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...
116 K 3.0/5 (44 reviews)
Grade this recipe:
Keywords:
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.
When should you start or finish this recipe?
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.
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.
Other recipes you may also like
New tiramisu
New tiramisu
This new version of tiramisu is easier, and in my opinion much better. You will certainly appreciate, like me, the light creamy taste, this time presented in brandy goblets.
January 19th 2015402 K3.3 55 min.
Thaï rice with small vegetables
Thaï rice with small vegetables
Vegetables cut in small dice, cooked in stages, and mixed with cooked Thaï rice. Delicious alone or served with meat for example.
February 21th 2011292 K4.7 1 hour 35 min.
Crunchy salad
Crunchy salad
Crunchy vegetables, pine nuts and rice with a rémoulade dressing.
April 3rd 2011158 K 14.6 40 min.
Pancake batter
Pancake batter
Here is a pancake batter that is a little more sophisticated than the traditional version. The pancakes will be tastier with a softer texture.
February 2nd 2020357 K3.8 15 min.
Mornay Sauce
Mornay Sauce
Mornay sauce is made from béchamel sauce, to which egg yolk and grated cheese are added.
June 12th 202422 K 15 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com

Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-09-14)

*Your e-mail Your first name or nickname
I am not a leaving thing
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Posted by:
I am not a leaving thing
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

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.
I am not a leaving thing
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.

Back to top of page