Why do you think cooking instructions tell you to add salt when boiling water?

Question

pls...i really need it by feb. 5
thanks...^^

Answer 1

It raises the temperature that the water is able to hold while boiling allowing food to cook faster. Since it raises the boiling temperature it actually causes water to reach it's boiling point slower. However whats an extra 20, 50, 90 seconds or so? and you regain the time by having the food cook faster.
It also imparts flavor, but really doesn't make a whole lot of difference in that area as far as when the salt is added. I mean you could add the salt when you add the food once the water was already boiling if that was the primary reason.

Vegetable oil does not actually keep pasta from sticking together, it mainly adds flavor and keeps the water from boiling over (when the foam comes out over the side)

Answer 2

Yeah, like josh j said, the main reason is to flavor whatever you are going to be boiling in the water. If the salt is already dissolved in the water then when you put food in the water to cook it, it is easier for the salt to get inside the food than if you put the salt on after you take the food out of the water.

Answer 3

Salt water boils at a higher temperature than normal water. The higher temp helps in the cooking process by increasing the speed and consistency of the items your cooking. As the hot water from the bottom rises it cools and rolls back down to the bottom. If the temp is increased even when the water is cooler, on the way down, its still warm enough to cook the item in the pot.

Answer 4

Adding salt to the boiling water makes it possible for the water to get hotter than 100 degrees Celsius.

Answer 5

If boiling water to add food to, you should salt the water to flavor the thing you're boiling (for instance- pasta, veggies, potatoes). Especially with pasta, it's the only way to flavor the pasta itself while it's cooking.

Answer 6

there are a pair of motives. a) salt lowers the boiling pt of water, however the amoult of salt you're able to wish could make the foodstuff style terrible that no one will consume it. b) to strengthen the favour of the foodstuff. in terms of cooking i could pass with to strengthen the favour of the foodstuff. in terms of technological information i could say because of the fact human beings think of that including somewhat amoult of salt will decrease the boiling component of water however the amoult you put in could have very very little or no effect in this.

Answer 7

You add salt to boiling water so it will boil faster/ get some flavor to the pasta. You can also add a bit of veggie oil to the water to help prevent the pasta from sticking together!

Answer 8

the salt helps the water to boil faster

Answer 9

so that food absorbs the flavor while boiling

I also heard that the salt helps it boil faster but I'm not sure on that

Answer 10

salt does 3 things raises the boling temp., breaks down the food and lessens cooking time also it absorbs into the food evenly so it will all taste the same