However, few probably think about what it does to the water. 

Ballarat Secondary College East Campus students Jasmine Gauci and Mia Delmage set out to answer that very question as part of their challenge to win the Peter Doherty Science Award presented by Federation University. 

The pair reached the final and presented their findings to a panel of scientists who picked the students to win the award. 

Mia admitted to being surprised by the result. 

After weeks of conducting investigations, the pair discovered that the boiling point of water increased as salt was added.

“In cooking recipes, it says to add salt to the water and we wondered why?” Mia said. 

“I think it is because it raises the boiling point, it makes the pasta cook quicker.”

The award has been held every year for six years. 

The pair won a combined $250 for the award, but have not decided on the best way to spend their prize. 

Fellow BSC students Gabriella Dumesny and Georgia Baron were also finalists in the award for their research into inattentional blindness.

matthew.dixon@fairfaxmedia.com.au