ICSE Class 10 Cookery Syllabus 2026-27

ICSE Class 10 Cookery Syllabus 2026-27

Board: CISCE | Examination Year: 2028 | Subject: Cookery (Home Science)

Exam Structure

PART 1: THEORY — 100 Marks

1. Choice and Cost of Seasonal Foods: Merits and Intelligent Use of Convenience Foods

(a) Choice and Cost of Seasonal Foods

Detailed study of food guides for proper selection and the use of seasonal foods to ensure good nutrition. Advantages of seasonal foods — during season, foods are rich in nutrients and of low cost. Is the cost of foods related to their nutritional values? Suggestion of cheaper substitutes for expensive food items, e.g. green leafy vegetables, amla, guava etc.

(b) Choice and Purchase of Perishables, Semi-perishables and Non-perishables and Their Hygienic Storage

Economical shopping: shopping at supermarkets, wholesale outlets, retail shops, street vendors — merits and demerits. Provision for hygienic storage of perishables, semi-perishables and non-perishables and use of minimum resources for maximum benefit in limited food budgets.

(c) Use of Convenient Foods, such as Tinned, Packed, Frozen and Processed Foods

Merits and demerits of using convenience foods in diets; factors for selection of foods — variety and labour and time saving. Reading labels of packed convenient foods for brand name, trademark, shelf life, dates of manufacture and expiry, food standard/quality marks such as ISI, FPO and Agmark for right choice of foods. Encouraging the use of convenience foods sparingly and use more of fresh seasonal foods for obtaining good nutrient values and avoiding preservatives in diets.

2. Meal Planning and Balanced Diets: Use of Five Food Groups as Suggested by ICMR

(a) Objectives of Meal Planning

Importance of factors like balanced diet (age, gender, occupation and health status), climatic conditions, choosing nutritionally rich but economical foods within the five food groups, storage space, seasonal variations in the diets, etc.

(b) Psychological Aspects of Food Planning

Likes and dislikes, state of mind due to stress, food fads, traditional and cultural influences on meal planning. Planning meals for festivals, special occasions and unexpected visitors.

(c) Planning Meals for Various Age Groups

Planning balanced meals according to ICMR nutrient allowances for:

• Pre-school children

• School going children

• Special needs of adolescents

• The elderly

• Pregnant and lactating women

• 
  

3. Therapeutic Diets and Planning Meals

(a) Definition of Diet Therapy, Reasons for Using Therapeutic Diets, and Types of Therapeutic Diets

Brief foundation on dietetics and diet therapy; types of diets — liquid, semi-liquid, solid and soft; treating illnesses through diets at home under the proper guidance of a medical practitioner/nutritionist. Efforts are to be made to incorporate variety and ingenuity through a discussion on various sample diets.

(b) Obesity: Causes and Diet Therapy

Factors leading to obesity, role of proper dieting habits, right choice of food, exercise and proper meal pattern. Significance of diet counselling.

(c) Planning Meals for the Invalids and Convalescents

Role of diets in treating illnesses such as fever, anaemia, diarrhea, hypertension and diabetes. Suggestions for modification in diets for invalids and convalescents, keeping in mind the health status, likes and dislikes and cultural habits.

4. Food Preservation and Storage

(a) Causes of Food Spoilage, Advantage of Food Preservation, Principles of Food Preservation

Factors for food spoilage: internal and environmental factors (micro-organisms, enzymes and insects); prevention or delay of self-decomposition of food and of microbial decomposition; advantages of food preservation. Principles involved in food preservation.

(b) Long Term and Short Term Preservation Methods at Home — Milk and Milk Products, Egg, Meat, Fish, Vegetables and Fruits

Methods for preserving foods at home — refrigeration, deep freezing, dehydration, pickling, salting, preparing squashes, juices and jams using chemical preservatives; storing garden produce.

(c) Commercial Methods for Preserving Foods — Canning, Pasteurisation and Cold Storage

Hygienic and proper storage of various food items at commercial levels for future use, reducing costs and providing variety in the diets.

