Anna Krizskaya

Quite often, when learning a new recipe, young housewives are faced with such a concept as “water bath”. If you turn to Wikipedia for its interpretation, you end up in a state of complete trance and fear that you won’t be able to prepare a tasty and interesting dish due to the lack of special technical education. In fact, this method of heating food is elementary, and any woman, even someone completely inexperienced in cooking, can handle it.

What is a water bath used for?

The need for this structure arises in the following cases:

It is necessary to melt those ingredients of the future dish that are prone to burning and sticking if heated over an open fire;
There is a need to heat the food to a temperature of +50-+60 degrees. This is relevant when making cosmetic masks yourself;
It is necessary to personally prepare healing herbal infusions or decoctions from plants that lose their medicinal capabilities due to the influence of high temperatures;
It is necessary to warm up products that, when heated too strongly, can change their original structure, gelatin or yolk, for example.

Several basic rules for organizing and using a water bath

In order for the dish to turn out not only tasty, but also to resemble its original, seen in the picture in the recipe book, it is important to follow several recommendations on how to make a water bath at home:

The lower container should have thick walls and the same bottom, which will avoid violent boiling and water drops getting into the melted product;
Before melting the chocolate in a water bath, line the bottom of the main, that is, lower, container with a piece of thick towel or linen material, which will also smooth out the intensity of the boiling;
The vessel located on top must be selected in such a way that its walls can hang in the air, and the bottom barely touches the surface of the water;
When preparing a cream or other product in this way, you need to constantly stir it, avoiding burning, and not missing the moment when you need to stop heating, having achieved the required consistency;
Honey or butter will be melted correctly if the upper container is lowered into the lower one only after the water in the latter has boiled;
At school we were shown how a laboratory water bath works. Then the teachers insisted that the upper vessel did not need to be closed, otherwise it would not be possible to interfere with its contents and monitor its condition. In the case of decoctions of medicinal herbs, a lid is needed, since it is this that will prevent the volatilization of plant essential oils;
If you have to handle vessels of the same size, you need to attach at least some semblance of handles to the top one, or try to hang it from the railing. Otherwise, you simply won’t be able to get it out in time without getting burned.

Examples of using a water bath

To begin with, we provide detailed instructions on how to prepare a honey cake with cream in a water bath.

The list of required products is as follows:

a glass of milk;
half a glass of sour cream;
butter in the amount of 360 g;
a couple of glasses of granulated sugar;
two tablespoons of natural honey;
4 fresh eggs;
4 tablespoons cocoa powder;
2-3 glasses filled to the top with wheat flour;
a bag of vanilla sugar and 2 tsp. baking soda

Cooking method:

To make the cream, in a bowl you need to mix and beat one egg, half a glass of sugar, vanilla and flour.
Then pour milk into the mixture and stir everything until smooth.
Then the cream is placed in a water bath, slowly brought to a boil and removed.
Sour cream and 200 g of pre-softened butter are added to it.
Before melting honey in a makeshift water bath, you need to mix it with 100 g of butter, a glass of granulated sugar and one egg.
All this needs to be heated until the mass becomes the same consistency.
Then the dough is removed, the two remaining eggs are quickly mixed in, and the whole thing is warmed up again for 4 minutes.
Now soda is added to the dough, causing a threefold increase in the initial volume of the contents of the bowl.
Once the sweet mixture stops rising, you can add enough flour to make the dough similar to dumplings, or even much softer.
The base for the honey cake should be allowed to “rest” under the film for 20 minutes.
During this time, you should prepare a glaze consisting of 4 tablespoons of sour cream, 4 tablespoons of cocoa and sugar, 60 g of butter. All this also needs to be brought to a boil in a water bath.
From the “rested” dough, 6-8 cakes are formed, which are baked in the oven at a temperature of +200 degrees. Each cake is baked for no longer than 10 minutes.

After baking, all that remains is to give the cakes the same and neat shape, spread with cream and fill the cake with glaze.

To complete the picture, here is a recipe for a sponge cake, which is also prepared in a water bath.

Ingredients:

flour – 130 g;
sugar or sugar powder - 140 g;
potato starch – 50 g;
eggs – 5 pcs.

Cooking method:

To get biscuit dough, you need to mix sugar and eggs in a container, place it in a water bath and whisk constantly until the mixture heats up to +40-+50 degrees;
Without ceasing to beat, the container is removed from the bath, and starch and flour are added to it;
In this version of the sponge cake, you can add ground nuts, poppy seeds or raisins to the base;
The dough is laid out in a mold greased with butter, sprinkled with breadcrumbs or dry semolina;
The biscuit is immediately placed in the oven, heated to 200-220 degrees, and baked for half an hour.

