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...
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...
1 hour 20 min.
Easy
1 panLast 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.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - ⌛ 2 min.
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).
Starting temperature of water (and room): 70°F (19°C).
Stage 2 - ⌛ 9 min.
The heat is switched on. The water reaches 210°F (100°C) in 9 minutes and 30 seconds.
Stage 3 - ⌛ 1 hour
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).
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.
The heat is switched on. The water reaches 210°F (100°C) in 9 minutes and 27 seconds.
Stage 5
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.
Other recipes you may also like
Comtoise stuffed tomatoes
These stuffed tomatoes are a bit special: the stuffing is made with Morteau sausage, onions, rice and cancoilotte cheese. October 5th 201668 K4.1 1 hour 40 min.
French bean salad with vinaigrette
A very simple recipe for a salad of green (or yellow) French beans: The beans are boiled first, then thoroughly drained and served mixed with herbs, chopped shallot and a good vinaigrette (french dressing). October 27th 201681 K4.6 9 min.
Diamond biscuits
These round biscuits no doubt get their name from the coating of sparkling sugar crystals around the edge. December 30th 201970 K 1 hour 50 min.
Souda salad
The port of Souda in Crete is the inspiration for this colourful salad, combining cucumber and tomatoes with feta cheese. This salad is best served cold from the fridge, perfect for a hot summer's day. July 7th 201957 K 60 min.
Carrot-top pesto
You will no doubt be familiar with classic pesto. Here is an alternative, zero-waste version using carrot tops for a surprising pesto, full of fresh flavour. September 16th 202058 K 20 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2026-04-26)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Follow this recipe (as 2 people already do)
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.
The 1 comment already posted on this recipe