Stupid Question : Whats the difference between simmering and boiling?

Question

Stupid Question : Whats the difference between simmering and boiling?

Answer 1

Simmering would be when there are just those tiny little bubbles sticking to the sides/bottom of the pan. Boiling would be when it is bubbling over.

Answer 2

Simmering is the lowest heat setting.. you use that to keep something warm.  boiling You use a setting to cause the liquid in the pot to bubble which is called boiling!   To bring something to boil you use medium heat..  and higher heat to keep the liquid boiling!  Most people know the difference between simmering and boiling.. I learned it when I was 4 years old!   I guess you don't get into the kitchen much!

Answer 3

boiling is where the heat is turned up high to make the water boil, simmer is where the heat is turned down just enough to keep the food cooking, but it's not boiling.

Answer 4

Simmer means to bring a liquid almost to a boil over low heat.

Boiling means to bring a liquid to the highest temperature over high heat.

Answer 5

boiling where the water build up and in a higher flame(212 celsius) simmer in a lower flame or temperature(110 celsius) and a slow procedure.

Answer 6

Simmering is just under boiling with slow bubbles coming to the surface now and then.

Boiling is hotter with fast and furious bubbles and lots of steam coming up from the surface.

Answer 7

boiling - on high heat when u can see bubbles rising to the surface of the liquid.

simmering - liquid has boiled n the heat is reduced.......making the temp of the liquid just below boiling point.

  

Answer 8

Boiling is a hard rapid boil like boiling eggs for hard boiled eggs or boiling pasta for spaghetti & simmering is a very slow gentle boil like for simmering an Italian spaghetti sauce that needs to cook slow & long for all the seasoning/spices to blend.  You never boil milk or cream.  Not a stupid question, very important in baking, canning &  candy making, etc. & in cooking rice & making popcorn balls.

Answer 9

Bring your water to a full boil then turn it down to a low temp and when it is not at a rapid boil, that is simmering. Simple answer tho, lol.

Answer 10

simmering is heating it up to where its barely steaming, boiling is heating it to where the water is rolling.  

Answer 11

Simmering- To be cooked gently or remain just at or below the boiling point.

Boiling- To be cooked with many bubbles and lots of steam.

Answer 12

When you simmer, your just barely boiling it. You want it done at a very low heat. And when you boil it you want it to be very hot with lots of bubbles(but not too many)

And your question was not stupid!!! You just don't know your way around the kitchen as much as others =)

Well, I hope that I could help you out!

Bye

Answer 13

Simmering little bit of bubbles used for cooking food slower

boiling heaps of bubbles used for cooking this faster

Answer 14

Boiling is boiling like a mad and crazy old man on heat,Simmering is like a nice girl just simmering and hot not rapid boiling just nice and slow.

Answer 15

Boiling is a high rate of heat applied to a liquid while simmering is JUST enough heat to maintain a temperature. If the instructions say to bring to a boil, stir, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes, you are being asked to MAINTAIN a constant but low heat input.  

Answer 16

Simmering is cooking just below the boiling point. You're actually just trying to cook in slow fire just enough to keep the temperature at level below the boiling point so as to keep the soup/food from evaporating too much so as not to dry up.

Boiling is the process of cooking to the boiling point.

Answer 17

Simmering means to actually boil food over a low heat so that it can cook without burning or sticking to the base of the pot, whereas boiling would mean to have the food or water bubbling with heat and is boils away, usually in a meal like boiled eggs... that would not really burn or stick to the base of the pot.

Answer 18

Easiest answer:

Simmering: small bubbles

Boiling: big bubbles

Answer 19

Essentially, it's the size, number, and speed of the bubbles. Tiny little bubbles that start to come up are a simmer. When they start to get big, it's boiling. A slow boil is, just as you might guess, bubbles that move more lazily. They're medium-sized and not too horribly vigorous. A hard boil is the kind of bubbling that can spit at you from across the room.