How to Boil Water

Watch more Food Preparation Tips, Tricks & Techniques videos: There are simple tasks and then there are incredibly simple tasks. Boiling water is even simpler than that. But hey, nobody’s calling you a moron—there’s a first time for everything. Step 1: Choose pot Choose a pot with a greater volume than the amount of water you plan to boil. Do so in private, so nobody’s there to say, “Uh, duh.“ Step 2: Pour water Pour fresh, cold tap water into the pot. Make sure there’s at least 3 inches of space between the rim of the pot and the surface of the water. Tip If you’re boiling water to cook with (and not just for fun) you’ll be adding something to it, so be sure to leave enough room for whatever you’re cooking, too. Step 3: Place pot on burner Turn the burner to high, place the pot on the burner, and cover the pot with a lid that fits snugly. This keeps in the heat and helps