To form or develop a crust on the surface of something, usually through drying or cooking.
From Latin crusta meaning 'crust' or 'shell,' plus the verb suffix -ate meaning 'to make' or 'to become.' It describes the action of crust formation.
When you roast meat and it crustates, you're creating a flavorful outer layer through a chemical reaction called the Maillard reaction, which is the same browning that makes toast smell amazing.
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