bien cocido
/bjen koθido/from spelling rules
To cook well done in Spanish is bien cocido.
This phrase is used to describe cooking food, especially meat, thoroughly so that it is no longer pink. You can also use the expression sin partes rosadas to specify that you want the food without pink parts.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bien, meaning well and cocido, meaning cooked.
Which one should you use?
While bien cocido refers to well done, if you wish to request a steak that is cooked to a medium level, the standard term is término medio.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective cocido must agree in gender with the food being described. While the default form is bien cocido, you should use bien cocida for feminine nouns, such as la carne (the meat).
Did you know?
- If you are in Spain and see cocido on a menu without further description, it often refers to a specific, traditional chickpea-based stew rather than just a state of being cooked.
- While bien cocido is understood, many Spanish speakers use the term muy hecho to describe a well-done steak.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, ordering meat bien cocido is often met with a warning from the waiter. Many chefs believe that cooking meat to this level destroys the texture and flavor.
Examples in context
- Los filetes deben cocinarse hasta que estén bien hechos.The steaks should be cooked until they are well done.
- ¿Puedes cocinar las hamburguesas bien hechas? No me gustan crudas.Can you cook the burgers well done? I don't like them raw.
- Prefiero el filete bien cocido.I prefer the steak well done.
- Asegúrate de que el pollo esté bien cocido.Make sure the chicken is well cooked.
- El salmón debe quedar bien cocido.The salmon should be well done.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are ordering dinner at a restaurant.
- DanielSofía, ¿cómo quieres tu carne?Sofía, how do you want your meat?
- SofíaLa quiero bien cocido, por favor.I want it well done, please.
- DanielYo la prefiero término medio.I prefer mine medium.
- SofíaEstá bien, Daniel.That is fine, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
