cuisson
/kɥi.sɔ̃/
The French word for "doneness" is cuisson.
cuisson is used to describe the extent to which a food has been cooked. When discussing meat specifically, there are different ways to specify the level of doneness, such as using à point for medium or the informal Bleu to describe meat that is cooked extremely rare.
Meaning: extent to which a food has been cooked (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables: /kɥi.sɔ̃/.
Did you know?
- When discussing the doneness of a steak, the French use the term saignant for 'medium-rare', which literally translates to 'bleeding'.
- The word cuisson shares a common ancestor with the English word 'coction', which refers to the process of boiling or heating, though 'coction' is now almost exclusively used in medical or archaic contexts.
- If you order a steak bien cuit for well-done, you are asking for a cuisson that some traditional French chefs consider a culinary error because it destroys the meat's texture.
Examples in context
- Je préfère ma viande saignante, s'il vous plaît.I prefer my meat rare, please.
- Quel est le degré de cuisson de la viande ?What is the degree of doneness of the meat?
- La cuisson de ce poulet est parfaite.The doneness of this chicken is perfect.
- Vérifiez la cuisson du poisson avant de servir.Check the doneness of the fish before serving.
Example conversation
Manon and Nathan are ordering food at a restaurant.
- ManonLe serveur demande la cuisson de ton steak.The waiter is asking for the doneness of your steak.
- NathanJe le veux à point, s'il te plaît.I want it medium, please.
- ManonD'accord, et pour moi, une cuisson saignante.Okay, and for me, a medium-rare doneness.
- NathanC'est noté, Nathan et Manon sont prêts.Got it, Nathan and Manon are ready.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cuisson, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuisson, CC BY-SA 4.0.
