A skewer is a thin rod of wood, bamboo, or metal used to hold pieces of meat, seafood, or vegetables together for grilling, roasting, or broiling. Skewered dishes appear across many cuisines under different names, such as kebabs in the Middle East, satay in Southeast Asia, and anticuchos in parts of Latin America, but the skewer itself is the tool, not the dish. Bamboo and wooden skewers should be soaked in water before grilling so they don't scorch; metal skewers conduct heat and can help cook food from the inside as well as the outside. Ingredients are often marinated or seasoned before skewering, since the exposed surface area picks up flavor quickly.