Gas stove, my huge pasta pot--water is not boiling, what am I doing wrong??

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have a big pasta pot. I am not sure the size, bit it is a basic household use pasta pot with strainer that I bought at Walmart.

Typically on my last electric stove, it would take a good amount of time to boil (like 20 minutes or so) to get the water to bubble and then boil.

I have used the pot on my gas stove last week..took a little longer than that, but it did boil.

I have had it on he highest flame for the past 45 minutes and it isn't even attempting to bubble. There is steam coming from it---but no bubbles.

What am I doing wrong?

I am new to gas cooking and not sure how to trouble shoot. I gave up and put the pasta in figuring it would cook eventually.

Help!

 

[Wall-E1]

Have you changed the type of water that you usually use to boil?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Same water from the sink as last week in our new (to us) house in VA. Different water than Florida. So I figured the extra time last week was due to different heat source. But 45 minutes---that is much longer than last week and no bubbles even though it is the same water.

 

[iheartdisney]

Try covering it to keep the heat from dissipating. That is what I have to do when I use my big stockpot.

 

[golfgal]

What color is the flame?

You should also put a lid on the pot.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Here is a tip you could use. I learned this after working in the school cafeteria. You start with hot water from the sink.

If you do not want to do that then put a lid on it right away.

Or you can seperate the amount of water boil (use 2 pots) and then add to each other.

 

[Christine]

I'm thinking that your gas burner is not enough for the pot.

I have a gas cooktop. I have one "super power" burner, two regular burners, and a front "simmer" burner. To look at them all operating, they kind of look the same. The "simmer" burner has a wide circle in the middle so the flame dissapates differently under the pan. If I put something on that particular burner, it will NEVER boil--or at least I don't want to wait the hour it takes.

So, I'm thinking maybe this is one of those low energy burners for simmering or slow cooking? Are you have this trouble on all the other burners.

If it is taking 45 mintues on all burners, you have a problem with your burners and the gas coming out and will need servicing. That is not normal for a gas burner at all.

I do know that some pans I have don't conduct heat well. I have a big aluminum (cheap) pot that takes forever to bring to a boil but it doesn't matter what type of burner (gas or electric) it is slow everywhere. It's obviously not your pan since it boiled on your old stove.

 

[SandrA9810]

Did you add salt this time?? Salt boils at a higher temp than regular water. So having a different amount of salt could affect the time it takes for it to boil.

I thought gas was supposed to heat things faster than electric... strange.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Make sure you don't have a ceiling fan, no breeze blowing through the window or an air-condition that could be blowing toward the stove. If there's anything blowing the flame around, it will take much longer.

 

[Christine]

Did you add salt this time?? Salt boils at a higher temp than regular water. So having a different amount of salt could affect the time it takes for it to boil.

I thought gas was supposed to heat things faster than electric... strange.

It is faster. I'm thinking something is wrong.

 

[Christine]

Make sure you don't have a ceiling fan, no breeze blowing through the window or an air-condition that could be blowing toward the stove. If there's anything blowing the flame around, it will take much longer.

I have that problem if I put the cooktop fan on while I'm cooking. It makes my cooking slow WAY down.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Try covering it to keep the heat from dissipating. That is what I have to do when I use my big stockpot.

Thank you all for this tip!!!!

Rolling boil within 5 minutes.

Evidently I am not as great a cook as I thought I was because it never occurred to me to cover the pot.

Now the kids and I can eat! Chicken finished cooking 25 minutes ago.

Someone asked about flame color...it is blue and our gas is...city gas...so I don't think the gas was running low.

Dinnertime!!

 

[golfgal]

Thank you all for this tip!!!!

Rolling boil within 5 minutes.

Evidently I am not as great a cook as I thought I was because it never occurred to me to cover the pot.

Now the kids and I can eat! Chicken finished cooking 25 minutes ago.

Someone asked about flame color...it is blue and our gas is...city gas...so I don't think the gas was running low.

Dinnertime!!

That is the "right' color then. I would look up the owner's manual online and make sure you don't have a simmer burner like Christine said. Even with that big of a pot without a lid it should not have taken an hour to boil.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

ummmm.....not a clue.


Looking at my burners.....

2 in front have large circles. Back left is a small circle. Back right appears a little smaller.

Last time, I think I used back left and this time I used back right. I didn't notice that the sizes were different.

I'm supposed to use the big circle, aren't I?

I feel really dumb.


Now another question...gas oven has a lock. But I can't use it while using the oven. I did once and came back to a cool oven as the lock turned it off. Is that supposed to happen? (b/c of kiddos, I had always locked the electric oven while baking for safety)

Anything else about Gas cooking I should know about? The taking an hour to boil water thing---makes me realize I may need more tips.

(yes---that important to post during dinner. Hubby isn't home and kids are watching tv while they eat...)

I'm thinking that your gas burner is not enough for the pot.

I have a gas cooktop. I have one "super power" burner, two regular burners, and a front "simmer" burner. To look at them all operating, they kind of look the same. The "simmer" burner has a wide circle in the middle so the flame dissapates differently under the pan. If I put something on that particular burner, it will NEVER boil--or at least I don't want to wait the hour it takes.

So, I'm thinking maybe this is one of those low energy burners for simmering or slow cooking? Are you have this trouble on all the other burners.

If it is taking 45 mintues on all burners, you have a problem with your burners and the gas coming out and will need servicing. That is not normal for a gas burner at all.

I do know that some pans I have don't conduct heat well. I have a big aluminum (cheap) pot that takes forever to bring to a boil but it doesn't matter what type of burner (gas or electric) it is slow everywhere. It's obviously not your pan since it boiled on your old stove.

 

[golfgal]

ummmm.....not a clue.


Looking at my burners.....

2 in front have large circles. Back left is a small circle. Back right appears a little smaller.

Last time, I think I used back left and this time I used back right. I didn't notice that the sizes were different.

I'm supposed to use the big circle, aren't I?

I feel really dumb.


Now another question...gas oven has a lock. But I can't use it while using the oven. I did once and came back to a cool oven as the lock turned it off. Is that supposed to happen? (b/c of kiddos, I had always locked the electric oven while baking for safety)

Anything else about Gas cooking I should know about? The taking an hour to boil water thing---makes me realize I may need more tips.

(yes---that important to post during dinner. Hubby isn't home and kids are watching tv while they eat...)

Is it self cleaning?

 

[dis-happy]

I have a gas cooktop. I have one "super power" burner, two regular burners, and a front "simmer" burner.

Wondering who makes your gas cooktop. Two people I know can't simmer well with their gas stoves....I want to switch over to gas in our kitchen remodel but don't want to give up the simmer part (seems I do it a lot). Also, in the simmer mode, does the gas click on and off continually? TIA!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Is it self cleaning?

It is. Instructions are actually on the panel and states it is to
be used for that. Once engaged it says to press the self clean pad...I guess it is shutting off so that can be done. Bummer.

I will google the manual as you suggested. The home was a foreclosure so we really do not have anything provided for anything in the house.

 

[goofyernmost]

Elevation can make a difference in what temperature water boils as well. I can't remember for sure but I think that the higher the elevation the longer it takes. Could be the other way around though.

 

[crashbb]

Elevation can make a difference in what temperature water boils as well. I can't remember for sure but I think that the higher the elevation the longer it takes. Could be the other way around though.

The water will boil QUICKER at a higher elevation. However, it will take longer to cook whatever it is you are cooking in the boiling water because it won't be as hot (since the boiling point was lower).