食材

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 食材 (しょくざい) is food used as an ingredient in cooking. It appears as supplies on hand and ingredients chosen for seasonality.
• Basic usage: Dinner is made from what remains in the refrigerator; seasonal ingredients bring a sense of the time of year.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Using available supplies and selecting ingredients in season
  • 冷蔵庫にある食材 is available inventory, while 旬の食材 is produce or food suited to its season. The focus is on cooking components rather than the completed dish.