How is cooking different from food preparation?

While cooking and food preparation are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. Here's the key difference:

Food preparation encompasses all the steps involved in getting food ready to eat. This includes:

* Cleaning: Washing fruits, vegetables, and meats.

* Chopping and slicing: Cutting ingredients into the desired size and shape.

* Measuring: Accurately measuring ingredients for recipes.

* Mixing: Combining ingredients, often using a whisk, mixer, or your hands.

* Assembling: Arranging ingredients for dishes like salads or sandwiches.

Cooking, on the other hand, specifically refers to applying heat to food to change its texture, flavor, and/or kill bacteria. This includes methods like:

* Baking: Cooking in an oven.

* Boiling: Cooking in simmering water.

* Frying: Cooking in hot oil.

* Grilling: Cooking over direct heat.

* Steaming: Cooking with steam.

In summary:

* Food preparation is the broader term, covering all steps from cleaning to assembling.

* Cooking is a specific part of food preparation that involves applying heat to food.

Think of it like this:

* Food preparation: Preparing the ingredients for a cake.

* Cooking: Baking the cake in the oven.

It's also worth noting that some food preparation steps might not involve any cooking, like preparing a salad. In this case, the salad is fully prepared without any heat being applied.