For decoration, you can prepare protein cream, all in the same water bath. It is prepared from a pair of eggs, 10 g of vanilla sugar, 120 g of regular sugar and 1 pinch of citric acid. Initially, we need to carefully separate the whites from the yolks, since the latter are not included in the protein cream. Both types of sugar and citric acid are poured into a bowl with whites.

How to make a water bath at home?
If the diameter of the upper pan practically coincides with the lower pan, you should worry in advance about how it can be removed after heating. It might be worth hanging it above the water using a thick thread or making improvised handles if there are none.

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How to make a water bath? All home cooking methods

Allow to swell for the time indicated on the gelatin package.

Then put the swollen gelatin in a small saucepan and place it in a large saucepan with water. Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan, then reduce heat and melt the gelatin until liquid, stirring constantly.

Water bath and herbs

As mentioned above, herbs are brewed in a water bath to the highest quality. For any infusions and decoctions of herbs, you should only use glass or enamel containers.

Prepare 2 pans for a water bath. Fill the larger one with water and let it heat up. Place the herbs or other plant materials you need into a small saucepan. Pour boiling water over the herbs at the rate of 1-2 tbsp. spoons of dry herbs per 1 cup of boiling water.

Place a small saucepan of herbs in a larger saucepan of boiling water. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer the herbal decoction in a water bath for about 20 minutes.

Water bath for chocolate

We need chocolate not only for cooking, but also for our beauty. For example, you can make wonderful masks or body wraps from chocolate (we wrote how to make a chocolate body wrap HERE).

For these purposes, we need chocolate in liquid form. To get liquid chocolate you need to make a water bath for it.
First, break the chocolate into small pieces and then place it in a small saucepan. You can add a few drops of water to the chocolate. Then place a small saucepan with chocolate in a large one with boiling water, and, stirring continuously, bring the chocolate to a liquid state in a water bath.

How to melt soap in a water bath
Sometimes we need to melt the soap in a water bath for a recipe. Everything is done as in the case of chocolate.

Water bath for wax

Wax is a natural product that is included in many cosmetic products. But add it to homemade cream, mask, lipstick, etc. only available in liquid form. To acquire a liquid consistency, the wax must be melted in a water bath.

A water bath is made for wax in the same way as for honey. Water is never added to wax. Stirs continuously.

Propolis in a water bath

Propolis is another bee product often used in cosmetology. Propolis is melted in a water bath in the same way as wax.

Lard in a water bath

Few people know that lard is a gift from nature for our beauty. It perfectly softens and nourishes the skin. Therefore, beauty recipes with lard are not a joke, but ideal care, especially for dry or rough skin.

But raw lard is not suitable for cosmetic purposes; it must be melted in a water bath.

First, cut the lard into very small pieces - the smaller the better. Pour the lard into a small saucepan and place it in a large saucepan of boiling water. Reduce the heat slightly and wait until the lard is completely melted.

Water bath for paraffin

Paraffin masks are a super personal care product. They can be done at home. Cosmetic paraffin is sold in specialized stores in solid form.

Before applying to the skin, paraffin must be melted in a water bath. Under no circumstances should we add water to paraffin. The water bath for paraffin should not be too hot. No more than +50. When using or reprinting material, an active link to the pro-krasoty website is required

Video: How to melt chocolate: 3 ways

Very often, when reading any recipe for a cream, tender dough or cosmetic mask, we come across the expression “water bath”. It would seem that everyone knows from childhood what it is, but, nevertheless, the question of how to make a water bath correctly does not lose its relevance, especially for young housewives who are just beginning to comprehend the basics of culinary art.

Video: Super fast and convenient water bath Beauty Ksu

So, let's try to understand the intricacies of this process. The first question is when and why a water bath is needed. It is worth paying attention to this method of heating and cooking in cases where:

It is necessary to melt foods that are sensitive to high temperatures in such a way as to prevent them from burning and sticking to the walls of the cookware. Use a water bath to melt chocolate, butter or soap base for home soap making.
It is necessary to heat any ingredients to a relatively low temperature (50-60°). This is often necessary when making masks for hair or face, which contain natural oils - when heated, they are better absorbed and have a much more noticeable effect.
It is necessary to prepare decoctions or infusions of herbs without losing a large amount of useful ingredients that are destroyed when boiled.
There is a need to heat products that are prone to changing structure under the influence of temperature - yolk, gelatin, etc.

Video: How to melt the base in a water bath and in the microwave

In all of the above cases, as well as in a number of others, it is very important to know how to make a water bath. It also has its own subtleties and rules, knowledge of which will allow you to avoid common mistakes.

First of all, a water bath will turn out great if the dishes are chosen correctly, but these are not all the details that are worth paying attention to.

