What setting does simmer mean

Passport1

Hi
When cooking bacon and cabbage and it says to

Bring the water slowly to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer

What they mean by simmer. What setting on an electric hob ring would simmer be - 2,3 - higher, lower

Thanks

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

simmer just means bring it to boil, then reduce the heat to just under boiling point.. so that it's just about to boil but isn't..

Mellor

Simmer is just at or below boiling.
the exact wetting will vary depending on the hob and well as the size of the pot of water

Passport1

Thanks for the replies
So we are talking about having thehob setting at a level 4 or 5 - right?

I dont want to cook the meat too quickly and have it tough

Also, how will i know when the bacon is cooked thoroughly ?

Thanks

Passport1

I'm assuming you're cooking the meat in water or a similar liquid, since you're talking about boiling.

Passport1 wrote: »

So we are talking about having thehob setting at a level 4 or 5 - right?

As other posters have said, there is no number. Everyone's hob is different, for example mine has no numbers on it at all, just dots. Bring it to the boil as instructed, cover it, and turn the heat down a little bit. If it still bubbles, turn it down another little bit. Keep turning it down until it's not bubbling anymore, but is just below the heat required to bubble.

If the liquid you're cooking your meat in is water, you may see tiny bubbles around the inside of the pot under the water, but no boiling bubbles, ie. the big ones that bubble up to the surface. That's pretty much what simmering is.

I dont want to cook the meat too quickly and have it tough

Don't worry too much, when you're cooking meat in a liquid it's unlikely to cook too quickly (within reason) as it's not going to burn. You have the time to watch the pot, slowly turning it down to just below boiling. Nothing's going to happen too fast with the meat submersed, so take your time.

Mellor

Passport1 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies
So we are talking about having thehob setting at a level 4 or 5 - right?

I dont want to cook the meat too quickly and have it tough

Also, how will i know when the bacon is cooked thoroughly ?

Thanks

Boiling water in a normal pot can't get above 100 degrees, simmer isn't much lower. It just won't evaporate as quickly

boogle

Simmer it for 20 mins per pound weight, and add about 15 mins at the end it you pop it into the oven with some mustard and honey smeared on the outside.

PrincessPixie

add the following for extra flavour

a peeled onion and a peeled eating apple (find pink lady is the nicest)
a few clothes

just throw them into the boiling water and let them simmer for the duration of the cooking, adds the nicest flavour to the meat and water.