Simmer
/ˈsɪmər/
verbnounB1
Definition
As a verb, simmer means to cook a liquid or food slowly at a low heat, just below boiling, so small bubbles form but the liquid does not boil hard. As a noun, simmer refers to this gentle cooking process. Simmer can also describe a feeling or situation where emotions or tensions are present but controlled, not fully expressed or exploded.
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See It in Action
To cook food gently at low heat just below boiling
- •Let the soup simmer for 20 minutes to develop the flavors.
- •The sauce was simmering quietly on the stove.
- •Simmer the stew until the meat is tender.
To be in a state of quiet or controlled emotion, especially anger or excitement
- •His anger simmered beneath the surface but he didn't say anything.
- •The conflict simmered for weeks before breaking out.
- •There was a simmer of excitement in the room before the announcement.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'simmer' like 'boil' (A1 word), but much gentler and slower, not a strong bubble but soft little bubbles
- ✓Picture a pot on the stove with tiny bubbles slowly rising and breaking quietly on the surface
- ✓It's the feeling when you are quietly upset or angry but not shouting or showing it openly
- ✓Sounds like 'SIM-mer' → imagine a soft 'sigh' sound mixed with 'summer' warmth, like gentle heat under control
- ✓In stories, simmer is like tension before a big event, like a quiet storm waiting to happen
- ✓NOT like 'boil' (strong, fast bubbles and noise), 'simmer' is calm and slow cooking
- ✓NOT like 'explode' (sudden strong action), simmer is slow and controlled emotion or heat
Try Other Words
- •Boil: to cook with strong bubbles at high heat (Use when the liquid is very hot and bubbling fast)
- •Stew: to cook food slowly in liquid (Use when cooking food slowly but often with more ingredients and longer time)
- •Seethe: to be very angry but not show it openly (Use when talking about emotions simmering strongly inside)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no prefix or suffix) — 'simmer' is a simple root word
- •Etymology: From Old English 'simmerian,' meaning to be hot or boil gently
- •Historical development: Used since old times to describe gentle cooking and later used metaphorically for emotions
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in cooking and also in describing feelings or situations that are quietly intense
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a situation where your feelings were simmering but you did not express them loudly? How did that feel?
•How is simmering food different from boiling food in taste and texture? Why do cooks use simmering instead of boiling?
Fill in the blanks
1.When cooking soup, you should let it simmer ___ low heat so it doesn't boil over.
2.His anger simmered ___ for days before he finally spoke about the problem.
3.Unlike boiling, simmering creates ___ bubbles that gently rise to the surface.
4.The tension in the room was simmering ___ before the argument started.
5.To make the sauce thick and tasty, you need to simmer it ___ for at least an hour.
6.When emotions simmer, they are ___ but not exploded or shouted out.
7.Simmering food often ___ flavors better than cooking it quickly at high heat.