Video: Water bath principle with music from Torchlight II

The lower pan or bowl should have a thick bottom and, if possible, thick walls. In this case, the boiling will not be so violent and drops of water will not fall into the mass you are preparing.
Be sure to cover the bottom of the lower dish with a clean linen or cotton towel - this will make the boiling even smoother, and this is the key to how to make a water bath.
The upper dish should be of such a diameter that its bottom touches the water column, but its walls remain in the air. In this position, the effect will be maximum - the upper bowl will be treated with hot steam, and the water will practically not touch it. Select dishes in advance that match each other in diameter, and remember this “pair” - next time you will save time searching for suitable vessels.
A water bath at home involves constantly stirring the mixture in the upper bowl. This helps to control all changes in consistency and not miss the moment when the bowl needs to be removed from the heat.
You should lower the bowl into a large saucepan only after the water has boiled in it, otherwise the process of heating the mixture being prepared will be disrupted, and the result may not turn out at all as desired.
When preparing decoctions of medicinal plants, you do not need to stir the mixture continuously, since burning will not happen. It is better to cover it with a lid to prevent essential oils, which are often the main active ingredients of traditional medicine, from evaporating.
If the diameter of the upper pan practically coincides with the lower pan, you should worry in advance about how it can be removed after heating.
How to make a water bath? There is nothing complicated about it!

It might be worth hanging it above the water using a thick thread or making improvised handles if there are none.

These are the basic rules on how to make a water bath without making mistakes. But even if you don’t succeed the first time, don’t worry. Two or three times - and you will develop the necessary skill that allows you to do everything easily and quickly.

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Cooking food in a water bath

In this case, cooking is carried out on the stove using the so-called double pan ban-mari, which is considered the most ancient. Water is poured into the lower container of the dish, and the product that will be cooked in a water bath is placed in the upper container.

In reality, this cooking method is quite simple. Structurally, it looks like two larger and smaller containers that are inserted into one another.

Water bath - how to make it at home, how to heat it

In this case, small dishes should be smaller in height in order to leave room for boiling water. During the boiling process, the water in the first container heats the liquid in the second. Moreover, the water in a larger container should not boil - ideally, cooking in a water bath involves boiling little by little over moderate heat.

Cooking food in a water bath

The second method, or cooking food in a water bath, is suitable for baking in the oven or heating on the stove, when a slightly different design is used. Externally, this is a container (or containers) that are placed in a large form, preferably on a grid, which ensures the necessary circulation of water under the bottom of the inner container.

When cooking in a water bath, hot water is poured into a large container, which should reach the middle of the height of the inner mold. It is noteworthy that this entire structure can remain open at the top, but it can also be closed (for example, with foil) - it depends on the requirements of the recipe. Sometimes the water bath itself is left open, and the inner mold is covered with foil.

A large form for cooking in a water bath is selected so that its height is more than 2/3 of the height of the inner container. A mold that is too high is also not suitable, since its walls will not only block heat flows, but also the water temperature may not even rise to 83°C, which will not allow the product to reach readiness.

For cooking in a water bath, the material from which the large mold is made is also important. For example, glass is a poor heat conductor, while thin steel is characterized by greater heat transfer. Thick cast iron, on the contrary, is able to accumulate heat. So, the most suitable form for cooking food in a water bath is a fairly thick aluminum one.

For a true connoisseur of a bath, it is not the broom that is important, but the soul of the bath – the steam. Fragrant and rich, inhaled by the body, it relaxes, heals and warms not only the body, but also the human soul. Herbal decoction in a water bath is the main ingredient that gives a complete feeling of pleasure from the entire ceremony.

Herbs suitable for baths

In steam rooms with a heater, you can use only natural infusions or decoctions for the bath. If you choose oils for this purpose, you will harm your eyes and be disappointed in the whole process once and for all.

Each herbal collection and individual herbs for preparing the infusion have their own strength, their own indications for use, and their own aromas.

Most often, herbs such as:

