If you overcook food, you leave it on the heat for too long. The food is still food — it is not always burnt black — but it has gone past the point where it tastes or feels right.

If you overcook food如果你overcook食物, you你 leave it on the heat for too long就是把它放在火上太久。The food食物 is still food還是食物 — it它 is not always burnt black不一定會燒成黑炭 — but但已經過了 it has gone past the point where it tastes or feels right吃起來或口感對的那個點。

Vegetables can turn soft and dull. Meat can go dry and tough. Eggs can turn rubbery. Pasta can swell and stick.

Vegetables蔬菜 can turn soft and dull可能變軟變沒味道。Meat肉 can go dry and tough可能變乾變柴。Eggs蛋 can turn rubbery可能變得有橡膠感。Pasta義大利麵 can swell and stick可能會膨脹黏在一起。

This is everyday kitchen English, not a fancy word. You overcook something (a verb): the rice, the steak, the broccoli.

This這 is everyday kitchen English是日常廚房英文, not a fancy word不是什麼花俏的字。You你 overcook something (a verb)當動詞用: the rice, the steak, the broccoli把飯、牛排、花椰菜overcook。

Cooks say it as a warning, and people at home say it when dinner has sat on the stove too long. Though actually, some foods forgive you more than others: a stew can sit a long time and still be fine, but a steak or a green vegetable cannot.

Cooks廚師 say it as a warning會拿它當警告來說, and而在家裡的人 people at home則會 say it when dinner has sat on the stove too long在晚餐在爐子上放太久時這麼說。Though actually不過其實, some foods有些食物 forgive you more than others比較不會計較: a stew一鍋燉菜 can sit a long time and still be fine可以放很久還是好吃, but a steak or a green vegetable但牛排或綠色蔬菜 cannot就不行。