Do food cook faster in salted water?
@thebeaddoodler (4262)
Lubbock, Texas
July 21, 2008 6:47pm CST
I've known since I started cooking as a young girl that salted water comes to a boil quicker than plain water. When I got a little older one of my school teacher Aunts told me it was because salt water boils at a lower temperature.
This evening as I started preparing supper I put a potato on to boil and, knowing that salted water would boil quicker, I salted the water thinking to conserve energy. But then I started wondering if the potato would cook any quicker than it would if the water wasn't salted.
Of course bringing the water to a boil quicker will reduce the energy a minute amount, but what if the cooking time is the same. I'm sure it would save some energy, but not much.
So, any scientist type thinkers out there? Will the food cook quicker?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@cjgrooms (4456)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I am not a scientist type but it would seem that if the water boiled quicker the food would cook faster. Now if you ask scientists to do a study for you i am sure they can come up with which ever result you want, if not the first time then the next time. LOL
1 person likes this
@thebeaddoodler (4262)
• Lubbock, Texas
22 Jul 08
They could find which ever I paid them to find!1 person likes this
@polgeram (83)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Actually, salt RAISES the boiling point of water at sea level about 5 degrees Fahrenheit when adding 1 tablespoon per cup of water. So yes, food will cook quicker, though, IMHO, not appreciably quicker.
I just add salt for the added flavoring.
Will it save energy? Great question! I think the best way to save energy is to boil only as much water as is needed. (Example: You don't need to boil a whole gallon of water to cook just one egg.)
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