Basic Details
Word: Blanch
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To briefly boil food, especially vegetables, and then put them in cold water.
Synonyms: Scald, parboil, whiten
Antonyms: Brown, sear
Idioms and Phrases
- Catch someone off guard: To surprise someone, often leaving them feeling embarrassed or unprepared. Example: "The sudden question about his cooking skills really caught him off guard."
- To blanch at something: To react with shock or dismay at something. Example: "She blanched at the thought of trying the spicy dish for the first time."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Before making the salad, she decided to blanch the green beans to keep their vibrant colour.
Example 2: The chef taught us how to blanch the tomatoes to easily remove their skins.
Example 3: If you blanch the vegetables first, they will retain their crunchiness in the stir-fry.
Fun Fact
The word "blanch" comes from the Latin word "blancus," which means "white." This refers to the process of food turning paler when it is blanched.
Famous Quote
"Cooking is like love; it should be entered into with abandon or not at all." Harriet Van Horne
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "blanch" mean?
a) To bake food thoroughly
b) To briefly boil food
c) To freeze food
d) To serve food raw
Answer: b) To briefly boil food
2. Which of these is a synonym of "blanch"?
a) Roast
b) Scald
c) Fry
d) Grill
Answer: b) Scald
3. Which of the following describes an antonym of "blanch"?
a) Chilling food
b) Searing food
c) Covering food
d) Baking food
Answer: b) Searing food
4. Which sentence uses "blanch" correctly?
a) He will blanch the chicken in the oven.
b) She decided to blanch the carrots for the stew.
c) The chef likes to blanch the fish on the grill.
d) They will blanch the cake before serving.
Answer: b) She decided to blanch the carrots for the stew.
5. Which idiom means to react with shock?
a) To blanch at something
b) To catch someone off guard
c) To bite off more than one can chew
d) To be in hot water
Answer: a) To blanch at something
