Word
overcooked
Phoneticsover·cooked
US/ˌoʊvɝˈkʊkt/
UK/ˌəʊvəkˈʊkt/
Definition
adj. cooked for too long, so it becomes dry, soft, or burnt and tastes bad.
adj. cooked beyond the desired point, resulting in loss of texture, moisture, or flavour. Typically describes vegetables, meat, pasta, or other foods prepared with heat.
Examples
“She hates overcooked vegetables because they taste too soft.”
“The restaurant apologized after serving overcooked steak that was dry and tough.”
“The chef explained that overcooked pasta loses its bite and turns mushy within minutes if left in boiling water.”
Examples
simple
“She hates overcooked vegetables because they taste too soft.”
contextual
“The restaurant apologized after serving overcooked steak that was dry and tough.”
complex
“The chef explained that overcooked pasta loses its bite and turns mushy within minutes if left in boiling water.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “overcooked” in context.
Verb
01. avoid overcooked
“I avoid overcooked vegetables because I hate the texture.”
verb + adj
02. get overcooked
“Be careful or the noodles will get overcooked quickly.”
verb + adj
03. look overcooked
“The carrots look overcooked and too soft.”
linking verb + adj
04. serve overcooked
“They served overcooked fish with cold potatoes.”
verb + adj
Adjective
05. badly overcooked
“The broccoli was badly overcooked and very soft.”
adv + adj
06. completely overcooked
“The rice was completely overcooked and stuck together.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. overcooked fish
“The overcooked fish fell apart and tasted dry.”
adj + noun
08. overcooked meat
“The overcooked meat was dry and hard to chew.”
adj + noun
09. overcooked pasta
“The restaurant served overcooked pasta with no sauce.”
adj + noun
10. overcooked rice
“Nobody wanted to eat the overcooked rice.”
adj + noun
11. avoid overcooked vegetables
“I try to avoid overcooked vegetables when I eat out.”
12. gone completely overcooked
“Leave it too long and the rice has gone completely overcooked.”
Usage
Often placed before a noun ('overcooked pasta') or after linking verbs like 'be', 'taste', or 'look'.
Real-World Examples
“If the chicken breast isn’t cooked through, you can always put it back on the grate, but you can’t fix a dry, overcooked one.” “One of the kitchen's greatest transgressions is overcooked, mushy asparagus.” “If overcooked, braised meat loses its ability to cling onto moisture as you chew, resulting in juices that gush out but leave the remaining meat with a dry, pulpy texture.” “Its appeal is further diminished by the way cooks generally serve it: even a certified liver fancier must struggle to down the dry, overcooked preparations that are so sadly commonplace.” Etymology
From over- + cooked.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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