Placing a wooden spoon over a boiling pot stops water from overflowing
This classic kitchen hack relies on simple physics to prevent a mess by popping surface bubbles and absorbing heat before the water can spill over the rim.
A wooden spoon acts as a stabilizer by breaking the surface tension of rising bubbles. When the starch-heavy foam touches the dry, water-repelling wood, the bubbles pop instantly and the steam escapes. This prevents the foam from building up and cascading over the sides of the pot.
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