Describing Food - Adjectives English Vocabulary

 There are many ways to describe food.

How is the taste of a lemon different from a roast? What is the difference between spicy and hot?

Here is a list of common adjectives to describe food with example sentences.

Adjectives to Describe Food in English

bitter = a strong, sharp taste that is not sweet.

• Black coffee without sugar is often bitter.

bland = it is unseasoned or has an uninteresting taste. It seems to be without any flavour.

• Most rice cakes are bland when eaten alone.

chewy = food that you have to chew a lot before swallowing.

• Toffee is chewy.

creamy = thick and smooth like cream or with the same consistency. Contains a lot of cream.

• Hot creamy soups are great on a cold winter day.

crispy = has a firm, dry, and brittle surface or texture.

• We had some crispy bacon for breakfast.

crumbly = breaks into little pieces easily.

• Use a plate for that cookie because it is crumbly.

crunchy = hard and makes a sharp sound when you bite it.

• My kids love crunchy food like carrots.

delicious = has a very pleasant taste. It is appetizing.

• This cheesecake is delicious. Can I have some more?

dry = has no juice or very little juice inside of it.

• I think you cooked the turkey for too long because it is dry.

fresh = recently produced or picked. It is not frozen or preserved (for example in tins/cans).

• These peas are fresh. I have only just picked them.

greasy = food that has been fried a lot and still has a lot of / too much oil or grease.

• These French fries are very greasy.

healthy = gives the nutrients you need to maintain your health, feel good, or give you energy.

• Fruit and vegetables are examples of healthy food.

hot = 1. food that has just finished cooking and hasn't cooled down. 2. Usually contains chillies or curry that leave a burning sensation in your mouth.

• I love a hot curry every now and then.

juicy = it contains a lot of (natural) juice.

• This orange is so sweet and juicy.

mashed = reduced to a soft pulpy state by crushing or squashing.

• We had some mashed potatoes with our meat.

mild = not spicy. It does not have a strong taste or smell. It is easy to digest.

• I prefer mild cheese instead of strong types of cheese.

nutty = tasting of or containing nuts such as peanuts, walnuts, almonds, etc.

• I often make cakes with a nutty flavor this time of year.

raw = food that has not been cooked. It is in its original state.

• Sashimi consists of raw fish sliced into thin pieces.

rich = contains a lot of fat, dairy products, or eggs, etc. and it makes you feel full quickly.

• This chocolate cake is very rich.

ripe = fruit or crops that have matured enough to eat.

• The bananas are ripe so we can eat them now.

roast(ed) = cooked in an oven (or over a fire) for a long time.

• We had roast chicken for dinner.

rotten = has decayed and cannot be eaten because you will become sick.

• We cannot eat those apples because they are rotten.

salty = tasting of salt or that has been preserved in salt.

• I added too much salt to the soup and now it is too salty.

seasoned = has seasonings added to it (salt, pepper, etc.) to improve the flavor.

• The seasoned steak was ready to be cooked.

savory / savoury = tasting of salt and/or spices. Category of food that is not sweet.

• You can bring either a savory dish or a dessert.

sour = has an acidic taste like lemon or fruit that is not ready to eat.

• You should add more sugar to the drink because it's sour.

spicy = has a strong taste because spices (such as ginger, cumin, etc.) have been added to it.

• Chorizos are a type of spicy sausage.

stale = not fresh and is unpleasant to eat. Typically used to describe old bread or cake.

• The bread is stale so we have to buy some more.

sweet = a pleasant taste that is characteristic of sugar or honey.

• Chocolate and ice cream are examples of sweet food.

syrupy = thick, sticky and sometimes sweet like syrup.

• Liquid honey is an example of a syrupy spread for toast.

tasteless = it does not have any taste or noticeable flavor.

• These crackers are tasteless.

tender = easy to chew or cut through, typically of meat.

• This steak is so tender

Source:https://www.vocabulary.cl/english/describing-food.htm