What common kitchen practice does 'baste' refer to?

Basting is a common kitchen technique that involves applying juices, fats, or marinades to food while it cooks, particularly meat. This practice serves multiple purposes: it helps to keep the food moist and flavorful, adds richness to the dish, and can enhance the appearance of the food, often giving it a golden-brown finish.

For example, when roasting a turkey, a cook might use a baster to drizzle its own juices over the skin to ensure that it remains juicy and develops a desirable texture and color. This method is especially effective for larger cuts of meat or whole poultry that benefit from moisture during the cooking process.

While boiling food in water, heating food in oil, and steaming vegetables are all effective cooking methods, they do not involve the specific technique of applying additional liquid or fat to enhance the food's flavor and moisture content as basting does. Thus, the correct answer highlights the distinct purpose and function of the basting technique in culinary practice.