Boil vs Cook

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

	Boil	Cook
Meaning	To heat a liquid until it makes bubbles and turns to steam.	To prepare food by heating it.
CEFR level	A2	A1
Part of speech	verb	verb
Usage notes	Used in cooking contexts, especially for foods like eggs or pasta. Avoid using 'boil' in informal conversations unless discussing food preparation.	Use 'cook' when talking about making meals. It's common in everyday conversation. Avoid using it in very formal writing unless discussing culinary skills.

Frequently asked questions: Boil vs Cook

What's the difference between "Boil" and "Cook"?

"Boil" means: To heat a liquid until it makes bubbles and turns to steam. "Cook" means: To prepare food by heating it.

When should I use "Boil" and "Cook"?

They can all be used in everyday English.

Are "Boil" and "Cook" the same CEFR level?

"Boil" is at A2, "Cook" is at A1 on the CEFR scale.