What is boilover?

A boilover is a phenomenon that can occur during the cooking or heating of certain liquids, particularly oils and fats. It happens when the liquid in the pan becomes extremely hot, above its smoke point, and starts to break down. This causes it to boil rapidly and can create a dangerous situation where the hot liquid spews out of the container and ignites, often causing a fire. Boilovers can be prevented by keeping a watchful eye on the cooking process, using a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the liquid and avoiding overfilling the pan. If a boilover occurs, it is important to act quickly to remove the pan from the heat source and use appropriate safety measures, such as a fire extinguisher, to contain any flames.