The term 'scorches' can be defined by the crossword solutions of roasts, CHARS, burns, SEARS, and SINGES. Roasting is a cooking method that involves exposing food to direct heat, usually in an oven or over an open flame. Charring is a cooking technique that involves burning food until it is blackened. Burning is the process of damaging something with fire. SEARS is a cooking technique that involves exposing food to intense heat for a short period of time. Singeing is a cooking technique that involves exposing food to a flame to burn off the hair or feathers. All of these techniques involve exposing food to heat, which is what scorching is.