Portuguese Phrase
Seque o bife primeiro com papel-toalha.
Meaning
The sentence tells you to pat the steak dry with a paper towel before cooking it. Removing surface moisture helps the meat sear better and prevents steaming.
When to use
Use this phrase in a kitchen setting—when reading a recipe, giving cooking instructions, or offering a tip to someone preparing a steak.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sequeobifeprimeirocompapel-toalha
Imperative (Seque)
‘Seque’ is the affirmative imperative form of the verb ‘secar’ for ‘você’ (you) or ‘tu’, used to give a command.
Definite article (o)
‘o’ is the masculine singular definite article, matching the noun ‘bife’.
Noun (bife)
‘bife’ means ‘steak’; it is a masculine singular noun.
Adverb of order (primeiro)
‘primeiro’ functions as an adverb meaning ‘first’, indicating the sequence of actions.
Preposition (com)
‘com’ means ‘with’ and introduces the instrument used for the action.
Compound noun (papel‑toalha)
‘papel‑toalha’ is a compound noun meaning ‘paper towel’; the hyphen is standard in Portuguese.
🗨In Conversation
Como devo preparar o bife antes de grelhar?
How should I prepare the steak before grilling?
Seque o bife primeiro com papel-toalha.
Dry the steak first with a paper towel.
✕Common Mistakes
Seca o bife primeiro com papel-toalha.
‘Seca’ is third‑person singular present, not the command form. Use ‘Seque’ for an imperative.
Seque o bife primeiro com papel toalha.
The correct spelling is ‘papel‑toalha’ with a hyphen.
Seque bife primeiro com papel‑toalha.
Dropping the article sounds unnatural; the noun needs the definite article.
↔Alternatives
Use um papel‑toalha para secar o bife antes de cozinhar.
Use a paper towel to dry the steak before cooking.
Seque o bife com papel‑toalha antes de grelhar.
Dry the steak with a paper towel before grilling.
Antes de fritar, seque o bife usando papel‑toalha.
Before frying, dry the steak using a paper towel.
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian cuisine, patting meat dry with a paper towel is a common step to achieve a good crust on the grill or pan. Native speakers usually say ‘papel‑toalha’, not ‘guardanapo’, and the hyphenated form is preferred in written Portuguese.