Cooking is filled with colorful expressions that reflect our experiences in the kitchen. There are many idioms related to cooking that highlight the humor, challenges, and intricacies of preparing food. First, idioms like “too many cooks spoil the broth” remind us that collaboration can sometimes lead to chaos.
Other phrases, such as “put all your eggs in one basket,” caution against taking unnecessary risks. In this article, I share 28 cooking idioms, categorized into funny, best, popular, and those specifically for cooking and baking. Each idiom is explained with its meaning and an example, providing a comprehensive look at how these expressions enrich our culinary conversations. Whether you’re a novice cook or a seasoned chef, these idioms can add flavor to your discussions about food and cooking.
List of 28 Idioms for cooking
- Too many cooks spoil the broth
- Putting all your eggs in one basket
- Half-baked idea
- Burning the midnight oil
- Cooking up a storm
- In hot water
- Bring home the bacon
- Have a lot on one’s plate
- Take with a grain of salt
- Too hot to handle
- On the back burner
- Slice of the pie
- Not my cup of tea
- Make a meal out of it
- Have bigger fish to fry
- Cut the mustard
- Set the table
- Put the cart before the horse
- Butter someone up
- Spill the beans
- Egg on your face
- Burn the candle at both ends
- Take the cake
- Rise to the occasion
- Whip up a storm
- Cook the books
- Have your cake and eat it too
- Make a meal out of it
Funny Idioms for Cooking
Too many cooks spoil the broth
This means that having too many people involved in a task can ruin it.
Example: “With everyone giving their opinion, too many cooks spoiled the broth during dinner preparations.”
Putting all your eggs in one basket
This means risking everything on a single venture.
Example: “Investing all his savings in one restaurant was like putting all his eggs in one basket.”
Half-baked idea
This refers to an idea that is not fully thought out.
Example: “His proposal was just a half-baked idea with no research.”
Burning the midnight oil
This means working late into the night.
Example: “She was burning the midnight oil to perfect her recipe for the competition.”
Best Idioms for Cooking
Cooking up a storm
This means preparing a lot of food or cooking with great energy.
Example: “She was cooking up a storm for the family reunion.”
In hot water
This means being in trouble.
Example: “He found himself in hot water after forgetting to turn off the stove.”
Bring home the bacon
This means to earn a living.
Example: “She works hard to bring home the bacon for her family.”
Have a lot on one’s plate
This means to have many responsibilities.
Example: “He has a lot on his plate with work and cooking for the event.”
Take with a grain of salt
This means to view something with skepticism.
Example: “You should take his cooking tips with a grain of salt; he rarely follows recipes.”
Too hot to handle
This means something difficult to manage.
Example: “That spicy dish is too hot to handle for most people.”
On the back burner
This means postponing something.
Example: “I put my baking plans on the back burner until after the holidays.”
Slice of the pie
This refers to a share of something.
Example: “Every chef wants a slice of the pie when it comes to the restaurant’s profits.”
Not my cup of tea
This means something that one does not prefer.
Example: “Cooking meat isn’t my cup of tea; I prefer vegetarian dishes.”
Make a meal out of it
This means to exaggerate a situation.
Example: “She really made a meal out of a simple cooking mistake.”
Have bigger fish to fry
This means having more important matters to deal with.
Example: “I have bigger fish to fry than worrying about dinner.”
Cut the mustard
This means to meet expectations.
Example: “The new recipe didn’t cut the mustard for the judges.”
Set the table
This means to prepare for an event or occasion.
Example: “They set the table beautifully for the holiday feast.”
Put the cart before the horse
This means to do things in the wrong order.
Example: “He put the cart before the horse by planning dessert before the main course.”
As cool as a cucumber
This means to remain calm under pressure.
Example: “She was as cool as a cucumber while managing the chaotic kitchen.”
Butter someone up
This means to flatter someone.
Example: “He tried to butter her up to get her secret recipe.”
Spill the beans
This means to reveal a secret.
Example: “She spilled the beans about the surprise dinner party.”
Popular Idioms for Cooking
Egg on your face
This means to be embarrassed.
Example: “After that cooking disaster, he had egg on his face.”
Burn the candle at both ends
This means to overwork oneself.
Example: “She was burning the candle at both ends trying to manage work and cook.”
Take the cake
This means to be the best in a negative way.
Example: “That was the worst meal I’ve ever had; it takes the cake.”
Cool as a cucumber
This means to remain calm in stressful situations.
Example: “Despite the kitchen chaos, he was cool as a cucumber.”
Idioms for Cooking and Baking
Rise to the occasion
This means to perform well in a challenging situation.
Example: “She always rises to the occasion when baking for competitions.”
Whip up a storm
This means to prepare food quickly.
Example: “He can whip up a storm in the kitchen with just a few ingredients.”
Cook the books
This means to falsify financial records.
Example: “The manager was caught cooking the books for the restaurant.”
Have your cake and eat it too
This means to have two incompatible things.
Example: “He wants to travel and save money; he can’t have his cake and eat it too.”
What are some common cooking idioms I can use in conversation?
I often incorporate idioms like “too many cooks spoil the broth” or “burning the midnight oil” into my discussions about cooking. These phrases not only add flavor to the conversation but also convey specific meanings related to culinary experiences.
How can idioms enhance my cooking skills?
Using idioms can help me communicate challenges and successes in the kitchen more effectively. For instance, saying “I have a lot on my plate” makes it clear that I’m juggling multiple tasks, while “rise to the occasion” conveys my ability to handle cooking challenges.
Where can I find idioms related to cooking and baking?
you find idioms related to cooking and baking in this article. I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of 28 idioms that cover various aspects of cooking and baking. These idioms are not only entertaining but also provide insights into the nuances of cooking language.
