How does this work - spoon on boiling pan

[Chickadee]

If you put a wooden spoon on a boiling pan (of water, milk etc) it stops the contents boiling over. How?

[pingu748]

It works with a metal one too .. either one absorbs heat and reduces, temporarily the temperature of the water and stopping the pan boiling over.

[gallapunk]

I never knew that, I'm going to try it.

[CHOPSUEY]

Or you could just keep an eye on the pan...

[Whickerman]

One drop of oil in the pan of water - vegetable, olive sunflower - will do exactly the same thing.

[rac1984]

it also works if you pour a glass of fizzy pop and its about to bubble over! (it doesnt have to be a spoon!) Dont know if its the same theory

[keyplus90]

The real theory is that when milk or whatever is about to boil over it forms a very thin layer at the top which captures the heat like a pressure cooker. That is what makes it boil over. But spoon breaks it apart as soon as it hit it and that releases the pressure. Easy