Does Putting a Lid Over a Pot of Water on a Stove

question 74

Multiple Choice

Does putting a lid over a pot of water on a stove shorten the time it takes for the water to come to a boil? After the water is boiling, does use of the lid shorten the cooking time of food?

• A)No, the boiling point of water is always 100°C, so the lid would have no effect on how long it takes for water to reach that temperature. however, food cooks faster with a lid because heat is held inside the pot.
• B)Yes, since the pressure is increased under the lid the boiling temperature is lower; however, after the water boils, the increased pressure would prevent gas bubbles from escaping so the food cooks in about the same amount of time as without a lid.
• C)Yes, the trapped heat quickens boiling; the lid also increases pressure on the boiling water which raises its boiling temperature, cooking food in a shorter time.
• D)No, it takes longer to boil the water because the increased pressure in the pot raises water's boiling point. Food will cook faster because the temperature of the water is higher.