Simmering facts for kids

Dumplings cooking in simmering water.

Simmering is a gentle way of cooking food in water. When you simmer, the water is hot, but it's not bubbling rapidly like when it's boiling. Think of it as a very soft, slow boil.

The temperature for simmering is usually around 95 °C (203 °F). This is just a little cooler than the boiling point of water, which is 100 °C (212 °F).

To make water simmer, you first heat it until it starts to boil. Then, you turn down the heat. The large, fast bubbles will almost disappear, leaving just tiny, gentle bubbles rising to the surface.

Why We Simmer

Simmering is a great cooking method for many reasons:

• It's perfect for melting Chocolate. You can place a bowl of chocolate over simmering water, and the gentle heat will melt it smoothly without burning.
• It helps cook delicate foods like Dumplings. If you boil dumplings too hard, they might break apart. Simmering keeps them whole and cooks them evenly.
• Many soups and stews are simmered for a long time. This allows the flavors to blend together and makes the food tender.

Related Cooking Terms

• Boiling

Images for kids

• 

  Meatball soup simmering on a stove.

• 

  A traditional Dutch burner used for simmering food.

See also

In Spanish: Cocción a fuego lento para niños