Roasts

Roasts refer to two distinct practices that share a name but arise in different contexts. In cooking, roasting is a method of dry-heat cooking used to prepare foods such as meat, potatoes, and coffee; in entertainment, a roast is an event in which a guest of honor is playfully insulted by peers, accompanied by affectionate humor and praise.

Culinary roasting involves cooking with hot air, usually in an oven or over an open flame. It relies on dry heat, browning the surface through the Maillard reaction to develop flavor and aroma. Typical steps include seasoning, bringing the item to room temperature, and roasting until an internal temperature reaches the target level; resting after cooking helps retain juices. Roasting differs from baking mainly in the intent; roasting emphasizes intense surface browning, while baking often refers to neutral-flavored goods.

Coffee roasting is another culinary form, where green beans are heated to develop flavor through chemical changes; roast levels range from light to dark.

Entertainment roasts: A roast is an event honoring someone, where invited speakers deliver good-natured, humorous insults and stories, often followed by a response from the honoree. The tradition grew in the mid-20th century in the United States and is associated with Comedy Central roasts, among other venues. A successful roast balances affection and humor, but may offend if lines are crossed; consent and appropriateness are typical considerations.

In broader usage, "roast" can refer to the act of roasting someone verbally or to the culinary process itself. Roasting as a rhetorical device appears in literature and media as a form of playful critique.