Cooking Trivia

120+ Best Cooking Trivia Questions & Answers

Mike Oberman

Updated: July 5th, 2023

Discover the delicious world of cooking trivia! From famous dishes to exotic ingredients, challenge yourself with medium, hard, and easy questions that will test your culinary knowledge.

General Cooking Trivia

Question: What type of nuts are used to make macarons?

Answer: Almonds

Question: What vegetable is added to eggs to make a Spanish omelette, also known as tortilla?

Answer: Potato

Question: What type of meat is pancetta?

Answer: Bacon

Question: What type of food is Gorgonzola?

Answer: Cheese

Question: Which expensive spice is taken from a crocus flower?

Answer: Saffron

Question: What is also known as Japanese horseradish?

Answer: Wasabi

Question: The piri-piri style of cooking originates in which country?

Answer: Portugal

Question: Kimchi is a pickled vegetable dish from which country?

Answer: Korea

Question: Halloumi cheese comes from which Mediterranean island?

Answer: Cyprus

Question: Manchego cheese is made with milk from which animal?

Answer: Sheep

Question: Which type of meat can be 'spatchcocked', meaning split open for grilling?

Answer: Chicken

Question: Kippers are a smoked variety of which fish?

Answer: Herring

Question: Poussin is a type of which meat?

Answer: Chicken

Question: Often added to dishes for saltiness, what is an anchovy?

Answer: Fish

Question: What type of ingredient is Nduja?

Answer: Sausage

Question: Which plant is often candied and used by cooks to decorate cakes?

Answer: Angelica

Question: Rosti is a Swiss dish made from which vegetable?

Answer: Potato

Question: What is mixed with mashed potato to make the Irish dish of colcannon?

Answer: Cabbage

Question: Cavolo Nero is a type of which vegetable?

Answer: Cabbage

Question: Which vegetable is also known as endive?

Answer: Chicory

Food Origins Trivia

Question: Feta is a type of which food?

Answer: Cheese

Question: A famous variety of artichoke is named after which Middle Eastern city?

Answer: Jerusalem

Question: Blinis are small savory pancakes from which country?

Answer: Russia

Question: Gnocchi are small potato dumplings from which country?

Answer: Italy

Question: Panettone is a traditional cake from which country?

Answer: Italy

Question: Sourdough is a type of which food?

Answer: Bread

Question: Blueberries are native to which continent?

Answer: North America

Question: Agar agar is added to dishes to make them do what?

Answer: Set

Question: Up until the Middle Ages, which popular vegetable was always purple in color?

Answer: Carrot

Question: Plantain is an unsweet version of which fruit?

Answer: Banana

Cooking Techniques Trivia

Question: What cooking technique involves soaking meat in oil, wine, herbs, or garlic?

Answer: Marinate

Question: Which cooking term means to plunge vegetables into boiling water briefly, then into iced water?

Answer: Blanch

Question: Cooking 'en papillote' involves wrapping food in what?

Answer: Paper

Question: Which cooking term means to cook meat for a long time at a low temperature?

Answer: Braise

Question: What cooking technique involves quickly submerging food in boiling water, then transferring it to ice-cold water to stop the cooking process?

Answer: Blanching

Question: What is the technique called when you cook food in hot oil or fat over high heat, often in a shallow pan?

Answer: Sautéing

Question: Which cooking technique involves cooking food by placing it on a heated metal surface, typically with oil or fat?

Answer: Pan-frying

Question: What is the technique called when you cook food slowly in liquid at a low temperature for a long period of time?

Answer: Braising

Question: Which technique involves cooking food by placing it on a grill over an open flame or heat source?

Answer: Grilling

Question: What is the term for cooking food in a sealed bag in a water bath at a precise temperature for an extended period of time?

Answer: Sous vide

Question: Which cooking technique involves heating sugar until it melts and caramelizes, resulting in a golden or amber color?

Answer: Caramelization

Question: What is the technique called when you cook food in a covered pot with a small amount of liquid, typically over low heat?

Answer: Simmering

Question: Which technique involves partially cooking food in boiling water and then finishing it by cooking in a dry heat source, such as an oven or grill?

Answer: Parboiling

Question: What is the technique called when you cook food in a covered pot or dish with a small amount of liquid and steam trapped inside?

Answer: Baking

Cooking Shows Trivia

Question: Which cooking show features host Gordon Ramsay's intense culinary challenges and pressure-filled kitchen environment?

Answer: Hell's Kitchen

Question: Which cooking show follows a format where contestants are given a mystery box of ingredients to create unique dishes within a limited time?

Answer: MasterChef Australia

Question: In which cooking competition do contestants face off in timed challenges to create delicious meals using specific ingredients?

Answer: Chopped

Question: Which cooking show features renowned chef Bobby Flay competing against talented chefs in their signature dishes?

Answer: Beat Bobby Flay

Question: Which cooking show showcases home cooks competing in a series of elimination challenges to win the title of "America's Best Home Cook"?

Answer: America's Best Home Cook

Question: In which cooking show do contestants prepare gourmet dishes under the guidance of culinary experts and face eliminations each week?

Answer: Top Chef

Question: Which cooking show features teams of amateur bakers competing against each other in challenges to impress the judges with their baking skills?

Answer: The Great British Bake Off

Question: In which cooking show do contestants face off in a high-stakes dessert competition, aiming to impress the judges with their sweet creations?

Answer: Sugar Rush

Question: Which cooking show focuses on transforming amateur cooks into skilled chefs through intense culinary training?