Oregano.
Stem, leaves and flowers are used. The best time for collection is the moment of flowering - early July. Our ancestors called it “motherland”; it is a female herb that has a beneficial effect on the female body as a whole. An infusion prepared from oregano will be useful in the bathhouse and for men it relieves tension, lowers blood pressure, and relaxes muscles. The smell of a summer meadow and freshly cut grass will lift your spirits and take you to a rural summer.
St. John's wort. Leaves and flowers are used for bath decoctions. Collections are prepared from early to mid-July, when the flowers are not fully in bloom. This herb is the best option during the cold winter months as the immune system needs support. For allergies and skin diseases, it treats the skin, relieves swelling and itching.
Mint. Throughout the summer, mint can be collected and used as raw materials for infusions; the leaves and flowers remain juicy. The pleasant smell of essential oils, which easily transform into a decoction and nourish it, brings a lot of pleasure, relaxes, improves immunity and heals the respiratory tract. Inhalation with this collection is useful at any time of the year, for both adults and children.
Linden. Linden blossoms and leaves collected in early July, when the flower buds have not yet fully opened, will bring the aroma of honey into your steam room, and for you - health and good mood. Linden accelerates the process of sweating, opening pores, eliminates excess fluid, speeds up metabolic processes, and helps fight excess weight. Linden infusions and decoctions make the bathhouse a spa-salon with aromatherapy.
Hop. Hop cones ripened in August–September contain such an amount of tannin that even the steam from the heater has a beneficial effect on the skin. Hops significantly reduces the oiliness of hair and skin, eliminates dandruff, and treats skin diseases. For excessive sweating of the feet, steam from a hop decoction is the best remedy, used from the very beginning of the history of the bathhouse. The high content of ascorbic acid and essential oils, penetrating into the lungs, helps cure coughs, accelerates the discharge of sputum, and alleviates “smoker’s cough.”
Yarrow. The leaves and flowers of this herb are a godsend for cosmetic procedures. Softening the skin, easily opening the pores, getting rid of acne and blackheads on the face - this is the least that a decoction of herbs in a yarrow water bath will give. The smell of the infusion, tart and thick, will help you relax, immerse yourself in peace and tranquility. Aromatherapy with yarrow is useful for people suffering from sleep disorders, mild irritability and fatigue.
Birch leaves. Young leaves, collected in early July, when the tree has fully gained strength and gives it to the foliage, are the most fragrant, and have that smell of a birch broom that is familiar to a sauna connoisseur. A strained decoction prepared in a water bath, generously poured over stones in a hot bath, can cope even with old colds, fungal diseases, disorders and diseases of the nervous system.
Pharmaceutical camomile. The flowers and leaves of this herb work wonders, and if the first signs of a cold have already appeared, it is worth making an infusion of chamomile. A bath with chamomile scent will put you on your feet, and its light aroma will relax you and give your body the smell of summer.

Why should the decoction be prepared in a water bath?

Herbs contain substances that begin to release their properties at the moment of active boiling. This moment should be the heater. Inhalation of essential oils should begin in the bathhouse.

If you prepare a decoction over a fire, you can lose the main ingredients of herbs that have a beneficial effect on the body, and only a pleasant aroma will be left for the bath.

For decoction you can use not only leaves and flowers, but also herb stems.

Water bath - how to work at home, how to heat

The stems, even in a dried state, contain essential oils and flavonoids that can enhance the activity of many enzymes in the body and accelerate skin regeneration.

Herbal decoctions for baths are a very delicate substance, and its preparation is a kind of ceremony.

How to properly prepare and use a decoction for a bath

As a rule, the ratio of dry raw materials and water for preparing a decoction is the same for various herbs - 1 tbsp per 250 ml of water. l. dry raw materials.

You can take a little less or a little more herbs to get a more or less rich decoction. In the process, you will choose the ideal ratio for yourself.

Preparation of decoctions in a water bath:

Place a pan of water on the fire and place a pan with a smaller diameter in it.
Pour 500 ml of water, add 2 tbsp. l. raw materials. Cover with a tight lid.
As soon as the water with herbs begins to boil, reduce the heat to low and keep in a water bath for 30 - 40 minutes.
Cool the finished broth along with the raw materials - it will release its properties into the water until it cools completely. The decoction water bath should cool down with the decoction pan.
Strain the broth through cotton wool placed between two layers of gauze.
Pour into a clean glass jar and close the lid tightly.
Before spraying the broth onto the heater, sprinkle it with clean hot water, and then, trying to create as many drops as possible, spray the broth. A broom is suitable for this purpose.
Alternate watering the heater with clean water and broth.

Recipes for decoction

Oregano and St. John's wort.

Take an equal volume of oregano and St. John's wort, and following the previous section, begin preparing the decoction in a water bath. This decoction is aromatherapy, but also enhances immunity. It makes skin and hair soft.

Mint, hops, oregano.

Mix 1 part mint, 1 part oregano, and 2 parts hops, and prepare a decoction from the resulting raw materials. The air in the steam room will be filled with particles of healing and aromatic steam. Colds and depression will bypass you.

Birch leaves and yarrow.

2 parts of birch leaves and 1 part of yarrow are mixed and a decoction is prepared. Using it in a bath will help cure bronchitis faster and facilitate the recovery process after a long cold. Wounds and pimples will dry out and heal faster.

Linden and hops.

Mix 2 parts linden, 1 part hops. A decoction of these ingredients will reveal the aroma of a sweet, intoxicating drink in the bathhouse. Your skin and hair will smell like honey for a long time. Through the lungs, the blood is saturated with particles of useful substances from the steam.

Oregano, St. John's wort, fireweed - tea.
2 parts each of oregano and St. John's wort, 1 part Ivan tea. Mix the raw materials and prepare a decoction. Use in a steam room for depression, nervous disorders, skin rashes.

