You might think that boiling water is the easiest part of cooking. Well, it should be but it sometimes takes longer than expected.
There’s an old saying, “A watched pot never boils.” We’re not sure that this is very scientific but we will tell you some good reasons why your water may be taking too long to boil.
Boiling water is needed for cooking everyday things like pasta, rice, and vegetables. Read on and learn how to get your water boiling as fast as possible!
6 Ways to Fix Water Not Boiling Fast
1. Interior of the pot
When you need to boil water, you need to make sure that the interior side of the pot is smooth with no scratches or pitting. This is because water molecules need to be heated up consistently to boil properly.
If the inner side of the pot is rough, the water may take a long time to boil. So, use a pot with a smooth interior. In addition, make sure that the interior has a clean surface.
When it comes to the type of pot, you should try using a stainless-steel pot for boiling water because it promises good heat conduction and quick heating.
Even more, stainless steel pots have a thin construction. Avoid heavily based pots for water – save these for sautéing. Also, water won’t boil quickly in aluminum or cast-iron pots, so stay away from them for this purpose.
2. Stove
For everyone who needs to boil water, the type of stove also plays an important role. Glass top or electric stoves will not boil the water quickly. Gas stoves offer fast, instant, adjustable heat.
Be sure to use the highest flame when trying to boil water. It is little wonder that they are the hob of choice for top chefs around the world.
If you don’t have a gas cooker, we suggest that you boil the water in the electric kettle then transfer it to the pot. Electric kettles will boil a liter of water in about 2 minutes.
3. Size of the pot and burner must match
If you are unable to boil water quickly, you need to consider the size of the pot and compare it with that of the burner you’re using.
This is because if the burner is too small and the pot is big, the water won’t boil for a very long time. So, use the size of the pot that fits on the burner properly.
If you have a large based pot and a large burner ring, this is the ideal combination to get your water boiling rapidly.
4. Lid should be on
When you don’t put the lid on the pot, it will take a longer time to boil as much of the heat will escape. If the pot is big, and you don’t use the lid, the water might never boil.
So, we suggest that you put on the lid because it retains the heat and will get your water boiling fast. Remove it when you add your pasta. You can keep it on if you’re boiling vegetables.
5. Lukewarm water is better to start with than cold
In cases where you aren’t able to boil water quickly, there are high chances that you are boiling cold water. We suggest that if you are in a hurry, you use lukewarm or hot water from the hot tap because it will boil quickly.
In addition to using lukewarm water, we suggest using less water to boil. Use the minimum amount that you need.
Vegetables do not need a lot of water. Pasta, on the other hand, needs a lot. If you are trying to boil a large water quantity, boiling will take more time.
6. Sea Level
Perhaps you have moved from a high-altitude location to a place near the sea. This will affect how long it takes to boil water.
At higher altitudes, low atmospheric pressure means that water boils quicker and at a lower temperature (around 203 degrees Fahrenheit).
At sea level, water takes longer to boil and has to get to 212 degrees Fahrenheit before it boils.
We hope these tips will help you get your water boiling as fast as possible. Please let us know if you have any further questions by using the comment section below.