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

Once or twice go around the outer border of the eggs to prevent overcooking at the edges. —Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2026

This constant stirring not only prevents overcooking but also keeps the eggs' texture smooth and creamy. —Victoria Spencer, Martha Stewart, 1 Apr. 2026

The eggs set in large, but still spoonable, clusters that won’t overcook. —Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026

In this recipe, the intense heat quickly and efficiently cooks the small pieces of meat, with no need to worry about the exterior overcooking before the interior is done. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overcook

• kinderhook
• meadowbrook
• overlook
• overtook
• pocketbook
• storybook
• tillamook
• undertook
• betook
• casebook
• chapbook
• checkbook