Usage - Prepare versus Cook

[pappup5]

Hello Instructors,

I have a small doubt regarding the usage of "cook"/"prepare"when it comes to food. I have always been under the impression that we prepare a meal and cook a food item. In summary, while referring to a specific meal prepare would be the best fit but while referring to a particular item cook would be okay.

Can you please confirm if I have the right understanding?

P.S. - I have come across multiple instances when I have seen the two words used almost interchangeably(at diners, hotels and even in newspaper articles).

Thanks

[RonPurewal]

if a meaning difference is essential for this exam, it will be a BIG difference.

DO NOT pay attention to small nuances of meaning on this exam!
if you do, then there is a probability of exactly 100.0000% that you are being distracted from much more fundamental (and more straightforward) issues.

[RonPurewal]

–– NOTHING IN THIS POST IS RELEVANT TO THE GMAT EXAM ––

it's possible for either verb ("prepare" or "cook") to be used with either object (meal or specific food item).

there's nothing to memorize or "learn" here; you just have to think about what these words literally mean. that's all.

• if you're actually preparing something-- i.e., getting it ready-- then you're, well, "preparing" it.
obviously one can "prepare" an entire meal, but there are also plenty of individual food items that need "preparation", too. (you could "prepare" fish, for instance, by removing the head and tail to leave behind a fillet. or you could "prepare" strawberries by cutting off the inedible tops. etc.)

• "cooking" means, well, cooking.
it's possible to cook individual items; it's also possible to cook entire meals.

–– again, NOTHING IN THIS POST IS RELEVANT TO THE GMAT EXAM ––

[pappup5]

Thank you Ron for the clarification.

[RonPurewal]

sure.