soaks

Soaks is the plural of soak, referring to either the act of immersing something in liquid or to an immersion itself. The term is used in several domains, including personal care, cooking, textiles, and agriculture. A soak can be a brief dip in water or a longer period of saturation during preparation or treatment.

In personal care, a soak typically means a bath or footbath intended to cleanse, relax, or soften skin. Common additives include Epsom salts, minerals, essential oils, or herbal infusions. Typical durations range from 5 to 30 minutes, and water temperatures are chosen to suit comfort and safety, often warm rather than hot. People with certain medical conditions may be advised to avoid hot soaks or to seek professional guidance.

Cooking and food preparation use soaking to soften or hydrate ingredients such as beans, lentils, grains, dried fruit, or rice. Soaking can also improve texture or reduce cooking time. Some recipes involve soaking in brines or flavored liquids to contribute moisture and taste.

In textiles, fabrics are soaked in water with detergents, dyes, or mordants to clean, dye, or set color. Soaking also occurs in horticulture and biology, where soil or materials may be soaked to hydrate or to extract compounds.

Historically, soaks have been used in hygiene and healing traditions, and in modern contexts they appear in spa practices, medical care, and culinary techniques.