Agitate
Move food or liquid on purpose so heat, seasoning, or texture stays even.
What It Does
Agitate means to stir, shake, or move a mixture while it cooks or rests. Use enough movement to distribute heat or seasoning, but ease off when delicate pieces could break apart.
Controlled movement
Use movement to keep the mixture even.
Agitation helps distribute heat, seasoning, starch, fat, or suspended solids. Keep the motion steady and match it to the food: gentle for fragile pieces, firmer for thick mixtures.
Wikimedia Commons
Reference image
Agitate technique reference image.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Cooking Checks
What to watch
Look for even movement without damage.
Scrape corners and dense spots, then slow down if the food starts breaking, splashing, or turning pasty. For thick mixtures, pause often enough to see the actual texture.
Used In Recipes
The Best Korean Fried Chicken
Korean Fried ChickenSweet Soy or Spicy Korean Fried ChickenMedium