Try to make the mixtures yourself, based on the purpose of the herbs, your taste, and preference in aromas. And you will find the ideal ratio and saturation for yourself.

Contraindications

Visiting the bathhouse and using this or that decoction is undesirable without consulting a doctor if you suspect pregnancy and have diseases such as:

cardiovascular diseases;
varicose veins;
undiagnosed skin diseases;
chronic lung diseases;
diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
some types of allergies.

Remember: you can steam not only with pleasure, but also with benefit.

Collection and preparation of medicinal plants

The collection and preparation of medicinal plants is carried out during the period when the beneficial substances in them reach their maximum concentration. Therefore, each plant has its own rules for collecting, drying and storing. However, there are also basic recommendations, for example:

it is necessary to collect and prepare raw materials in dry weather;
the harvesting time must coincide with the time of the beginning or full flowering of the plant;
the leaves collected must be fully expanded, the flowers must be in full bloom, and the fruits must be ripe;
When drying, the plant must not be allowed to rot: it should dry in the shade in a well-ventilated, dry room;
dried raw materials should be stored in paper or cloth bags, or in containers that close tightly;
leaves and flowers can be stored for 1 - 2 years, roots and bark - 2 - 3 years, fruits - 3 - 4 years.

Grinding and mixing medicinal plants

To prepare infusions and decoctions, one or more types of crushed (cut, crushed) plant materials are used.

When mixing several medicinal plants, the beneficial substances they contain are taken into account, which can either enhance, complement each other, or reduce their effect on the human body.

Based on their effect on the body, collections (mixtures) of medicinal plants are divided into restorative, sedative, hemostatic, acting on the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, and others.

The plant raw materials included in the mixture are crushed separately. Leaves, flowers, grass, bark are cut into small particles up to 5 mm in size, roots are crushed up to 3 mm, and seeds - up to 0.5 mm.

The weight parts of the prepared raw materials are mixed in the proportions specified in the recipe until a uniform mass is obtained, from which infusions and decoctions are then prepared.

Preparation of infusions

Infusions are prepared from loose parts of plants. These are flowers and leaves. They easily give up their beneficial substances.

Hot way

The crushed plant material is poured into an enamel, glass or porcelain vessel and filled with unboiled water, most often in a ratio of 1:10. That is, from one weight part of the raw material, ten volume parts of the infusion are obtained.

For example, taking 20 g of dried crushed raspberry leaves, you can get 200 ml raspberry infusion. For this:

in a boiling water bath (in a closed vessel), heat 200 ml of water with 20 g of raspberry leaves thrown into it for 15 minutes;
remove the infusion, cool for an hour, allowing to stand at room temperature;
filter through a layer of gauze. If after straining you get less infusion, for example, 190 ml, add another 10 ml of water.

You can prepare an infusion without a water bath, simply pour boiling water over the crushed plant particles.

Cold way

There is also a cold method of preparing the infusion. To do this, crushed plant particles are poured with boiled water at room temperature, covered with a lid and left for up to 12 hours.

Infusions are made using the cold method from those plants that lose their beneficial properties when heated (oils evaporate).

Mixed method

Infusions can also be prepared using a mixed method.

With the mixed method, plant materials, poured with boiled water at room temperature, are infused as in the cold method, and then filtered.

The mixture remaining after straining is poured with unboiled water and then prepared using a hot method.

After cooling the infusion prepared hotly, the two resulting infusions are mixed and taken according to the recommendations.

Preparation of decoctions

Rough parts of plants: roots, rhizomes, root crops, wood, bark - these are the raw materials for preparing decoctions. Decoctions in the human body are absorbed more slowly than infusions, but last longer.

First cooking option

In order to prepare a decoction, take the prepared raw material and put it in a bowl, pour cold water.

The ratio of raw materials and water depends on the method of using the decoction. If the decoction is intended for oral administration, this ratio is 1:10. If the decoction is needed for rubbing, compresses, that is, for external use, then the ratio is 1:5.

The raw materials filled with water are boiled for 20 - 30 minutes. After the broth has cooled, it is filtered. Some decoctions from raw materials containing tannins are recommended to be filtered immediately after boiling.

We must not forget that if the volume of the prepared broth has decreased, then it is necessary to add boiled water so that it becomes equal to the initial one.

Second cooking option

The raw materials for the decoction are placed in a bowl, poured with cold, unboiled water and, covered with a lid, left to infuse overnight. In the morning, boil for 5 - 7 minutes.

The mixture must be boiled in a container with a lid. The lid is removed only after 30 minutes of boiling.

Then the broth is filtered and, if necessary, boiled water is added to the initial volume.

Water bath

It is advisable to prepare infusions and decoctions in a water bath, as it allows you to heat substances up to 100ºC and, at the same time, prevents overheating and burning.

