parboil

Definition

Partially cooking food by boiling briefly before finishing with another cooking method, combining the speed of boiling with the flavor of roasting or grilling. The head start that makes crispy potatoes and tender ribs actually achievable.

Example Usage

Parboil the chicken wings for 10 minutes before grilling to ensure they cook through without burning.

Origin

Middle English, likely from 'part' combined with 'boil'

Fun Fact

Despite the name, parboiling doesn't necessarily mean cooking something 'partially'—the term has evolved to describe the pre-boiling step regardless of how much cooking occurs.

Source: Standard cooking technique terminology

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See “parboil” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

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