How to Boil Water

By eHow Food & Drink Editor

Rate: (49 Ratings)

It really doesn't matter if you watch the pot ... but turn away if it makes you feel better.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Step1
Choose a pot that's large enough to hold the amount of water you want to boil, and has a lid that fits.
Step2
Remember that the pot might have to be bigger than you'd think if you're going to add food to the water. Without enough room in the pot, for example, rice or pasta will boil over.
Step3
Place the pot on a stove burner and pour cold water from a measuring cup into the pot. Or, if you're doing something such as cooking pasta and don't need to measure, just run cold water from the tap into the pot, then place the pot on the burner.
Step4
Turn the burner to high. Cover the pot.
Step5
Check for steam escaping from under the lid, then lift the lid carefully to see how the water is doing.
Step6
Look at the water. If large bubbles are rising from the bottom of the pot to the surface, the water is boiling.

Tips & Warnings

  • You might be tempted to use water that's already warm or hot from the tap, but this water has been sitting in your pipes for some time, getting stale. Use cold water if you're going to drink it or cook with it.
  • Small bubbles that stay at the bottom or sides of the pot are air bubbles present in the water; they don't necessarily indicate that boiling is imminent. Wait for bubbles that rise to the top of the pot.
  • Boiling water remains at the same temperature for the entire time it's boiling.
  • Don't let your pot or kettle boil dry, or you risk ruining the pot.

Comments

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on 6/23/2008 Actually, salt raises the boiling point...something like .06 degrees per tablespoon for 6 quarts, or something small like that, but it does increase it.

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on 6/23/2008 Actually, salt raises the boiling point...something like .06 degrees per tablespoon for 6 quarts, or something small like that, but it does increase it.

mrman said

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on 3/30/2008 if you need instructions on this, you should not be allowed near any heat source.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 9/16/2006 Salt lowers the boiling point. So instead of boiling at 100 degrees C, or 212 F, the water will boil at a lower temp. Since you do not have to reach as high a temp, your water will boil faster. Additionally, adding salt makes many foods a bit tastier. Adding salt to pasta water, for example, will cause the pasta to absorb some of the salt.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 For purer water, use only cold water. The hot water picks up leached metals as it travels through the pipes.

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eHow Article:  How to Boil Water

eHow Food & Drink Editor

eHow Food & Drink Editor

Category: Food & Drink

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