what's cooking?

[DhBlue]

what does it actually mean?

when do people use it?

thank you!

[Rover_KE]

What does it actually mean?

When do people use it?

Thank you!

(Start all sentences with a capital letter.)

People use it when they walk into someone's house and smell something cooking.

They say 'What's cooking?'

Rover

[Heterological]

In addition, it is sometimes used more generally to mean "what's happening," even when no food is being prepared.

It is sometimes preceded by the rhyming phrase, "Hey, good-looking..."

I don't recommend you use it this way, as it's a little silly, and a non-native speaker might not have the fluency to use it ironically. You may see it in this context, however, which is why I brought it up.

[billmcd]

what does it actually mean?

when do people use it?

thank you!

In AmE generally used to inquire about what is happening (in your life, at the moment etc.). In popular usage, more recently replaced by "What's up" which does not necessarily require an answer and can be/is used more as a greeting than as an actual inquiry.