Baste
verb
Pour juices or melted fat over (meat) during cooking to keep it moist.
Don't forget to baste the turkey every half hour.
Often appears as...
- baste the turkey
- baste the roast
verb
Sew loosely with large running stitches to hold together temporarily.
Before you permanently sew the fabric, baste the pieces together to see if they fit.
Often appears as...
- baste the seams
- baste the quilt
Usage tips
Technical
verb
Beat or thrash (someone).
He threatened to baste me if I didn't hand over the money.
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
verb
Pour juices or melted fat over (meat) during cooking to keep it moist.
Don't forget to baste the turkey every half hour.
Often appears as...
- baste the turkey
- baste the roast
verb
Sew loosely with large running stitches to hold together temporarily.
Before you permanently sew the fabric, baste the pieces together to see if they fit.
Often appears as...
- baste the seams
- baste the quilt
Usage tips
Technical
verb
Beat or thrash (someone).
He threatened to baste me if I didn't hand over the money.
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Cooking Context
Used when discussing culinary techniques, especially for keeping meat juicy.
I basted the brisket to maintain its succulence.
Pro Tip 2/3Flavor Enhancement
Basting can add flavor as well as moisture to the food.
She basted the chicken with garlic butter for extra taste.
Pro Tip 3/3Frequent Action
The act of basting is often done several times during cooking.
Remember to baste every 20 minutes.
Pro Tip 1/3Cooking Context
Used when discussing culinary techniques, especially for keeping meat juicy.
I basted the brisket to maintain its succulence.
Pro Tip 2/3Flavor Enhancement
Basting can add flavor as well as moisture to the food.
She basted the chicken with garlic butter for extra taste.
Pro Tip 3/3Frequent Action
The act of basting is often done several times during cooking.
Remember to baste every 20 minutes.
Pro Tip 1/3Cooking Context
Used when discussing culinary techniques, especially for keeping meat juicy.
I basted the brisket to maintain its succulence.
Pro Tip 2/3Flavor Enhancement
Basting can add flavor as well as moisture to the food.
She basted the chicken with garlic butter for extra taste.
Pro Tip 3/3Frequent Action
The act of basting is often done several times during cooking.
Remember to baste every 20 minutes.
Never forget "Baste"
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Quote examples
Padma Lakshmi
Indian Chef
One thing that happens when you're pregnant is that as your stomach starts to stretch. It itches! So I have to keep my belly really lubricated. Every morning, there's a buttering ceremony after I get out of the shower. It's really like basting a turkey with body butter.
Quote examples
Isabella Bird
English Explorer
The kimono, haori, and girdle, and even the long hanging sleeves, have only parallel seams, and these are only tacked or basted, as the garments, when washed, are taken to pieces, and each piece, after being very slightly stiffened, is stretched upon a board to dry.
Quote examples
Jennifer Lee
American Journalist
In deference to American traditions, my family put our oven to rare use at Thanksgiving during my childhood, with odd roast-turkey experiments involving sticky-rice stuffing or newfangled basting techniques that we read about in magazines.
Quote examples
Alton Brown
American Entertainer
Basting is evil. Basting does nothing for the meat. Why? Skin. Skin is designed to keep stuff out of the bird, so basting just lets heat out of the oven. That means the turkey will take longer to cook... so don't touch that door!
Quote examples
Claire Saffitz
American Editor
Generally I don't find that basting does a lot of anything! I think what makes the most difference is treating the turkey ahead of time with a dry brine. It really does provide a very moist result.
Quote examples
Grant Wood
American Artist
You can do anything with beer that you can do with wine. Beer is great for basting or marinating meat and fish.
Quote examples
Alex Guarnaschelli
American Chef
Repeatedly opening the oven - or worse, taking out the turkey to baste it - slows down the momentum of cooking.
Quote examples
Maggie Stiefvater
American Author
I feel like I have so many stories basting in my mind, and they come busting out when they're ready.
Quote examples
Tracy Morgan
American Actor
My sense of humor is a turkey, and I pull it out of the oven and baste it in reality.
Quote examples
Padma Lakshmi
Indian Chef
One thing that happens when you're pregnant is that as your stomach starts to stretch. It itches! So I have to keep my belly really lubricated. Every morning, there's a buttering ceremony after I get out of the shower. It's really like basting a turkey with body butter.
Quote examples
Isabella Bird
English Explorer
The kimono, haori, and girdle, and even the long hanging sleeves, have only parallel seams, and these are only tacked or basted, as the garments, when washed, are taken to pieces, and each piece, after being very slightly stiffened, is stretched upon a board to dry.
Quote examples
Jennifer Lee
American Journalist
In deference to American traditions, my family put our oven to rare use at Thanksgiving during my childhood, with odd roast-turkey experiments involving sticky-rice stuffing or newfangled basting techniques that we read about in magazines.
Quote examples
Alton Brown
American Entertainer
Basting is evil. Basting does nothing for the meat. Why? Skin. Skin is designed to keep stuff out of the bird, so basting just lets heat out of the oven. That means the turkey will take longer to cook... so don't touch that door!
Quote examples
Claire Saffitz
American Editor
Generally I don't find that basting does a lot of anything! I think what makes the most difference is treating the turkey ahead of time with a dry brine. It really does provide a very moist result.
Quote examples
Grant Wood
American Artist
You can do anything with beer that you can do with wine. Beer is great for basting or marinating meat and fish.
Quote examples
Alex Guarnaschelli
American Chef
Repeatedly opening the oven - or worse, taking out the turkey to baste it - slows down the momentum of cooking.
Quote examples
Maggie Stiefvater
American Author
I feel like I have so many stories basting in my mind, and they come busting out when they're ready.
Quote examples
Tracy Morgan
American Actor
My sense of humor is a turkey, and I pull it out of the oven and baste it in reality.
Example 1 of 9
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