Use a wooden spoon to prevent boiling water from spilling over. The bubbles will touch the wood and settle back down—they won’t cross the wood.
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Using a Wooden Spoon for Boiling Water
We’ve all been there. We set a pot of water on the stove and walked away to tend to everything else. Before we know it, the water in the pot is boiling rapidly, reaching up and almost over the pot. That is when this kitchen hack comes to the rescue. I love the old-fashioned kitchen tips and hacks. The women who were professional homemakers knew exactly what to do in any circumstance. For instance, they knew how catch stray eggshells in a bowl, how to make homemade buttermilk, and how to flatten a curling rug edge.
How to Use a Wooden Spoon to Stop Boiling Water
Simply, place a wooden spoon across a pot of boiling water. The water will reach the spoon and quickly retreat.
Why does boiling water retreat from a wooden spoon?
Some say it goes down because the spoon’s temperature is colder than the boiling water. Cooling the water’s temperature calms it down.
Another reason is that the weak bubbles instantly burst open, making room in the pot for bubbles to move instead of upward. Bubbles that hit the spoon will fold inward instead of out of the pan.
Whatever the reason, we love it! It’s simple to do and can prevent a big mess on your stovetop.
What else works to prevent water from boiling over?
Add Oil: Adding oil to a pot of boiling water breaks up the starches in pasta water, preventing it from boiling over
Add Salt: Of course, this is only for savory dishes like pasta. Salted water does not boil as furiously as unsalted water.
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