
Tea Kettle: A vessel for boiling water for tea and other hot beverages.
Tea towel: a cloth for drying dishes.
Toaster: An appliance for browning bread, muffins or crumpets.
Utensils: Kitchen tools for cooking and serving (forks, spoons, knives).
Wire Rack: Placing cakes, scones, or biscuits/cookies fresh from the oven on a wire rack to cool.
Conclusion
In this article, I have provided a list of items found in the kitchen. And processes or tasks that people do there.
Learn them by practicing identifying them (or label them) as you walk around the kitchen.
I hope you have found this article useful as a way to grow your English vocabulary.
Further Reading
Go here to remind yourself why developing your vocabulary is an important part of becoming better at English.
© Apex English Tutoring October 2023 - Updated January 2024
About Me
Hello and welcome!
My name is Michael Finemore and I am the owner-operator of Apex English Tutoring.
As an experienced English Teacher, I'm passionate about helping people turn their 'poor' English into great English, with easy and effective ways to practice.
If you liked this article tell your 'tribe' about it. Â Click any of the 'socials' below to share it.
Let's connect!
Comments