Confit
noun /ˈkɒn.fiː/ — Slow-cooked and preserved in its own fat.
Definition
A cooking method in which food — most classically duck or pork — is slowly cooked and then preserved submerged in its own rendered fat at low temperature. The fat seals out air, preserving the meat for months. Confit produces exceptionally tender, richly flavored results.
Beyond the definition
Confit is patience as technique — slow, low, unhurried. The fat does what time does to everything worthwhile: it transforms.
Origin & history
French: past participle of 'confire' (to preserve); from Latin 'conficere' (to make). One of the oldest preservation techniques in French cuisine.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Duck confit crisped in a hot pan after days of preservation: the skin shatters, the meat falls apart.
She made garlic confit every Sunday — forty cloves slow-cooked in olive oil until sweet and spreadable as butter.
The restaurant was known for its duck confit — weeks of preparation for twenty minutes of cooking.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Confit” when the meaning fits your context: A cooking method in which food — most classically duck or pork — is slowly cooked and then preserved submerged in its own rendered fat at low temperature. The fat seals out air, preserving the meat for months. Confit produces exceptionally tender, richly flavored results.
Synonyms
slow-preserved, fat-cooked
Antonyms
quick-cooked, seared, raw
Related words
Confit vs poaching
Confit is a slow-cooking method specifically using fat as the medium for preservation. Poaching uses liquid like water or stock to cook food gently at lower heat.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Satisfying Moment Enjoying Rich Food
A person holds a piece of crusty bread dipped in a rich, dark sauce, showing profound, quiet pleasure in the food.
Confit is a method involving slow cooking and preservation in fat. The resulting tenderness and depth are mirrored in the person's expression of quiet satisfaction, highlighting the richness produced by this method.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Confit" mean?
Confit is noun meaning: Slow-cooked and preserved in its own fat.. A cooking method in which food — most classically duck or pork — is slowly cooked and then preserved submerged in its own rendered fat at low temperature. The fat seals out air, preserving the meat for months. Confit produces exceptionally tender, richly flavored results.
Where does the word "Confit" come from?
French: past participle of 'confire' (to preserve); from Latin 'conficere' (to make). One of the oldest preservation techniques in French cuisine.