5. Kitchen Planning

(a) Types of Kitchen and Work Centres

Types of kitchen layouts:

• One wall

• Two wall

• U-shaped

• Broken U-shaped

• L-shaped kitchens

• Modular kitchen

Detailed study on the four main work centres — preparation, cooking, washing, and serving. Knowledge of the basic requirements of the planned kitchen layouts, fixtures, equipment and inter-space relationship to provide efficient utilisation of space and to avoid fatigue.

(b) Factors to Be Considered While Planning a Kitchen

Contribution of proper lighting, water supply, ventilation, ceiling, floor, walls, storage fixtures and other necessary cooking items for convenient, comfortable and labour saving kitchen features, use of work simplification techniques.

(c) Safety in Kitchen

Use of proper materials for floors and walls, avoiding sharp edges on counters and proper storage for equipment, especially for sharp instruments like knives.

6. Kitchen Hygiene

(a) Food Hygiene, Food Handlers and the Food Stuffs

Rules for maintaining hygienic conditions in the kitchen and importance of personal hygiene of food handlers for providing clean food to the family members.

(b) Food Sanitation

Importance of food sanitation; related diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and dysentery. Role of proper/uncontaminated water supply.

(c) General Cleanliness of Kitchen

Regular (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly/seasonal) cleaning, ways and the materials to be used for maintaining kitchen hygiene, especially on the floors and the storage places.

(d) Disposal of Kitchen Waste

Proper procedure to be adopted for the disposal of solid and liquid waste; care of bins, sink and drains, importance of good ventilation.

(e) Household Pests

Care of food from food polluters such as cockroaches, ants, lizards and rodents, careful use of insecticide and pesticides at home. The topic creates an awareness of cleanliness within the kitchen and outside, aiming for a cleaner and safer environment during food preparations and storage.

7. Kitchen Equipment

(a) Basic Equipment for Food Preparation and Cooking

Detailed study of materials used in cooking utensils, cutting devices, and stirring equipment — selection and care of pressure cookers and pans, microwave oven, non-stick cookware, plastic-ware, microwaveproof cookware. Precautions to be followed while using them to maintain cleanliness and maximum safety in the kitchen.

(b) Equipment for Serving

Features to be kept in mind while choosing them: cost, easy to handle, safety, durability, utility, size, design and aesthetics. Care, cleaning and storage of these equipment.

(c) Table Setting and Table Service

Detailed study of the various table services, such as formal, informal, and buffet.

PART 2: INTERNAL ASSESSMENT — 100 Marks

To be assessed internally by the school.

Practical Work in Cookery

Candidates will be required to do practical work in one or more aspects of cookery. The teacher is free to assess the practical work either on the basis of continuous assessment or on the basis of periodical tests.

Minimum number of assignments:

Suggested Assignments

1. The merits, use and care of various types of kitchen equipment and utensils

2. Cooking processes: boiling, frying, steaming, baking, grilling, and stewing

3. Planning and preparation of meals for different types of people on different occasions

4. Mixing and baking bread, cakes, patties, etc.

5. Practice in the preparation of salads, pickles, juices, puddings, sweets, biscuits, etc.

6. Mixing and making chapatis, nans, etc.

7. Practice in preparation of squash, jam, etc.

8. Nutritive and healthy cooking

   
   

Final Test

In addition to the practical work, the candidates will be tested in the planning and preparation of a meal by the External Examiner.

Evaluation

The assignments/project work are to be evaluated by the subject teacher and by an External Examiner. The External Examiner may be a teacher nominated by the Head of the school, who could be from the faculty, but not teaching the subject in the section/class. For example, a Home Science teacher of Class VIII may be deputed to be an External Examiner for Class X projects.

The Internal Examiner and the External Examiner will assess the assignments independently.

The total marks obtained out of 100 are to be sent to CISCE by the Head of the school via the CAREERS portal.

Internal Assessment Marking Criteria (Grade-Based)

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