Essential Culinary Terms from W to Z
Wafer
A wafer is a delicate, paper-thin baked good, characterized by its crisp texture. It can be crafted in either a sweet or savory style and is often used as an accompaniment or garnish in gourmet dishes.
Waffle
This light and crunchy cake features a signature grid pattern created by cooking batter in a specialized waffle iron. Waffles can be enjoyed with toppings ranging from sweet syrups and fruits to savory elements like fried chicken or cheese.
Waldorf Salad
A classic dish combining tart apples, crunchy celery, and occasionally walnuts, all enveloped in a creamy mayonnaise dressing. This salad first gained popularity at New York’s Waldorf Hotel and remains a refreshing side today.
Walnut Oil
Extracted through cold pressing walnuts, walnut oil boasts a rich supply of polyunsaturated fats and imparts a distinctive nutty aroma and taste. Widely embraced in salads, dressings, sauces, and even baking, it’s a gourmet staple in contemporary kitchens.
Wasabi (wah-SAH-bee)
Derived from the rhizome of a plant native to East Asia, wasabi is ground into a paste that turns vibrant green when mixed with water. It delivers a sharp, fiery kick prevalent in Japanese cuisine, often accompanying sushi and sashimi.
Wash
A coating applied to dough before baking to enhance appearance and texture. A traditional wash is a blend of whole egg and water, which yields a gloss finish, but variations include milk or butter-based mixtures.
Artesian Water
Water sourced from confined underground aquifers that naturally pressurize it to the earth’s surface without pumping. Valued for its purity and mineral content, artesian water is increasingly favored in gourmet cooking for its unique taste profile.
Water Bath (Bain-Marie)
A gentle cooking technique where food containers are placed in heated water to provide even, indirect heat. This is commonly used in custards, delicate sauces, and melting chocolate to prevent scorching.
Bottled Water
Packaged water offered in still and sparkling options, bottled water serves as a popular alternative to sugary beverages. The global market saw a growth of approximately 7% in 2023, reflecting increased consumer health consciousness.
Carbonated Water
Water infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure, resulting in effervescence that can enhance flavor and texture. Often utilized in mixology and culinary preparations to add a refreshing element.
Distilled Water
Purified water free from minerals and contaminants, obtained through distillation. It is commonly applied in pharmaceutical products, laboratory experiments, and some precision cooking processes.
Watermelon
- A variety of melon indigenous to Africa, recognized by its thick outer rind and juicy, sweet flesh packed with seeds.
- A large oval or round fruit with a green-striped rind and typically red or pink interior; seedless cultivars have become popular. Known alternatively as red watermelon, it is a summertime favorite worldwide.
Wax Bean
A yellow-hued variant of the common green bean, wax beans feature a slightly slicker pod surface and offer a tender, subtly sweet flavor.
Waxy Potatoes
Potatoes characterized by their low starch content and thin skins, making them ideal for boiling and holding shape in salads and other dishes.
Waxy Starch
A starch extracted from waxy corn varieties, often used as a food additive to thicken sauces and puddings. It is also known commercially as amioca.
Weight
The measure of mass or heaviness in ingredients, typically recorded in grams, ounces, or pounds in culinary contexts.
Wheat
A widely cultivated cereal grain with main types including durum, hard, and soft wheat. Depending on climate, farmers may plant wheat up to three times a year, categorized as winter, spring, or summer wheat.
Wheat Berry
The whole wheat kernel that encompasses the bran, germ, and endosperm, prized for its nutrient density and texture when cooked.
Wheat Germ
The nutrient-rich embryo embedded within the wheat berry, high in oils, vitamins, proteins, and minerals, often added to recipes for its nutty taste and health benefits.
Whetstone
A sharpening tool made from dense, abrasive stone used for honing knife blades to maintain optimal sharpness.
Whey
The liquid remaining after milk coagulates during cheese-making. Whey is used in producing whey cheeses, various processed products, and serves as nutritional livestock feed.
Whipping
A preparation technique involving vigorous beating to aerate food, usually employing a whisk or an electric mixer with a whip attachment; essential for creating light and fluffy textures in items like cream and egg whites.
