Puree: meaning, definitions and examples

Puree refers to food that has been blended, typically vegetables or fruits, to a smooth and creamy consistency, often used in soups, sauces, and baby foods.

• He made a delicious carrot puree to pair with the roast chicken
• Baby food often comes in a puree form for easy consumption

Paste is a thick, sticky substance often made from crushed ingredients like nuts, seeds, or beans. It is frequently used in cooking and baking, especially for its binding properties.

• The recipe calls for tahini paste, which is made from ground sesame seeds
• They used tomato paste as a base for the pizza sauce

Mash involves crushing or beating food, especially potatoes or other vegetables, to a soft, uneven, lumpy consistency. This word is often used in casual or comfort food recipes.

• She prepared a side of creamy mashed potatoes for dinner
• Don't forget to mash the bananas before adding them to the batter

Pulp refers to the soft, moist, somewhat fibrous part of fruit or vegetables after crushing or blending, often used in reference to juicing or making smoothies.

• After juicing the oranges, she strained out the pulp
• Apple pulp can be used to make homemade applesauce

Used when food is blended until it is completely smooth and has a creamy consistency. Often used in cooking or making baby food.

• She made a carrot puree for the baby's lunch
• The chef prepared a delicious tomato puree for the pasta

Used when combining ingredients together until they are mixed uniformly. Can refer to mixing liquids and solids to form a smooth texture but not necessarily creamy.

• Blend the fruits with yogurt to make a smoothie
• She blended the spices to create a new flavor

Crushing involves breaking down ingredients into smaller pieces but not necessarily making them completely smooth. Often used for making smaller chunks out of larger items.

• Crush the garlic cloves before adding them to the sauce
• The recipe calls for crushed ice to make the drink

Mashing involves pressing or beating food until it becomes soft and somewhat smooth but usually still has some texture. Commonly done with vegetables, especially potatoes.

• Mash the boiled potatoes with butter and milk
• She mashed the bananas to add to the batter