h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In this entry

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/A592481

it states that at high altitudes, it is more difficult to boil an egg and above 3,000M its near impossible

if you put a lid on the saucepan would that increase the pressure enough to boil the egg??

Only if it was a pressure cooker lid as this allows the atmospheric pressure in the pan to increase and thereby increase the temperature that the water boils at.

t.

Boil's Law?

Here's a link to Colorado State University Extension's High Altitude Food Preparation Guide:

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/p41.html

And here's one from the USDA that has a section on using a pressure cooker at high altitude:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/High_Altitude_Cooking_and_Food_Safety/index.asp#13