Boiling

Boiling

Boiling is a method of cooking which you cook the food in boiling water, or other liquid such as stock or milk or sauce. Simmering can be considered as one kind of boiling, but it is a very gentle boiling with little liquid and in very short time, just enough to get the taste of the ingredients.

Lots or almost all of the food can be cooked using boiling method. However, the boiling time is very dependent on what kind of food you cook. For example, you only need around 10 minutes or less to cook fish in boiling water or stock, as compared to meat, you may need 30 minutes to get it cooked.

Boiling is a method used to cook soups and stock in Chinese cooking, or is a method used to cook food which you need lots of sauce or juice such as curry. It is one of the easiest and simplest cooking method, which you just need to toss all the ingredients into the boiling water, boil for certain amount of time, then add seasoning to taste. It could be a slow method of cooking if you are boiling tough meat. Crock pot or slow cooker is one of the best appliances for boiling soup or starchy food if you are not in hurry. The slow boiling method used by crock pot or slow cooker can bring out the best taste and most essence from food, and you don't have to worry about over-boiling or burning the food. Especially cooking Chinese herbs soup such as Ginseng soup or Bird Nest's soup, it is preferable to use crock pot or slow cooker to slowly "boil" out the best parts of the ingredients.

Boiling can get the taste, essence of ingredients and soluble vitamins to the soup or starchy food such as porridge, and Chinese believes by drinking the soup or taking the liquefied food, we will take in all the nutrition from the ingredients into our body, and it is easier to be digested as compared to eating the solid food. Thus, soup is one of the most important dish in Chinese daily meal; and porridge boiled with meats and vegetables is fed to infants and toddlers.

However, on the other hand, boiled food might look unattractive in terms of presentation.

Try this simple soup boiling recipe: 2 potatoes, cut into medium chunks; 3 chicken drumsticks or thighs; 5-6 whole white pepper, crushed; 5 cup water. Boil water in a pot, and toss all the ingredients into the water. Boil for 30 minutes, then add salt to taste. This is one simple soup to cook, but it tastes so good that everyone will like it. What's better than having a hot, nice soup especially during cold winter time.

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