sauté

American  

[soh-tay, saw-] / soʊˈteɪ, sɔ- /

adjective

1. cooked or browned in a pan containing a small quantity of butter, oil, or other fat.

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verb (used with object)

sautéed, sautéing

1. to cook in a small amount of fat; pan-fry.

noun

1. a dish of sautéed food.

sauté British  

/ ˈsəʊteɪ /

verb

1. to fry (food) quickly in a little fat

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noun

1. a dish of sautéed food, esp meat that is browned and then cooked in a sauce

adjective

1. sautéed until lightly brown

   sauté potatoes

Etymology

Origin of sauté

1805–15; < French, past participle of sauter to jump (causative: to toss) < Latin saltāre, frequentative of salīre to jump

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Explanation

To saute is to cook food over high heat, usually in butter or oil. Many recipes begin by instructing you to saute onions and garlic in olive oil. You can saute vegetables, meat, fish, or tofu. The quick, hot method of cooking browns the outer layer of food and keeps the inside flavorful. Sometimes saute is used as an adjective — you might buy your friend who loves to cook a fancy saute pan for his birthday. In French, the word sauté means "jumped" or "bounced," which also describes the way food jumps around the pan when you saute it.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sauté sautéed sautéing

If I’m really feeling it, I’ll sauté spinach and kale and put it in there.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

The first step is to sauté leeks and garlic in olive oil, butter and, crucially, a bit of white miso.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

If you don’t have a sauté pan and insist on using a saucepan, be sure to choose an appropriately sized pan based on how much sugar and fruit you plan on using.

From Salon ● Mar. 25, 2025

But with you, it’s, ‘Well, can I sauté it in brown butter?’

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2024

Wanda stood up without a word and walked over to the kitchen, joining Ekemeni as she began to sauté greens in bacon fat.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

She made a feast of steamed mussels with coconut cream sauce, rib-eye, chicken, rice and sautéed mushrooms.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026

From garlic-lemon sautéed greens to ramen topped with baby bok choy, here are a few great meals to make with just a box of chicken stock.

From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026

In one corner, sautéed bitter gourd—in another, briny sea grapes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2025

As for cooking radish greens, they can be sautéed with garlic and shallots, LaMarita suggested.

From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2025

They found the smell of new paint for a grand opening, dinner specials being simmered, sautéed, baked, or fried.

From "Betty Before X" by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson

Steaming, microwaving, or quick sautéing tends to preserve nutrients best.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

Having dishes prepared in the same kitchen sections slows things down, so the options needed to vary between broiling, sautéing and frying shrimp, and options with or without pasta.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026

A stainless steel pan is a good option to have on hand, as well; it's perfect for browning or sautéing, as well as making pan sauces.

From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2023

Try roasting, stewing, sautéing and serving over ice cream, or adding it to apple sauce recipes.

From Washington Times ● Jun. 6, 2023

In sautéing all these they must be often stirred, as you want them well cooked and yet not very brown.

From Choice Cookery by Catherine Owen

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