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Prepositions after verbs

Cook for, in, with, on or at?

Different prepositions after cook express purpose, place, ingredients, equipment, or location.

Quick answer

Which preposition should you use with cook?

Use cook for for the person receiving the meal, cook in for a container or place, cook with for ingredients or tools, cook on for a surface or appliance, and cook at for a location.

I cooked dinner for my parents.
The rice is cooking in a large pot.
She cooks with fresh herbs every day.
We cooked burgers on the grill.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
cook for + person

Preparing food for someone

Use for to show who receives the meal.

He cooked lunch for the guests.
She loves cooking for her family.
2
cook in + container or place

Showing where food is cooked

Use in for containers, ovens, pans, or rooms.

The soup cooked slowly in a heavy pot.
They cooked the fish in the oven.
3
cook with + ingredient or tool

Showing ingredients or equipment

Use with for ingredients, oils, spices, or cooking tools.

She cooks with olive oil.
He cooked the sauce with a wooden spoon.
4
cook on + appliance or surface

Showing the cooking surface

Use on for stoves, grills, or burners.

We cooked the vegetables on a gas stove.
They cook outside on the barbecue weekends.
5
cook at + location

Showing the place where someone cooks

Use at for restaurants, homes, schools, or events.

She cooks at a local café.
He learned to cook at school.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
cook for
I cooked for ten people.
prepare food for someone
cook in
The beans cooked in a clay pot.
show a container or enclosed place
cook with
She cooks with garlic and ginger.
show ingredients or tools
cook on
We cooked on a portable stove.
show a cooking surface or appliance
cook at
He cooks at a hotel restaurant.
show a location

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using on for ingredients

Use with for ingredients.

✕ She cooks on butter and herbs. ✓ She cooks with butter and herbs.

Using in for the recipient

Use for to show who receives the meal.

✕ He cooked dinner in his friends. ✓ He cooked dinner for his friends.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She cooked pasta ___ a large pan.
2. They often cook ___ their grandparents on Sundays.
3. We cooked the fish ___ the grill.

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Frequently asked questions

Can cook with refer to tools?

Yes. You can cook with a knife, pan, or other equipment.

What is the difference between cook in and cook on?

In usually refers to a container or enclosed place, while on refers to a surface or appliance.

Can I say cook at home?

Yes. At is commonly used for locations such as at home or at a restaurant.

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