What does "cooking to order" refer to in food preparation?

The term "cooking to order" specifically refers to preparing food only after receiving a specific customer order. This method ensures that meals are freshly made and tailored to an individual's preferences or dietary needs, enhancing both flavor and food safety. Cooking to order helps to minimize waste since only the necessary amount of food is prepared based on real-time demand. It also allows for customization, which can lead to higher customer satisfaction as the meal can be adjusted based on individual requests, such as altering ingredients or preparation methods.

The other choices represent different cooking methods that focus on efficiency or preparation ahead of time rather than upon specific customer demand. Pre-cooking meals and maintaining a stock of pre-prepared meals may be beneficial in some contexts but do not align with the concept of cooking to order, which is centered on freshness and customization.