gekochtes

Gekochtes is a German term that refers to food prepared by boiling or other forms of wet-heat cooking. The word derives from the past participle gekocht (cooked) and is commonly used in two ways: as a nominalized form meaning “the cooked thing” (das Gekochte) and as part of everyday phrases describing boiled items.

In linguistic terms, gekochtes is a past participle that can be nominalized to function as a noun. When used as a standalone noun, it is capitalized (das Gekochte). In everyday descriptions, however, it often appears as an attributive adjective before a noun, as in gekochte Kartoffeln or gekochtes Ei, where the capital G is not required.

Culinary usage typically places gekochtes in the category of foods prepared by boiling, simmering, or gentle poaching. It contrasts with other preparation methods such as braten (frying), backen (baking), or dämpfen (steaming). The term can cover a wide range of items, from vegetables and eggs to meat and fish, provided that the defining characteristic is that they have been cooked in water or through a moist-heat method.

Examples include gekochte Kartoffeln (boiled potatoes), ein gekochtes Ei (a boiled egg), and gekochtes Gemüse (boiled vegetables). In nutrition labeling and menu contexts, gekochtes denotes the method of preparation more than a specific recipe, signaling moisture-based cooking rather than dry heat.

See also: Kochen, past participle used as a noun, German grammar.