Scientists and spaghetti lovers have already researched — and debunked — the myth about a watched pot never boiling. But what about the rest of the rumors swirling around the topic?

Myth No. 1: Putting a lid on a pot makes water boil faster.
Keeping the lid on will keep steam, and therefore heat, from escaping. The result: Your water might boil a tiny bit sooner, but not enough for you to notice.

Myth No. 2: Cold water boils faster than hot.
Simply put, cold water has more degrees to go before reaching 212° F, and therefore it takes longer to boil.

Myth No. 3: Adding salt to water makes it boil faster.
“Adding 1 tablespoon of salt to 6 quarts of water raises the boiling point by .06 degree,” says professor of chemistry Robert Wolke. That means it would take slightly longer for the water to boil. But the bottom line is that the changes (in both temperature and time) are so negligible that they are inconsequential.