Skill 11 of 16

Simmering a sauce

Small bubbles, a lid half on, and a sauce that thickens by itself.

What it means

Simmer

Simmering means keeping a liquid just below a boil, with small bubbles rising gently. It cooks food evenly and lets a sauce thicken without scorching on the bottom.

How you’ll know: Small, lazy bubbles break the surface every second or so, and nothing is churning.

Reduce the heat

It means turning the burner down, usually to medium-low or low, so food cooks gently instead of hard. Electric burners cool slowly, so lift the pan off for a moment if it’s bubbling hard.

How you’ll know: Within a minute the bubbling calms to a gentle simmer, or the sizzle turns quiet.

Lid ajar

Lid ajar means resting the lid on the pot slightly off-center, leaving a small gap. Some steam escapes, so the sauce thickens and doesn’t boil over, while most of the heat stays in.

How you’ll know: A thin wisp of steam drifts out of the gap, and the pot bubbles gently without spilling.

Thicken

Thickening means cooking a sauce or soup until it’s less runny, by simmering it down or adding something like cornstarch. A thicker sauce clings to food instead of pooling on the plate.

How you’ll know: It coats the back of a spoon, and a line drawn through it with your finger holds its shape.