LexBrew
Usage Entry 1377 / 1605 60-second read

Simmer vs. Boil

Just below boiling versus a full rolling bubble.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

Bring the soup to a boil for two hours.

✓ Correct

Bring the soup to a simmer for two hours — simmering (small steady bubbles) preserves texture. Boiling (rolling bubbles) breaks down meat and vegetables.

The ruleii

SIMMER = 95°C. BOIL = 100°C.

BOILING is full convection at 100°C (sea level). SIMMERING is just below — 85–95°C, with small bubbles only at the edges. Stews simmer; pasta boils. The difference between a tender braise and shoe-leather meat.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

Simmer = small bubbles. Boil = big bubbles.

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