Hoggirl Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 This is probably the stupidest question ever: When you are bringing water to a boil in a pot do you cover the water with a lid or not? I mean, does covering it help bring it to a boil faster? :o Told ya' it was a stupid question! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam101 Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Yes, I cover it when I'm boiling something like potatoes or frozen veggie. Helps keep the heat in. That's my thinking anyway. I boil just water in a tea kettle that doesn't even have a lid! I fill through the spout. Sounds like a good science experiment. Boiling with and without a lid. Do it several times starting with a cold pan of the same size and weight. Then you could try it with salt in the water and see if that boils faster! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggirl Posted November 20, 2009 Author Share Posted November 20, 2009 The cover helps to retain the heat and yes, it will boil faster. didn't have time for a science experiment as other posters suggested! Just wanted to get some pasta cooked. I have always boiled my water without a lid on. With an electric cooktop it takes forever to get the water boiling. I do think this helped it along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 The lid will help keep the heat in, thus speeding the increase of temperature to the boiling point and if you are using measured quantities it reduces the volume of water lost via evaporation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Salt should make the water take longer to boil, but cook the food faster since it will boil at a higher temperature. I don't remember who told me this/ where I read it, so I could be wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyThreeSons Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 It will probably be a little bit faster with a lid on. Just be careful when removing the lid -- steam burns are nasty!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa in the UP of MI Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Salt should make the water take longer to boil, but cook the food faster since it will boil at a higher temperature. I don't remember who told me this/ where I read it, so I could be wrong! True! Salt raises the boiling point of water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 And you must cook pasta in salted and hysterically boiling water anyway!:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillZ Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Also make sure the outside of the pot is dry so none of the heat energy is wasted on evaporating the drops of water. I'm not sure how much time this saves, but would be another candidate for a science experiment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Okay, here is how I boil water. Fill pot with water and place on burner set to high. Decide to peruse TWTM boards while waiting for the water to boil. Get engrossed in the boards and procrastinate. Allow water to boil until it is reduced to half. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 :lol: Only at WTM would we have two pages of replies discussing how to BOIL WATER!! In true home school style, at least one person thought to include a science experiment in the process. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 In true home school style, at least one person thought to include a science experiment in the process. LOL Just what I was thinking. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpupg Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Yes. Covering the pot raises the pressure within the pot, which is an important component (along with heat) of change of state, aka boiling. Especially at altitude, it is important. Lovedtodeath said "Okay, here is how I boil water. Fill pot with water and place on burner set to high. Decide to peruse TWTM boards while waiting for the water to boil. Get engrossed in the boards and procrastinate. Allow water to boil until it is reduced to half." :lol: Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 One reason I am on here so often is my ADD. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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