Old Wives’ Tale: Salt makes water boil faster

This is a complete falsehood. Sure, if the water boils faster, the pasta will be cooked sooner. Adding salt isn’t the solution you’re looking for.

Pure water boils at 100°C whereas salt water boils at 104°C. The higher the temperature needed to boil the water, the more time it will take to boil; by adding salt, your water will boil at a higher temperature and thus take longer to do so.

Physics explains this well. The more of something there is, the longer it takes to heat up. Adding salt to water means more stuff and thus a longer waiting time to become hot.

I doubt this info was around when this old wives’ tale began and I understand how it came into existence. Time feels like it goes faster when you are occupied with something. Adding salt to your water just passes the time which, in turn, make it seem like salt speeds things up.

Of course, if you want your water boiled quicker nowadays, just stick the kettle on.

Old Wives’ Tales: Why jinxes appear to work

https://frostgriffin.blogspot.com/2018/07/why-jinxes-appear-to-work-reality-of.html