Dictionary Definition
simmer n : temperature just below the boiling
point; "the stew remained at a simmer for hours" v : boil slowly at
low temperature; "simmer the sauce"; "simmering water"
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -ɪmə(r)
Noun
- the state or process of simmering.
- The kettle was kept on the simmer.
Translations
- Finnish: hiljainen kiehuminen
Verb
- to boil slowly at or
below the boiling
point
- Simmer the soup for five minutes, then serve.
- to boil slowly at or
below the boiling
point
- Simmering water is hot.
Translations
(transitive)
(intransitive)
Extensive Definition
Simmering is a cooking technique in which
foods are cooked in hot
liquids kept at or just barely below the boiling point of water (at average sea
level air pressure), 100°C (212°F). To keep a
pot simmering, one brings it to a boil and then adjusts the heat
downward until just before the formation of steam bubbles stops
completely. Water normally begins to simmer at about 94°C
(200°F).
Professional chefs debate the appropriate
temperature and appearance of simmering liquids constantly, with
some saying that a simmer is as low as 82°C (180°F).
Simmering ensures gentler treatment than boiling to prevent food from
toughening and/or breaking up. Simmering is usually a rapid and
efficient method of cooking.
In Japanese
cuisine, simmering is considered one of the four essential
cooking techniques (along with grilling, steaming, and deep
frying).
In Argentina,
simmering is considered the essential method to heat the water to
experience "mate" in
the perfect quality to taste the flavor of this worldwide known
Argentinian tradition.
simmer in German: Simmertopf
simmer in Japanese: 煮る
simmer in Finnish: Hauduttaminen
simmer in Swedish: Sjuda
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
bake,
barbecue, baste, be in heat, be livid, be
pissed, blanch, blaze, bloom, blubber, bluster, boil, boil over, braise, brew, broil, brown, browned off, bubble, bubble over, bubble up,
burble, burn, calm down, carry on, chafe, choke, churn, coddle, combust, cook, cool it, cool off, curry, devil, distill, do, do to perfection, effervesce, ferment, fire, fizz, fizzle, flame, flame up, flare, flare up, flicker, flush, foam, fret, fricassee, frizz, frizzle, fry, fume, gasp, glow, go on, griddle, grill, guggle, gurgle, have a conniption,
heat, hiss, incandesce, moil, oven-bake, pan, pan-broil, pant, parboil, parch, pissed off, plop, poach, prepare, prepare food, radiate
heat, rage, raise Cain,
raise hell, raise the devil, raise the roof, rant, rant and rave, rave, roast, saute, scald, scallop, scorch, sear, seethe, shimmer with heat,
shirr, simmer down,
sizzle, smoke, smolder, smother, smoulder, spark, sparkle, steam, stew, stifle, stir, stir-fry, storm, suffocate, sweat, swelter, take on, throw a fit,
toast, work