It's not at all difficult to make a water bath at home. To do this, take two containers: one larger, the other smaller, so that one fits into the other. It is advisable to use enamel dishes (pots, bowls) as containers.

The bottoms of the containers should not touch. To do this, it is desirable that the smaller container have handles with which it would hold the edges of the larger container. As a last resort, you can put something under a smaller container (for example, a cloth folded in several layers).

Water is poured into a large container so that when a smaller container is placed in it, it is immersed in water. However, when boiling, water from a large container should not fall into a smaller one.

The mixture of medicinal plants, filled with water, is placed in a smaller container and covered with a separate lid. The resulting structure is placed on fire. All! Your water bath at home is ready!

Next, infusions and decoctions are prepared according to the recipe. Infusions, as a rule, are not brought to a boil, since loose parts of plants easily release useful substances, which can be destroyed when boiling. Decoctions, on the contrary, need to be boiled (usually 10 - 20 minutes).

Using a water bath can easily prevent overheating of infusions at home.

How to make a water bath at home

To do this, after boiling water in a large container, turn on a small fire, sufficient to maintain the temperature close to boiling, but do not allow the water to boil. The temperature in the smaller container does not reach 100ºC.

Storing infusions and decoctions

Both decoction and infusions are best consumed fresh, as they quickly deteriorate. It is ideal to prepare them daily.

However, if you do not consume the entire decoction or infusion within 24 hours, then store it in the refrigerator or, as a last resort, in a cool place protected from light.

The maximum time during which decoctions and infusions can be stored is three days.

What does it mean to heat in a water bath, because many recipes require this, but do not explain how to do it? It's easy and you don't need to buy anything special; below we'll tell you how to do it.

This technology is used in many areas where something needs to be prepared. This could be cooking, making medicinal infusions, or cosmetics.

The principle of the method is simple: water is taken into a larger container and brought to a boil on the stove; when it boils, a smaller container is placed in it and the required product is prepared in it. It turns out that it is heated evenly at a constant temperature of 100 degrees.

This is the maximum useful processing method, products do not burn, do not stick to the walls, and retain maximum beneficial properties.

This is how it is usually prepared:

Creams for cakes;
Sauces;
Melt chocolate, honey, wax;
Medicinal herbal teas.

If you often have to resort to this cooking method, buy yourself a special unit, and these are now on sale. However, it will take up extra space in the kitchen and is not cheap, but the result is the same as from ordinary pans. So think before you spend money on it.

As you already understand, there is nothing complicated here, the main thing is not to get burned and observe some subtleties:

Take dishes with thick walls; they will heat up more evenly;
If the recipe says that you just need to heat the substance, do not bring it to a boil, it is enough for its surface to steam a little;
Sometimes you need to build a structure in the oven. The principle is the same, there are only some differences - in this case, the inner container should be closed or wrapped in two layers of foil and do not take a very high container, as you risk undercooking the contents;
Place the inner pan so that its bottom barely touches the outer one.

Many cosmetic masks require liquid honey or wax in the composition. This is understandable, honey is good for the skin, as nothing else smoothes it, cleanses and nourishes it, in addition, it acts as a moisturizer due to the fact that it tightly clogs the pores and moisture evaporates more slowly.

And if your skin is prone to inflammation, honey will calm it down, because it has long been used as an anti-inflammatory agent. To prepare a mask based on honey, you need to melt it, and it is important to try to preserve the maximum benefits, here’s how to do it:

Place the required amount of product in a small mug or bowl (preferably metal);
We heat (precisely heat) water in a larger saucepan and put honey in it;
We heat it in this way until ready.

Wax is often added to therapeutic masks, for example, for arthritis or for foot care - hair removal. You need to heat it as described above - the main thing is to heat it slightly, and it will retain maximum nutrients.

Not a single herbal tea is complete without chamomile; it disinfects and soothes, and also eliminates spasms, allergies, and cramps. All its advantages cannot be listed. But in order not to lose all the beneficial properties, it is better to prepare tea from it using the named technology. For this:

Pour 2 tablespoons of dry matter into a mug and pour water into it;
Cover with a lid;
Place in a water bath as usual for about 20 minutes;
Then remove and let it brew under the lid;
We strain and that’s it.

If, after cooking, the container with chamomile is very empty due to evaporation of the liquid, you can dilute the medicine by adding a little boiled water to it.

Use the finished product for its intended purpose - it is good for rinsing your mouth, throat, wiping your face before going to bed, or treating wounds. If you suffer from stomach problems, drink 2 times a day.

Brew other teas based on medicinal herbs in this way.

And if you need to heat the oil, is it possible to do it this way, because it simply won’t work any other way? Warm sunflower oil or any other oil, such as burdock oil, is often required for cosmetic purposes. You can put the bottle in a mug of hot water, but in this way you will only make it slightly warm, and warming it means bringing it to a temperature of at least 40 degrees:

Pour some liquid into a mug;
Place in boiling water, here it is better to use boiling water, since the oil is very thick and requires a higher temperature to heat it up;
Make sure that water does not get into the inner container;
We are waiting for it to begin to become covered with small bubbles;
Then turn it off.

