braising

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   A cooking method in which food is first browned in fat, then cooked slowly in a small amount of liquid in a covered pot.

   Grammar: Uncountable; used like 'roasting' or 'steaming': Braising is a gentle method.

   Patterns

   • braising of something
   • slow braising

   Braising is a good way to make tough cuts of meat tender.

   The recipe calls for braising the vegetables in stock for an hour.

   She learned braising from her grandmother, who always used a heavy pot.

2. 2verbtransitive

   Present participle of braise: to cook food slowly in a covered pot with a little liquid after browning it.

   Grammar: Takes an object: braising the beef; can also be intransitive: the meat is braising.

   Patterns

   • braising something
   • braising in something

   He is braising the lamb in red wine for Sunday dinner.

   The chicken was braising on the stove for two hours.

   Braising the onions first brings out their sweetness.

Word forms

Common combinations

braising liquid

The braising liquid was a mix of stock and wine.

braising pan

Use a heavy braising pan with a tight lid.

slow braising

Slow braising makes the meat fall apart.

braising steak

I bought braising steak for the stew.

Synonyms and how they differ

stewing

Stewing is similar but usually uses more liquid and smaller pieces; braising often starts with browning and uses less liquid.

pot-roasting

Pot-roasting is a British term for a similar method, often used for larger cuts of meat.

Word family

braise verb

To cook by braising.

braised adjective

Cooked by braising, as in braised beef.

Commonly confused: braising or brazing?

Practice

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