One should always cover a pan while heating


One should always cover a pan while heating
Tradition says: "One should always cover a pan while heating".

In other words, if you heat water (or something else), it comes to the boil faster with a lid on the pan than without.

True or false? Let's try the experiment...
110 K 3.0/5 (44 reviews)
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Last modified on: July 25th 2017
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 2 min.
Resting: 1 hour
Cooking: 20 min.
All in all: 1 hour 20 min.
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Step by step recipe


Stage 1 - 2 min.
One should always cover a pan while heating
1 litre of water is measured and poured into a pan without the lid and put on the hob with a thermometer in it.

Starting temperature of water (and room): 70°F (19°C).

Stage 2 - 9 min.
One should always cover a pan while heating
The heat is switched on. The water reaches 210°F (100°C) in 9 minutes and 30 seconds.

Stage 3 - 1 hour
One should always cover a pan while heating
The hob is left to cool for about one hour, to allow it to reach room temperature again.

Another 1 litre water is put in the same pan covered with the same thermometer in it, on the same hob.

Starting temperature of water (and room): 70°F (19°C).

Stage 4 - 9 min.
One should always cover a pan while heating
The heat is switched on. The water reaches 210°F (100°C) in 9 minutes and 27 seconds.

Stage 5
One should always cover a pan while heating
The result is shown more clearly in the diagram: the temperature of the uncovered pan in red and that of the covered pan in green.

Conclusion

False: The time difference is too small to be significant. It really doesn't matter whether the pan is covered or not.
Source: Homemade.
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The 1 comment already posted on this recipe
  • This is going to be a most interesting addition to your site, jh. Now I wonder if hot water or cold water makes any difference in the boiling time?
    Posted by Louise october 24th 2009 at 17:48 n° 1
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