All is ready. Why is this necessary, why won’t cold work? If you want to use burdock oil as a hair mask, it works best when warm. Applying it regularly to your hair will make it strong and thick.

So, you can heat almost anything in a water bath, the process will not take much time and effort. Therefore, if the recipe requires it, do not hesitate and do not look for other methods. Some advise using a microwave in this case; it will be difficult to prove whether it will be beneficial or harmful, but the option we described will definitely keep all the useful substances intact, which a microwave cannot guarantee.

Video: how to melt honey and preserve nutrients?

In this video, Polina Makarova will show you how a water bath works and how to melt honey with it:

Collection of answers to your questions

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Useful water bath: how to do it correctly at home

Folk recipes are full of advice on caring for the body and skin. And many of them mention a water bath. Many people are perplexed: what...

Folk recipes are full of advice on caring for the body and skin. And many of them mention a water bath. Many people are perplexed: what is this water bath? Without understanding the meaning, few people dare to try to prepare a miraculous recipe.

Let's figure out what is meant by a water bath, where it is used, and what is the use of it.

A water bath is a useful and indeed very necessary device used for heating various mixtures, products and their subsequent melting and cooking. In a bath like this (water), nothing burns, all the beneficial properties are perfectly preserved. We are talking about two saucepans in which ingredients for homemade cosmetics and medicines are prepared.

There are a variety of cases when the need for a water bath arises. Some melt butter, honey, chocolate in this way, while others need this bathhouse to make soap base. In a water bath you can prepare delicate cream for cakes and sauces for meat and fish dishes. Often such a device is used to prepare medicinal decoctions. Face masks, hair masks, nasal warming products (for example, honey cakes), and infusions are prepared in a water bath.

Pros of a water bath:

It preserves all the properties of the prepared ingredients.
You can achieve the necessary manipulations with products: melt, reheat.
Nothing sticks to the walls of the dishes. Products in such a bath do not burn.

It is important to note that it is in a water bath that excessive heating (overheating) of the ingredients does not occur, which is especially important for the preparation of high-quality products.

If you look hard enough, it is not difficult to find special devices for sale. We are talking about designs that are specifically designed for the convenience of preparing various products in a water bath. Not all housewives decide to buy a ready-made device for two reasons: firstly, any kitchen unit takes up a lot of space in the kitchen; secondly, the need for a water bath does not arise very often. That's why many people make do the old-fashioned way with two pans of different diameters.

Are you interested in how to make such a miracle bath? Everything is actually simple. The main thing is to know the nuances and subtleties. Take two pans, insert the smaller one into the larger one. Pour water into a large one and heat it. Place the necessary products and ingredients for heating in the small one.

It is important to take a large saucepan with a thick bottom, which will avoid violent boiling. To reduce boiling, you can place a linen or cotton napkin on the bottom of the pan. When placing the second pan, make sure its bottom just barely touches the water in the larger pan. This is how a water bath works: ingredients placed in a small saucepan are heated by the hot steam rising from the water in the large saucepan.

Please note the following important points:

If you do not want to ruin the product you are making, do not place a small pan in a large one until the water in it boils.
You can and should use a lid to cover the second small pan.
In order to avoid burns when lifting the top saucepan from the bottom, it is worth coming up with additional handles in advance.

Make a water bath at home several times, and you will definitely succeed. Experience comes with time. The main thing is to try and do. Using a water bath, you can create a wide variety of cosmetics and traditional medicines.

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How to make a water bath? There is nothing complicated about it!

A water bath is also called a "bain marie". It received this name due to the legend about its origin. According to legend, people used it as early as the 3rd century AD. A water bath is a useful tool for the home, made from two different sized pots. It is used for various household needs, for example, in cooking or for cosmetic procedures. This article will talk about how to make a water bath.

The process is actually very simple. To do this, take two pans. It is worth understanding that one should be smaller and the other larger so that the smaller one can easily fit into it. The resulting double pan needs to be placed on the stove. Water is poured into the lower pan, and the necessary ingredients are added to the upper one. This is how you get a water bath.

The smaller pan on top must have a rounded bottom. This is necessary so that the contents do not stick to the edges and can be stirred evenly. The top pan should also be made of thick stainless material. This property will ensure that a water bath created at home will heat up evenly. The presence of handles also plays a significant role. If they are missing, it will be inconvenient to hold the pan and rotate it. The water should not touch the bottom of the upper container. In addition, there must be at least 4 cm of distance between them. Do not allow water to boil during the process. Light steam production is ideal. To create the desired condition, it is enough to bring water to a boil in the lower pan without installing a second one. And only then install the top pan with the product.

