¿Sabes Cocinar? Spanish Cooking Vocabulary

The popular American TV show host Guy Fieri once said, “Food is maybe the only universal thing that really has the power to bring everyone together.” If you ask anyone their favorite (or sometimes least favorite) part of a trip, they usually say “their food!” Recipes are tenderly passed down from family member to family member, and laughter is commonly found around the dining table. Not only does learning Spanish cooking vocabulary help you with your travels, it also helps you dive deeper into the culture and spark lots of conversations. Let’s get cooking with key food vocabulary!

Vocabulary for a Shared Kitchen

Maybe a new Spanish friend invites you over to learn to make some delicious tortilla española. There are some key words and phrases that will help you navigate la cocina, the kitchen.

Common phrases in the kitchen

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Here are a few basic phrases you might hear people say when navigating a shared kitchen.

• Pásame… – pass me…
• ¿Dónde esta…? – where is…
• ¿Me ayudas con…? – can you help me with..?
• Ten cuidado – be careful

Common Spanish cooking commands

You’ll notice that these commands are all informal. Depending on if you’re speaking to someone to whom you want to show more respect, or if you’re speaking to a group, you may need to change the endings.

• Bate – beat, whisk
• Mezcla – mix
• Corta / Parte – cut
• Saltea – saute
• Derrite – melt
• Lava – wash
• Limpia – clean
• Hornea – bake
• Asa – roast
• Fríe – fry
• Pela – peel
• Pica – chop
• Descongelar – defrost

Common kitchen items in Spanish

• El cuchillo – the knife
• La cuchara – the spoon
• La olla – the pot
• La olla de presión – pressure cooker
• El tenedor – the fork
• La licuadora – the blender
• La freidora – the fryer
• El microondas – the microwave
• La cafetera – the coffee maker
• La parrilla / la plancha – the grill
• El lavaplatos – the dishwasher

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Cooking should be fun, and knowing these helpful words and phrases will hopefully take the stress out of cooking in Spanish. Spanish cooking vocabulary might seem daunting at first, but once you get chopping and frying, you’ll be a pro in no time.