overcook

verb

over·​cook ˌō-vər-ˈku̇k 

overcooked; overcooking

transitive + intransitive

: to cook (food) too much or for too long

… Americans have finally learned not to overcook their fish.

—Craig Claiborne

… relatively small pieces of meat or fish that are easily overcooked and, as a result, become dry …

—Jerry Anne Di Vecchio

… has come up with a slightly fussy method … that keeps the breast meat from overcooking.

—Jeremy Sauer

Keep testing for doneness, because it can overcook in an instant and almost disintegrate.

—Eric Hastie

Whisk together over low heat until the mixture thickens … being careful not to overcook or it will curdle.

—Larry Forgione

overcooked adjective

… serving rubbery, overcooked meals …

—James Suckling

… the vegetables … were crisp, not overcooked.

—The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-News

… as floppy as a strand of overcooked spaghetti.

—Science

Examples of overcook in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Indeed, there was a restaurant critic some years back who complained that a sea bass was overcooked one evening, and that same sea bass showed up for years afterwards in his annual round-up. —John Mariani, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024

To lower your exposure to these chemicals when grilling, use leaner cuts of meat, avoid overcooking or charring, and use a gas grill, experts said. —Cathy Cassata, Health, 29 July 2024

The shrimp wasn't overcooked, and the broccoli had plenty of seasoning. —Kristal Dixon, Axios, 17 July 2024

Using a rice cooker takes all the unpredictability out of the equation: There’s no need to babysit a pot of rice on the stovetop and no risk of under- or overcooking your rice. —Genevieve Yam, Bon Appétit, 16 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above