A list of words and phrases used in recipes, and what they really mean

Word or Phrase

Punch down

What it means

When you make a dough containing yeast you have to leave it to rise for a while. The yeast makes tiny bubbles of gas and this makes the dough grow larger. Some recipes ask you to flatten the dough by punching it down. So, with the dough on a firm surface, you really do punch it! Hit it firmly but not too hard. This will squash the dough and force lots of the bubbles of gas out of the mixture. When the mixture has gone back to its original size, stop hitting it.