How to make a water bath in the oven? Here the design will be different. To make it, you will need two containers, as in the previous case, one smaller, the other larger. Pour hot water into a large one to the middle of the inner container. This bath can be left open, or you can wrap it in foil. The inner mold should be closed or wrapped in a couple of layers of foil. The height of the larger form should be at least 2/3 of the height of the inner one. You should not take a container that is too high, since the water temperature will not be able to reach the desired level, and accordingly, the product will not be able to reach readiness. The advantage of this answer to the question of how to make a water bath is that no matter how hot the oven is, the water temperature cannot exceed 100 C.

This concludes the review, and now you know how to make a water bath. If you have never used it before, then we can say with confidence that you simply need to try it. If you strictly follow all the rules described above, then you will definitely succeed. The ability to make a water bath will come in handy in many situations - when preparing soup or individual ingredients, when creating homemade cosmetics, and when steaming medicinal infusions.

There are two types of water bath, which directly depend on indicators such as the name and quantity of products used, as well as the place of their preparation. Thus, it stands out cooking in a water bath And cooking in a water bath.

In this case, cooking is carried out on the stove using the so-called double pan ban-mari, which is considered the most ancient. Water is poured into the lower container of the cookware, and the product that will be cooked in the upper container is placed. water bath.

In reality, this cooking method is quite simple. Structurally, it looks like two larger and smaller containers that are inserted into one another. In this case, small dishes should be smaller in height in order to leave room for boiling water. During the boiling process, the water in the first container heats the liquid in the second. Moreover, the water in a larger container should not boil - ideally, cooking in a water bath involves boiling little by little over moderate heat.

Second method or cooking food in water The bath is suitable for baking in the oven or heating on the stove when a slightly different design is used. Externally, this is a container (or containers) that are placed in a large form, preferably on a grid, which ensures the necessary circulation of water under the bottom of the inner container.

For cooking in a water bath, the material from which the large mold is made is also important. For example, glass is a poor heat conductor, while thin steel is characterized by greater heat transfer. Thick cast iron, on the contrary, is able to accumulate heat. So, the most suitable form for cooking food in a water bath is quite thick aluminum.

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What does it mean to heat in a water bath, because many recipes require this, but do not explain how to do it? It's easy and you don't need to buy anything special; below we'll tell you how to do it.

What is it and how does it work?

This technology is used in many areas where something needs to be prepared. This could be cooking, making medicinal infusions, or cosmetics.

This is the maximum useful processing method, products do not burn, do not stick to the walls, and retain maximum beneficial properties.

This is how it is usually prepared:

Creams for cakes;
Sauces;
Melt chocolate, honey, wax;
Medicinal herbal teas.

How to make a water bath at home?

As you already understand, there is nothing complicated here, the main thing is not to get burned and observe some subtleties:

Take dishes with thick walls; they will heat up more evenly;
If the recipe says that you just need to heat the substance, do not bring it to a boil, it is enough for its surface to steam a little;
Sometimes you need to build a structure in the oven. The principle is the same, there are only some differences - in this case, the inner container should be closed or wrapped in two layers of foil and do not take a very high container, as you risk undercooking the contents;
Place the inner pan so that its bottom barely touches the outer one.

You can lower the dishes intended directly for the decoction only when the water has boiled. And be careful, if there is too much liquid - it may spill out when another vessel is immersed in it, it would be better to have a little less of it - estimate how large the cup with the substance will be and how much water it will displace, leave the required amount of free space for it.

Melt honey and wax in a water bath

Place the required amount of product in a small mug or bowl (preferably metal);
We heat (precisely heat) water in a larger saucepan and put honey in it;
We heat it in this way until ready.

Do not boil in this case, just heat the honey a little and it will melt, and the beneficial ingredients will retain their properties.

Chamomile decoction: how to prepare it?

Pour 2 tablespoons of dry matter into a mug and pour water into it;
Cover with a lid;
Place in a water bath as usual for about 20 minutes;
Then remove and let it brew under the lid;
We strain and that’s it.

If, after cooking, the container with chamomile is very empty due to evaporation of the liquid, you can dilute the medicine by adding a little boiled water to it.

Brew other teas based on medicinal herbs in this way.

How to heat oil in a water bath?

Pour some liquid into a mug;
Place in boiling water, here it is better to use boiling water, since the oil is very thick and requires a higher temperature to heat it up;
Make sure that water does not get into the inner container;
We are waiting for it to begin to become covered with small bubbles;
Then turn it off.

All is ready. Why is this necessary, why won’t cold work? If you want to use burdock oil as a hair mask, it works best when warm. Applying it regularly to your hair will make it strong and thick.

Video: how to melt honey and preserve nutrients?

In this video, Polina Makarova will show you how a water bath works and how to melt honey with it: