Salt water, pasta

Salt prevents pasta from sticking while cooking. Salt water has a lower boiling point and will reach a boil faster. Therefore, add the salt to the water in order to expediate the cooking process.

Salt water

Adding salt to water lowers its boiling point, so you'll reach a boil faster.

Boiling Eggs

If you place an uncooked egg into a pot of boiling water, the egg will crack due to its fluid interior going from hot to cold quickly, thus expanding just as quickly, in the process. If you're going to boil eggs, have the eggs in the water as you're boiling the water.