Describing Food - Adjectives

English Vocabulary

There are many ways to describe food.

How is the taste of a lemon different from a roast? What is the difference between spicy and hot?

Here is a list of common adjectives to describe food with example sentences.

Adjectives to Describe Food in English

bitter = a strong, sharp taste that is not sweet.

• Black coffee without sugar is often bitter.

bland = it is unseasoned or has an uninteresting taste. It seems to be without any flavour.

• Most rice cakes are bland when eaten alone.

chewy = food that you have to chew a lot before swallowing.

• Toffee is chewy.

creamy = thick and smooth like cream or with the same consistency. Contains a lot of cream.

• Hot creamy soups are great on a cold winter day.

crispy = has a firm, dry, and brittle surface or texture.

• We had some crispy bacon for breakfast.

crumbly = breaks into little pieces easily.

• Use a plate for that cookie because it is crumbly.

crunchy = hard and makes a sharp sound when you bite it.

• My kids love crunchy food like carrots.

delicious = has a very pleasant taste. It is appetizing.

• This cheesecake is delicious. Can I have some more?

dry = has no juice or very little juice inside of it.

• I think you cooked the turkey for too long because it is dry.

fresh = recently produced or picked. It is not frozen or preserved (for example in tins/cans).

• These peas are fresh. I have only just picked them.

greasy = food that has been fried a lot and still has a lot of / too much oil or grease.

• These French fries are very greasy.

healthy = gives the nutrients you need to maintain your health, feel good, or give you energy.

• Fruit and vegetables are examples of healthy food.

hot = 1. food that has just finished cooking and hasn't cooled down. 2. Usually contains chillies or curry that leave a burning sensation in your mouth.

• I love a hot curry every now and then.

juicy = it contains a lot of (natural) juice.

• This orange is so sweet and juicy.

mashed = reduced to a soft pulpy state by crushing or squashing.

• We had some mashed potatoes with our meat.

mild = not spicy. It does not have a strong taste or smell. It is easy to digest.

• I prefer mild cheese instead of strong types of cheese.

nutty = tasting of or containing nuts such as peanuts, walnuts, almonds, etc.

• I often make cakes with a nutty flavor this time of year.

raw = food that has not been cooked. It is in its original state.

• Sashimi consists of raw fish sliced into thin pieces.

rich = contains a lot of fat, dairy products, or eggs, etc. and it makes you feel full quickly.

• This chocolate cake is very rich.

ripe = fruit or crops that have matured enough to eat.

• The bananas are ripe so we can eat them now.

roast(ed) = cooked in an oven (or over a fire) for a long time.

• We had roast chicken for dinner.

rotten = has decayed and cannot be eaten because you will become sick.

• We cannot eat those apples because they are rotten.

salty = tasting of salt or that has been preserved in salt.

• I added too much salt to the soup and now it is too salty.

seasoned = has seasonings added to it (salt, pepper, etc.) to improve the flavor.

• The seasoned steak was ready to be cooked.

savory / savoury = tasting of salt and/or spices. Category of food that is not sweet.

• You can bring either a savory dish or a dessert.

sour = has an acidic taste like lemon or fruit that is not ready to eat.

• You should add more sugar to the drink because it's sour.

spicy = has a strong taste because spices (such as ginger, cumin, etc.) have been added to it.

• Chorizos are a type of spicy sausage.

stale = not fresh and is unpleasant to eat. Typically used to describe old bread or cake.

• The bread is stale so we have to buy some more.

sweet = a pleasant taste that is characteristic of sugar or honey.

• Chocolate and ice cream are examples of sweet food.

syrupy = thick, sticky and sometimes sweet like syrup.

• Liquid honey is an example of a syrupy spread for toast.

tasteless = it does not have any taste or noticeable flavor.

• These crackers are tasteless.

tender = easy to chew or cut through, typically of meat.

• This steak is so tender.

Next Activities

See our lesson about fruit in English.

See our lesson about vegetables in English.

See our lesson about types of food in English.

If you found this Food Descriptions Vocabulary interesting or useful, let others know about it.