煮熟 (zhǔ shú) is a verb meaning 'to cook until done' — specifically, to heat food in water or another liquid until it reaches a safe, edible, and fully cooked state. The first character 煮 means 'to boil' or 'to cook by simmering or boiling', while 熟 means 'cooked', 'ripe', or 'done'. Together, they emphasize the completion of the cooking process, not just the act of heating. This term is commonly used for foods that must be thoroughly cooked for safety or texture, such as meat, rice, noodles, or vegetables.

Unlike general cooking verbs like 做饭 (zuò fàn, 'to cook a meal') or 炒 (chǎo, 'to stir-fry'), 煮熟 focuses on the result — full doneness — rather than method or cuisine. It often appears in instructions, health advice, or food safety contexts, especially when emphasizing that food must be cooked all the way through to avoid illness. It’s neutral in register and widely understood across dialects and age groups.