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Simon Gault: Simmering and boiling

What is the difference between simmering and boiling?

I’ve been wondering this for a while now and hope you can enlighten me – what is the difference between simmering and boiling? Aren’t these the same thing?

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I’m afraid not. If you’re simmering a liquid, you’re heating it to the point where it’s in movement, but a bubble will very rarely break the surface. Once liquid is in full motion, with bubbles constantly rising to the top, you’ve brought it to a boil.

It might not sound like a big difference, but it’s just enough to be the reason your dish ends up ruined.

If you tried to blanch vegetables in simmering water, they’d end up dull and limp. Boiling water will cook them quickly to retain flavour.

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