Cooking with oil on top of the liquid slows evaporation of the liquid?

[SEEING-TO-BELIEVE]

i've heard that if i cook chickpeas in water it is better to add some oil to make the water less evoporative..
is this true?
thanks

 

[Andy M.]

While this is true, it's not necessarily the best solution. You could put the lid on the pot or cut a piece of parchment paper and rest it on the surface of the liquid to reduce evaporation or both.

 

[medtran49]

Or simply put a tight fitting lid on so that the condensation drips back in.

 

[thymeless]

Every time I see oil called for in cooking beans, it's about controlling foaming for pressure cookers. So the foam doesn't clog the vent. Never seen it for beans otherwise.

As for controlling evaporation I think there's too many variables to make a sound argument based on what you told us. Things like the surface area of the pot the amount of oil how much agitation from boiling and so on.

 

[dragnlaw]

Agree, have only heard of adding oil to control foam.

IMO, if you need to control evaporation, perhaps the pot you are using is just not big enough for the amount of water you need for the beans you are boiling.

Then again, which is normally done. Boil beans rapidly? or simmer them slowly.

 

[pepperhead212]

That's all I ever see the oil added for, too - to keep things from foaming.