You’ve likely never seen a recipe calling for a roasted cake or baked beef.
But you could be forgiven for assuming that “roast” and “bake” are completely synonymous; after all, both are, in today’s kitchens, performed in a hot oven, and there are some foods (potatoes!) which can be both roasted and baked. There is, though, a difference. Sort of. Sometimes. Language is messy.
Let’s start from the beginning. The word “bake” dates back to the Proto-Germanic word bakan, which the Online Etymology Dictionary says comes from the root bhe, meaning “to warm.” “Roast,” on the other hand, comes from the word rosten, spelled in a few different ways depending on the location (in Frankish, it was hraustjan) and era, which has a more specific meaning: to cook on a grate, over an open fire, more like grilling. According to Merriam-Webster, “roast” is a more recent addition to the English language, arriving in the 1200s, just after the Norman Invasion of England. The Norman Invasion ended up Frenchifying English pretty substantially; huge numbers of words that we think of as English were either French-influenced or simply taken from the French during this period. And the Old French word for cooking over an open fire was rostir.
Both these words refer to what’s called “dry heat” cooking, meaning there’s no water involved as there would be for foods that are boiled or steamed. Prior to the invention of gas stoves, dry heat cooking was basically limited to open fires at home, putting pots directly in or hung over a fireplace. Ovens were communal; they were large and expensive and people tended to take turns using them to cook foods that couldn’t be done at home, like bread. So until gas stoves took off, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a pretty major division between roasting (done at home) and baking (done in communal or commercial ovens).
Once gas stoves became common, though, the difference between these words started to fade. After all, home cooks were now using the same appliance, in the same way, to cook baked breads, roasted meats and more. What was the difference, really?
Today, there are really only loose and frankly inconsistent definitions. Some claim that the temperature involved is part of that definition; a cake bakes at a lower temperature than a hunk of beef roasts. On the other hand, many breads require a blast of super-high heat and no native English speaker would refer to a roasted loaf of bread.
One rule that is often, but not always, followed has to do with the initial type of food. A food that does not have a set shape is baked to give it a set shape, as with cake batter turning into cake. Roasting, on the other hand, involves a food that already has a set shape (such as a chicken) simply being cooked. But this definition has issues, too: you would roast a whole chicken, but you can certainly bake a chicken breast. And potatoes are even more confusing: you can both roast and bake a potato, but a roast potato aims for crispiness, while a baked potato aims for softness. Potatoes are not at all helpful in this definition.
One rule that has fewer exceptions is the cover rule. A baked food can be covered or not covered, but a roasted food is not covered. Take this recipe for “roast leg of lamb,” which calls for covering with foil before, yep, baking. It might be a roast, but in order to cook it, you’ll have to bake it. Then there’s the curious case of the pot roast, which is actually neither baked nor roasted; it is a stew and thus braised in wet heat.
Roast still has connotations with open flame, though those have often been replaced by “grill.” If you’re camping and cooking some hot dogs or marshmallows, you might refer to that as roasting; it would never be referred to as baking. Baking often involves an enclosure in some way, whether that’s a pot with a lid or a gas oven; roasting can be done in an oven, but can also involve open flame.
Baking versus roasting is one of those linguistic challenges that anyone learning English encounters. They are different words, not really interchangeable but also certainly not with clear definitions. You just sort of have to learn when each word is typically used. Otherwise, you’ll end up with roasted cookies.
FAQs
While both methods use dry heat, the process and the temperatures can vary due to the structure of the food. Roasting gives more firm foods a crispy outer texture and caramelization, whereas baking is better for foods that start out soft, such as batters and doughs.
What is the difference between roasting and baking? ›
On the temperature front, the differences between roasting and baking are fairly cut and dry. Both roasting and baking involve cooking with dry, ambient heat, usually in an oven. Roasting temperatures are typically above 400 degrees Fahrenheit while baking temperatures are about 375 degrees and below.
What's the difference between baking and roasting potatoes? ›
The phrase “baked potato” typically refers to a whole potato being cooked in the oven with the intent of being cut open and stuffed (commonly with butter, sour cream, cheese, etc.). Roasted potatoes, on the other hand, are cut into smaller pieces and cooked in the oven until they're perfectly crispy on the outside.
