Which term describes partially cooking food in water to soften it before finishing by another method?

• A. Parboiling
• B. Blanching
• C. Simmering
• D. Boiling

Answer: (A)

Partial cooking in hot water to soften the food before finishing by another method is parboiling. This technique starts the cook process in water just enough to tenderize the item, and then you finish it with a separate method like frying, roasting, or grilling to reach full doneness. It’s different from blanching, which is a quick heat treatment used mainly to loosen skins, set color, or brighten vegetables and is usually followed by cooling. Simmering and boiling describe cooking in water to completion, with simmering being gentler and boiling more vigorous; neither is meant to produce a partial cook for a separate final step. Parboiling fits the description because it’s about partially cooking in water to soften before finishing by another method.