doneness
How cooked something is
Doneness is how thoroughly something has been cooked.
The term appears most often with meat, where doneness ranges from rare through medium to well-done: The steak was cooked to perfect doneness.
With baked goods, doneness simply means fully cooked through: Test the cake for doneness with a toothpick.
Burned until black
- golden-brownWarm amber hue
- caramelizedBrowned through sugar heating
- blackenedDarkened by burning
- crispedMade dry and crunchy
seared · crust · pinkness · browned · blistered · glazed · color · appearance
Cooked on metal bars
- broiledCooked by radiant heat
- bakedCooked by dry heat
- roastedCooked uncovered with heat
- smokedExposed to wood fumes
barbecued · poached · steamed · braised · sautéed · pan-fried · simmered · sous-vide
Seldom found or seen
- medium-rareSteak doneness level
- mediumMiddle size or state
- bluePrimary color; also sad
- pinkPale red hue
overcooked · undercooked · perfect · spot-on
Resistance to deformation
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
- juicinessState of being moist
- chewinessTexture requiring sustained mastication
- softnessYielding to gentle pressure
springiness · succulence · moistness · dryness · toughness · give · yielding · rubbery
Heat-measuring instrument
- restingIn a state of stillness
- degreesUnits of measurement
- probeThorough examination or tool
- food-safetyProtecting consumables from contamination
charred
Burned until black
- golden-brownWarm amber hue
- caramelizedBrowned through sugar heating
- blackenedDarkened by burning
crisped · seared · crust · pinkness · browned · blistered · glazed · color · appearance · juiciness
grilled
Cooked on metal bars
smoked · barbecued · poached · steamed · braised · sautéed · pan-fried · simmered · sous-vide · reverse-seared
rare
Seldom found or seen
- medium-rareSteak doneness level
- mediumMiddle size or state
- bluePrimary color; also sad
pink · overcooked · undercooked · perfect · spot-on
firmness
Resistance to deformation
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
- juicinessState of being moist
- chewinessTexture requiring sustained mastication
softness · springiness · succulence · moistness · dryness · toughness · give · yielding · rubbery
thermometer
Heat-measuring instrument
steak
Thick beef slice
lamb · chicken · burger · roast · filet · chop · tenderloin · brisket · turkey · duck
- culinary artsflavor, aroma, seasoning, sauce, roasting
- culinary knowledgecooking techniques, knife skills, baking, roasting, grilling
- bread qualitiesfresh, stale, soft, crusty, crispy
- sensory qualitiestaste, smell, aroma, sound, texture
- Tastingaroma, bouquet, flavor profile, mouthfeel, nose
- sous videwater bath, vacuum seal, circulator, vacuum sealing, temperature control
donenessrawness
Unrefined or exposed state
raw · undercooked · underdone · rare · bloody
donenessincompleteness
State of lacking parts
unfinished · incomplete · in progress · pending · unreadiness
done, doing, undone, doer, overdone, doable, outdone, redone, donee