Cookery, also known as cooking or the culinary arts, is the art, science, and craft of preparing food by applying heat to make it more palatable, digestible, nutritious, or safe to eat

. It involves various techniques such as baking, roasting, frying, grilling, boiling, steaming, smoking, and sous vide, among others, which differ by heat level, moisture, and cooking time

. Cookery is both a practical activity and a cultural universal found in all human societies, practiced by individuals at home and by professional chefs in restaurants

. It encompasses the skill and knowledge required to prepare food, which can be learned through cookery classes or courses

. In addition to referring to the practice or art of cooking, "cookery" can also mean a place equipped for cooking, such as a kitchen or cookhouse, particularly in American and Canadian English usage

. In summary, cookery is:

• The art or practice of preparing and cooking food using various heat-based methods.
• A cultural and everyday activity integral to human life.
• Sometimes used to denote a cooking place or kitchen.

This definition is supported by multiple dictionary sources and encyclopedic entries