Definition
To soften fruit by soaking it in liquid (often with sugar), drawing out juices and infusing flavors through osmosis. The patient way to make mediocre berries taste like they came from heaven.
Example Usage
Macerate the strawberries in balsamic vinegar and sugar for at least an hour before serving over the panna cotta.
Origin
Latin 'macerare' meaning 'to soften' or 'to make lean'
Fun Fact
Maceration is both a culinary and an anatomical term—in forensics, it refers to the softening of tissue, but let's stick with the delicious food version.
Source: Classical culinary technique terminology
Related Terms
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See “macerate” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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