ruskistus
Ruskistus is a Finnish culinary term for the browning or toasting of foods produced by heat. It describes the change in color to brown, as well as the accompanying aroma and intensified flavor that occur during cooking. The word is derived from the Finnish stem ruske- meaning brown and the verb ruskistaa, to brown or toast. In cooking practice, ruskistus occurs in processes such as pan-searing, roasting, grilling, and toasting, as well as in the formation of crusts on bread, pastries, and roasted nuts.
The concept is closely linked to heat-induced chemical reactions that create complex flavors and brown pigments,
In non-culinary Finnish usage, ruskistus can describe surface browning caused by heat, though it is most commonly