simmer gently
/ˈsɪmər ˈdʒɛntli/
Meaning
This phrase means to cook food in liquid just below the boiling point, where only small bubbles occasionally rise to the surface. It is used when a recipe requires slow, gentle heat to cook ingredients thoroughly without breaking them apart or burning them. The tone is practical and instructional, commonly found in recipes and cooking shows.
Examples
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Once the soup reaches a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for twenty minutes.
Once the soup reaches a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for twenty minutes.
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You need to simmer the sauce gently so the tomatoes break down without sticking to the bottom.
You need to simmer the sauce gently so the tomatoes break down without sticking to the bottom.
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Cover the pot and let the beef simmer gently until it is fork-tender.
Cover the pot and let the beef simmer gently until it is fork-tender.
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If you don't simmer it gently, the cream in the sauce might curdle.
If you don't simmer it gently, the cream in the sauce might curdle.
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The recipe says to simmer the pears gently in the spiced wine syrup.
The recipe says to simmer the pears gently in the spiced wine syrup.
Common Mistakes
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✗ Let the soup boil gently for an hour.
✓ Let the soup simmer gently for an hour.
'Boil' implies rapid, high-heat bubbling, which can ruin delicate ingredients. 'Simmer gently' is the correct term for low-heat, slow cooking.
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✗ I cooked the sauce on a soft simmer.
✓ I let the sauce simmer gently.
'Simmer' is usually used as a verb in this context, and 'soft simmer' is less natural than the standard collocation 'simmer gently'.
Related Expressions
Practice
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After adding the herbs, cover the pan and let the mixture ___ for another ten minutes.
💡 Use a phrase that means to cook on very low heat with tiny bubbles.
Show answer
simmer gently
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You should ___ the broth to extract all the flavors from the bones.
💡 This collocation combines a verb for low-heat cooking with an adverb meaning softly.
Show answer
simmer gently