How to Boil Water

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

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• water!
• Groceries
• Cooking Pots
• Pot Holders
• Teapots
• Pot holders

1. Choose a pot that's large enough to hold the amount of water you want to boil, and has a lid that fits.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Turn the burner to high. Cover the pot.

5. Check for steam escaping from under the lid, then lift the lid carefully to see how the water is doing.

6. 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.

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[boxof100rocks]

on 8/21/2009 Recently I was advised that due to some problems with the local water supply, it was best to boil all drinking water for awhile.

I found out the hard way that one should allow the water to cool prior to actually drinking it. Yowza.

[grimsleygl]

on 3/10/2009 Great article! I wondered if anyone had written an article on how to boil water and...here it is!Good going! 5*'s most definitely.

[koscadog]

on 1/10/2009 I used this method and it worked perfectly. My water came right to a boil! Amazing, thank you!!!

[Strider0793]

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.

[Strider0793]

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.