Whisk
A kitchen tool featuring intertwined wire loops attached to a handle, designed to incorporate air into mixtures such as eggs, creams, and sauces. Sizes range typically between 8 to 18 inches.
Whiskey
- An alcoholic spirit obtained by distilling fermented grain mash composed of cereals like corn, rye, and barley. Its distinctiveness arises from grain types, water sources, and aging methods.
- Note on spelling: American, Irish, and English products use “whiskey,” whereas Scottish and Canadian versions prefer “whisky.”
White Chocolate
A confection crafted from cocoa butter blended with sugar, milk solids, and flavorings. Containing no cocoa solids, it’s often marketed as white confectionery or coating and used widely in desserts and pastries.
White Stock
A clear, lightly colored broth prepared by simmering bones from chicken, veal, beef, or fish with vegetables and aromatic seasonings, serving as a foundation for numerous soups and sauces.
Whitewash
A simple thickening agent made from a mixture of flour and cold water, used to achieve the consistency similar to that of cornstarch in sauces and gravies.
White Wine Sauce
A refined French sauce composed of a velouté base enhanced with fish stock or chicken broth, white wine, and enriched with butter to create a smooth, emulsified finish. Also termed sauce vin blanc.
Whole Butter
Butter in its original form without clarification or fat reduction, available salted or unsalted, and preferred for its full flavor and texture in baking and cooking.
Whole Wheat
Flour produced from the entire wheat kernel or partially restored components after milling, offering higher fiber and nutrient content compared to refined flour.
Wild Rice
The seed of a native North American aquatic grass, distinct and unrelated to traditional rice. Wild rice grains are slender, dark-colored, and possess a characteristic earthy, nutty flavor. Grades include giant, fancy, and select.
Wine
An alcoholic beverage resulting from fermenting the juice of ripe fruits, predominantly grapes, with diverse varieties reflecting differing terroirs and production methods.
Wintergreen
An evergreen shrub bearing bright red berries and producing a potent oil used as a flavoring agent in confections, medicinal products, and jellies. Alternative names include checkerberry and teaberry.
Winter Melon
Also called ash gourd, this large muskmelon has a pale green rind and white flesh with a mild flavor akin to zucchini. It is widely used across various Asian cuisines in both savory and sweet preparations.
Wire Mesh Strainer
A handheld kitchen tool featuring a fine metal mesh bowl used for sifting dry ingredients or straining liquids from solids. Some models incorporate metal bands for added durability.
Wishbone
- The distinctive Y-shaped bone located between the neck and breast of poultry such as chicken or turkey.
- Refers also to the poultry cut containing this bone.
Wok
Traditional Asian cookware characterized by a round bottom and sloped sides, facilitating rapid, even heating and easy tossing. Usually equipped with two small handles or a single long handle and a domed lid.
Won Ton (WAHN tahn)
A delicate Chinese dumpling made from a thin dough wrapper filled with finely chopped mixtures of meats, seafood, poultry, or vegetables. Can be prepared by steaming, boiling, or frying and served as appetizers or in soups.
Won Ton Skins
Extremely thin dough sheets made from a combination of flour, eggs, and salt. Available in square or circular shapes, these are the outer coverings for won ton fillings.
Won Ton Soup
A savory Chinese broth, usually chicken-based, garnished with cooked won tons, sliced green onions, and occasionally additional meats or vegetables, offering a comforting and aromatic meal.
Worcestershire Sauce (WOOS-tuhr-shuhr)
Originating from Worcester, England, this tangy, dark condiment blends ingredients such as soy sauce, tamarind, garlic, onion, molasses, anchovies, vinegar, and spices. Initially developed in India for British colonials, it enhances flavor complexity in dressings, marinades, and stews.
Wrap
A contemporary American-style sandwich consisting of a flavorful filling and spread rolled inside a soft flour tortilla. Unlike traditional Mexican tortillas, these often incorporate herbs or spices for added taste.
Xanthan Gum
A versatile food additive derived through fermentation of corn syrup, widely utilized as a thickening agent, emulsifier, and stabilizer in various processed foods and gluten-free baking.
