Question

You decide to go to the mountains of Santa Fe, New Mexico (7200 ft elevation), for your spring holiday. One of the important tasks for you to complete is to boil eggs to color and hide for the egg hunt. You are in a hurry and know that eggs boiled for exactly 8 minutes at home at the beach in Santa Barbara, California, come out perfectly cooked. As everyone is cracking their eggs for breakfast after the egg hunt, you discover to your dismay that your eggs are not fully cooked. Explain this observation.

Short answer

Eggs were undercooked due to the lower boiling temperature at higher elevation.

Step-by-step solution

- Understand Boiling Point and Elevation Relationship

The boiling point of water decreases as altitude increases. This is because the atmospheric pressure is lower at higher elevations, allowing water to boil at a lower temperature.

- Determine Boiling Points at Different Elevations

At sea level, such as in Santa Barbara, California, water boils at 212°F (100°C). In Santa Fe, New Mexico, which is at an elevation of 7200 feet, water boils at around 198°F (92°C).

- Analyze the Effect on Cooking Time

Since water boils at a lower temperature in Santa Fe, the eggs are exposed to a lower cooking temperature when boiled for the same amount of time as at sea level. Cooking at a lower temperature requires more time to achieve the same level of doneness.

- Reason for Eggs Being Undercooked

The eggs are not fully cooked because the decreased boiling temperature at the higher elevation results in a less intense cooking process within the same duration of time. To compensate for this, a longer boiling time would be necessary.

Key concepts

Atmospheric Pressure

Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted by the weight of air in the atmosphere. It varies with altitude. At higher elevations, the atmospheric pressure is lower because there is less air above pushing down.

This lower atmospheric pressure affects the boiling point of water. At sea level, the atmospheric pressure is 1 atmosphere, so water boils at 100°C (212°F). However, as you go higher up, the atmospheric pressure drops, causing water to boil at a lower temperature.

Understanding this concept is key to solving the exercise about boiling eggs in the mountains. Lower atmospheric pressure at high altitudes affects how water behaves, which in turn affects cooking times.

Elevation Effect on Boiling Point

Elevations greatly impact the boiling point of water. As you rise in altitude, the atmospheric pressure decreases. This means water doesn't need as much energy to transition to the gaseous state, so it boils at a lower temperature.

For example, at sea level (which is 0 feet elevation), water boils at 100°C (212°F).

But, at 7200 feet, like in Santa Fe, New Mexico, water boils at around 92°C (198°F). This lower temperature means that boiling water is not as hot as it is at sea level.

When you are in high-altitude places, this decrease in boiling temperature will affect the cooking process. Foods that are cooked by boiling, such as eggs, will need to be cooked longer or at a higher temperature if a pressure cooker is used. This is because the water isn’t as hot at boiling point, slowing down the cooking process.

Cooking Time Adjustment

When cooking at higher elevations, adjustments need to be made to ensure food is properly cooked. Since the boiling point of water is lower, food will cook slower.

For example, boiling eggs in Santa Fe, New Mexico (7200 ft elevation), requires more time than boiling eggs at sea level, such as in Santa Barbara, California. Here’s why:

• At higher elevations, water boils at a lower temperature (198°F in Santa Fe vs. 212°F in Santa Barbara).
• Since the water is less hot, it takes longer to cook food to the same doneness.
• This means that the standard 8-minute boil time for eggs at sea level isn’t sufficient at higher altitudes. You would need to boil them longer to ensure they’re fully cooked.

So, if you find your eggs undercooked when boiling them in the mountains, simply allow more time, or consider using a pressure cooker to achieve higher cooking temperatures. Adjusting your cooking time is crucial when dealing with high-altitude environments.