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Word list · Food & Drink

Cooking Ingredients Hangman Words

Master the building blocks of great cooking with ingredients from around the world. From basic pantry staples to exotic spices, discover the essential components that create delicious meals in kitchens everywhere.

Print the full list below — every word grouped by difficulty, ready for the whiteboard, the classroom, or family game night.

🥕 82 words Clues included 4–19 letters

Easy — up to 6 letters

21 words
Dill Feathery herb with fresh tangy flavor
Milk Dairy liquid used in cooking and baking
Mint Refreshing herb used in Middle Eastern cuisine
Sage Earthy herb popular in stuffing and sauces
Salt Essential mineral for seasoning and preservation
Anise Licorice flavored spice from Mediterranean region
Basil Aromatic herb essential in Italian cuisine
Cumin Earthy spice essential in Middle Eastern cooking
Flour Ground grain powder essential for baking
Honey Natural sweetener produced by bees
Sugar Sweet crystalline substance for baking
Thyme Small leafed herb perfect for roasted vegetables
Yeast Living organism that makes bread rise
Butter Dairy fat churned from cream for cooking
Capers Small pickled flower buds with tangy flavor
Chives Mild onion flavored herb for garnishing
Cloves Aromatic flower buds used whole or ground
Garlic Pungent bulb vegetable used worldwide
Ginger Spicy root used fresh or dried
Nutmeg Warm spice grated from seed of tropical tree
Tahini Sesame seed paste used in Middle Eastern cooking

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Medium — 7–9 letters

25 words
Mustard Condiment made from ground mustard seeds
Oregano Mediterranean herb essential in Italian cooking
Paprika Ground spice made from dried peppers
Parsley Fresh herb used for garnish and flavor
Allspice Aromatic spice from dried berries of pimento tree
Cardamom Aromatic spice pods used in Indian cooking
Cilantro Fresh herb with citrusy flavor popular in Mexican food
Cinnamon Sweet spice from bark of evergreen tree
Egg Yolks Yellow part of eggs rich in fat
Molasses Dark syrup byproduct of sugar refining
Olive Oil Oil pressed from olives essential in cooking
Rosemary Piney herb that pairs well with roasted meats
Shallots Mild onion relative with subtle sweet flavor
Soy Sauce Fermented soybean condiment from Asian cuisine
Tarragon Herb with slight licorice flavor for French cuisine
Turmeric Golden spice that colors and flavors curry
Anchovies Small salty fish used for umami flavor
Arrowroot Starchy powder used as thickening agent
Bay Leaves Dried leaves that add subtle flavor to stews
Coriander Seeds from cilantro plant used as spice
Egg Whites Clear protein part of eggs for meringues
Fish Sauce Fermented fish condiment popular in Asian cooking
Lemon Zest Grated outer peel of lemon for aroma
Lime Juice Tart citrus juice popular in Mexican cooking
Sesame Oil Nutty flavored oil pressed from sesame seeds

Hard — 10+ letters

36 words
Baking Soda Sodium bicarbonate used for leavening
Brown Sugar Sugar with molasses that adds moisture
Celery Salt Seasoning blend of ground celery and salt
Cornstarch Fine powder used to thicken sauces
Heavy Cream High fat dairy product for rich sauces
Lemon Juice Acidic citrus juice for bright flavor
Maple Syrup Sweet syrup tapped from maple trees
Mayonnaise Creamy emulsion of eggs oil and vinegar
Orange Zest Grated outer peel of orange for flavor
Black Pepper Most common spice ground from peppercorns
Breadcrumbs Ground dried bread used for coating
Chili Powder Spice blend with ground chilies and cumin
Coconut Milk Creamy liquid extracted from coconut meat
Curry Powder Spice blend popular in Indian cuisine
Fennel Seeds Licorice flavored seeds used in cooking
Horseradish Pungent root vegetable used as condiment
Onion Powder Dried ground onions for seasoning
Peppercorns Whole black pepper berries for grinding
Rice Vinegar Mild vinegar made from fermented rice
Sesame Seeds Small nutty seeds used as garnish
Tomato Paste Concentrated tomato puree for rich flavor
White Pepper Milder pepper with different heat profile
Baking Powder Chemical leavening agent for baked goods
Chicken Broth Liquid base made from simmered chicken bones
Vegetable Oil Neutral cooking oil for frying and baking
Almond Extract Concentrated flavoring made from bitter almonds
Cayenne Pepper Hot ground spice from dried chili peppers
Parmesan Cheese Hard Italian cheese grated over dishes
Vanilla Extract Aromatic flavoring made from vanilla beans
Artichoke Hearts Tender center of artichoke vegetable
Balsamic Vinegar Dark Italian vinegar aged in wooden barrels
Red Pepper Flakes Crushed dried chili peppers for heat
Italian Seasoning Herb blend with oregano basil and thyme
White Wine Vinegar Light vinegar made from fermented wine
Apple Cider Vinegar Fermented apple juice used in cooking
Worcestershire Sauce Complex fermented condiment with umami flavor

Using this list in class

Split the class into two teams and alternate words from the Easy group, saving the Hard words for tie-breakers. Reading the clue aloud after the first wrong guess keeps younger players in the game.

Playing solo? Play the Cooking Ingredients topic online — same words, six wrong guesses, confetti when you win.