Answer: Worst Cooks in America

Question: In which cooking show do celebrity chefs mentor and guide aspiring young cooks in a competition to become the best junior chef?

Answer: MasterChef Junior

Question: Which cooking show features host Padma Lakshmi leading contestants through culinary challenges inspired by different global cuisines?

Answer: Top Chef

Question: In which cooking competition do chefs battle against each other to create the best dish using a secret ingredient revealed in each round?

Answer: Iron Chef America

Question: Which cooking show features host Alton Brown teaching viewers the science and technique behind cooking various dishes?

Answer: Good Eats

Question: In which cooking show do contestants compete in challenges to impress a panel of judges and win the title of "Food Network Star"?

Answer: Food Network Star

Sauces & Condiments Trivia

Question: Which herb is made into a sauce and served with lamb?

Answer: Mint

Question: Which ingredient can be red, green, Scotch Bonnet, or Birdseye?

Answer: Chili

Question: A coulis is a smooth sauce made from which type of food?

Answer: Fruit

Question: What flavor would an Aïoli sauce have?

Answer: Garlic

Question: What is the term which means your pasta still has a little bite to it?

Answer: Al dente

Question: Which condiment can be English, French, or Dijon?

Answer: Mustard

Question: What color is the Greek dip called taramasalata?

Answer: Pink

Question: Tzatziki is a Greek dip containing which vegetable?

Answer: Cucumber

Question: Harissa paste comes from which part of the world?

Answer: North Africa

Beverages Trivia

Question: Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine originating in which country?

Answer: France

Question: Tequila is an alcoholic drink from which country?

Answer: Mexico

Question: French, Italian, and Swiss are varieties of which dessert made with eggs?

Answer: Meringue

Question: What is the flavor of Pernod?

Answer: Aniseed

Question: In which country did Muesli originate?

Answer: Switzerland

Question: What type of berries are used to flavor gin?

Answer: Juniper

Question: Mirin is a marinade ingredient from which country?

Answer: Japan

Question: Spanish Albariño wine is often eaten with which type of dishes?

Answer: Fish

Question: What is Saké, a Japanese wine made from?

Answer: Rice

Grains & Rice Trivia

Question: Polenta is made from which grain?

Answer: Corn

Question: Quinoa is a fashionable grain food from which continent?

Answer: South America

Question: Which grain has two varieties known as pot and pearl?

Answer: Barley

Question: What type of rice would you use to make risotto?

Answer: Arborio

Question: What is the most widely consumed staple grain in the world?

Answer: Rice

Question: Which grain is commonly used to make couscous?

Answer: Wheat

Question: Arborio, jasmine, and basmati are varieties of which type of grain?

Answer: Rice

Question: What is the primary ingredient in bulgur, a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine?

Answer: Wheat

Question: Farro, quinoa, and amaranth are examples of ancient grains. True or False?

Answer: True

Question: Which grain is the main ingredient in traditional Mexican tortillas?

Answer: Corn

Question: Which rice variety is often used to make sushi?

Answer: Short-grain rice

Question: What is the key ingredient in risotto, a creamy Italian dish?

Answer: Arborio rice

Question: What is the main grain used in the classic Indian dish biryani?

Answer: Basmati rice

Question: Which grain is the primary ingredient in the popular Middle Eastern dish tabbouleh?

Answer: Bulgur wheat

Desserts & Baking Trivia

Question: Macadamia nuts come from which country?

Answer: Australia

Question: French, Italian, and Swiss are varieties of which dessert made with eggs?

Answer: Meringue

Question: What is mixed with mashed potato to make the Irish dish of colcannon?

Answer: Cabbage

Question: What nuts are used to make frangipane?

Answer: Almonds

Question: Filo pastry is often used to make dishes from which country?

Answer: Greece

Question: What is added to oil, vinegar, and lemon juice to make mayonnaise?

Answer: Egg yolks

Question: What is the main ingredient in a traditional crème brûlée?

Answer: Egg yolks

Question: What is the key ingredient in a classic Tiramisu dessert?

Answer: Mascarpone cheese

Question: What is the French term for a small, delicate pastry typically filled with cream or fruit?

Answer: Petit four

Question: Which dessert is made by layering sponge cake, fruit, and custard, topped with whipped cream?

Answer: Trifle

Question: What is the main ingredient in a classic apple pie filling?

Answer: Apples

Question: What type of pastry is used to make éclairs and cream puffs?

Answer: Choux pastry

Question: What is the primary ingredient in a traditional New York-style cheesecake?

Answer: Cream cheese

Question: Which dessert is made by baking a batter of flour, eggs, sugar, and butter?

Answer: Cake

Question: What is the primary ingredient in a classic chocolate mousse?

Answer: Chocolate

Question: Which French dessert consists of puff pastry layers filled with pastry cream and topped with powdered sugar?

Answer: Napoleon or Mille-feuille

Miscellaneous Cooking Trivia

Question: Which type of pasta is usually cooked to go with carbonara sauce?

Answer: Spaghetti

Question: Stollen is a cake from which country?

Answer: Germany

Question: Nduja is a sausage from which country?

Answer: Italy

Question: Lamb is meat from a sheep under how many months old?

Answer: 12

Question: Tahini is an ingredient made from which type of seeds?

Answer: Sesame

Question: Pilchard is a type of which food?

Answer: Fish

Question: Halibut is a type of which food?

Answer: Fish

Question: Jerk seasoning is associated with which Caribbean island?

Answer: Jamaica

Question: The tandoor oven is used in the cooking of which country?

Answer: India

Question: What type of protein does a bouillabaisse mainly contain?

Answer: Fish