This Easy Trick for Boiling Water Faster Is Brilliant—I Use It Every Time

I went to culinary school and have worked in kitchens almost all of my life, but it was my husband who taught me one of the best cooking hacks I know. Since he’s spent most of his life eating pasta, he knows a thing or two about boiling water, especially how to make the process happen fast. It’s why he always covers his pot of pasta water with a lid. 

How To Boil Water Faster

I remember the first time I saw my husband perform his “put-a-lid-on-it” trick. He was making pasta (go figure), so he grabbed his big pot and filled it with water. He covered the pot with a lid, set it on the stove, and cranked the heat to high.

His pasta water was ready in minutes, and dinner was on the table shortly thereafter. My mind was blown. I already knew the man was smart (he is actually one of the smartest people I know), but this little moment made me appreciate his brilliance (and question mine) even more. Now I use his boiling water technique every time, and I’m quick to give him a shoutout for making the task less annoying.

It Requires Less Energy, Too

Not only is boiling your water this way faster, but it’s also a bit more eco-friendly. Since it takes less time to come to a boil, you’ll save energy. The time and energy savings translate to cost, too! It takes money to run those big appliances, so consider this hack a contribution to your bank account. It’s not a significant upfront cost, but if you boil water as much as we do, it starts to add up. I don’t know about you, but I’ll take any savings I can get.

A Few Tips for Boiling Water Faster

I have a few more tips to make your lid-on boiling session more successful. First, for the highest efficiency, use room temperature water instead of cold water.

Second, use a pot with a dedicated lid that will seal. A lid that’s too large or too small (how are you using that anyway?) will allow heat to escape, defeating the whole purpose. Finally, use the right size burner. Most stoves have a variety of burner sizes. Choose the one that best fits the diameter of the bottom of your pot so that you can more efficiently direct the heat.