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.
Next Activities
See our lesson about fruit in English.
See our lesson about vegetables in English.
See our lesson about types of food in English.
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