What is the difference between roasting and baking a dish? ›
Roasting pans vary widely in size, but even a small one can accommodate a large enough roast to feed a small family, or could hold one or two chickens. Baking dishes tend to be smaller, because even large casseroles are smaller than a full-size turkey. Roasting pans usually include a rack, while baking dishes do not.
What is the difference between roasting and baking dinner? ›
The word bake is usually used when a dish is covered in sauce or cooked in a covered pot. Roasting is often more simple, usually involving a meat or vegetable being coated in oil or another fat, seasoned, and then cooked in an open pan or on a rack. But the word bake is commonly used for this type of preparation, too.
What is the difference between roasting and baking quizlet? ›
The difference between roasting and baking is that roasting is done with larger pieces of food, sometimes left whole, and baking is done with smaller pieces of food, usually cut up.
What are the similarities between roasting and baking? ›
Roasting and baking both require that the food is cooked uncovered so that it's the hot, dry air that delivers the heat, not steam from the food. Because it uses indirect heat, baking and roasting cook food fairly evenly since all of the food's surfaces are exposed to the heat to the same extent.
Should I roast or bake chicken? ›
Initially, "to roast" meant to cook over an open flame as in a whole chicken on a spit. Today, though, you typically roast that whole chicken in the oven — where you do your baking, too. Both methods use dry heat to cook the insides and crisp up the outsides.
Is roasting or baking healthier? ›
Both baking and roasting can be healthy cooking methods depending on the type of dishes prepared. Baking usually requires less added fat but is usually calorie-dense food. While roasting might need oil to prevent the drying out of food, the result can be nutrition rich.
What is the difference between roast and bake in an air fryer? ›
A good rule of thumb? Use a temperature about 25 degrees F lower than what you may might be accustomed to with a conventional oven: Baking in the air fryer is typically about 325 instead of 350 degrees F, roasting will be about 400 instead of 425 degrees, and so on.
Roasting pans can also double as oversized baking dishes for casseroles or cakes. But if you know Thanksgiving is the one day of the year you'll use a roasting pan, you're better off making your own DIY roasting pan and rack.
Is there a difference between roasting and baking squash? ›
Most recipes say to either bake or roast butternut squash—but what's the difference? While both cooking methods will turn the tough, raw gourd into a soft, sweet ingredient, roasting butternut squash is the more common process for achieving browned, crispy edges and a creamy interior.
What is the difference between bake and roast in a convection oven? ›
Both top and bottom heating elements are found in convection ovens, but not all heating elements are used for all cooking settings. Convection baking uses the bottom heating element almost all of the time, whereas convection roasting uses both the upper and lower heating elements.
What's the difference between roasting and baking potatoes? ›
And potatoes are even more confusing: you can both roast and bake a potato, but a roast potato aims for crispiness, while a baked potato aims for softness.
What is main difference between baking and roasting? ›
What's the Difference Between Baking and Roasting? Roasting uses the same type of all-over, dry heat as baking, but at higher temperatures between 400 and 450° F. Choose the roasting method to get thicker, tougher foods brown and crisp, and the baking method to retain moisture in thinner, more delicate foods.
Should I roast or bake a turkey? ›
Roasting a turkey in the oven is a classic technique for a first-time cook or a seasoned pro: Turkey roasting cook-time varies by weight, so check out our handy turkey cooking calculator to help you plan. Don't forget the foil tent when you're ⅔ of the way through cooking to prevent dryness!
Is it better to roast or bake meat? ›
When making foods that have a solid structure (vegetables or meats), you should roast the food. If you're making foods that aren't solid before cooking (cake, bread, etc), you should bake the food.
Should I roast or bake a chicken? ›
If you're cooking food that has a solid structure — like any type of meat or vegetables — no matter the temperature of the oven, you'll roast it. If you're cooking food that doesn't already have a solid structure, but will after it's cooked — like muffins, cake, bread, and casseroles — the proper method is baking.
Does roasting take longer than baking? ›
Baking typically requires less cooking time than roasting, making it a quicker option for many recipes, especially baked goods like cakes and cookies. 3. Roasting requires higher temperatures than baking, which can help to create a crispy exterior on the food while cooking it evenly on the inside.
Does a roaster cook the same as an oven? ›
An electric roaster oven is a portable appliance that can serve as an extra oven for cooking a turkey or large roast. Generally the cooking time and oven temperature setting are the same as for conventional cooking. Always check the roaster's use and care manual for the manufacturer's recommended temperature settings.
