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to simmer

to simmer

92 2.5
To cook gently in liquid just below boiling so small bubbles form
  • verb
  • /ˈsɪmər/
translation icon : cocer a fuego lento
  • Cover with cold water, bring to a boil, and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.
  • simmer over low heat
  • Reduce heat and simmer
  • simmer for five minutes

And I'll take a protein, I'll roast, I'll simmer the protein in Mike's organic Curry.

Examples

  • So apparently I've got to let this simmer for about half an hour, which doesn't bode well for my hungry stomach, but I will prevail.

  • We are going to simmer with the flavor of cinnamon stick that we're going to crack.

  • OK, we're just waiting for this to simmer right now and we have the pasta boiling and you made this.

  • Just let this simmer in, marinated in this amazing cream sauce.

  • The smell of onions, spices, and simmering meat drifted down the steps every day.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Then pour the mixture into the simmering milk-water mixture and stir until very thick.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Marshall greets Bazylev with a spray of hot coffee from the simmering pot as he enters.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Cover the pot and let the sauce simmer gently for about 30 minutes to develop its flavors.

  • After bringing the soup to a boil, reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for an hour.

  • You should simmer the vegetables in broth until they become tender and flavorful.

Synonyms

to braise
vsto simmer
  • Specialized
18 5.4

Cook meat or vegetables slowly in a little liquid in a covered pan

uses gentle below-boiling heating without requiring covered cooking in little liquid
to stew
vsto simmer
14 1.3

To cook food slowly in liquid over low heat

is about gentle below-boiling heating, not necessarily long slow immersion in much liquid
to coddle
vsto simmer
1 6.2

Cook food gently in water that is almost boiling, especially eggs

is gentler below-boiling cooking used generally rather than mainly for eggs
to simmer up
vsto simmer
4.7

To cook a liquid slowly just below boiling

is the standard term for gentle heating below boiling with steady bubble formation

Antonyms

269 1.0

To heat a liquid until it bubbles and becomes gas

Phrasal Verbs

to simmer down
  • Informal
14 4.1

To become calm after strong feelings or to tell someone else to calm down

Allow food to cook slowly at low heat just below boiling

To cook a liquid slowly just below boiling

How Hot

to boil
269 1.0
to simmer
92 2.5
to heat
298 1.0
to warm
488 1.0

Surface Forms

simmer infinitive
simmered past
simmered past participle
simmering present participle
simmers third person singular

Etymology

The word simmer started as a sound people copied for soft bubbling in a pot, like a quieter version of sizzle. So to simmer is to cook with 'small, steady bubbles' below the boiling point so the food heats gently.