Why do you add couscous to boiling water?

All recipes for couscous I've seen instruct to add the couscous to already boiling water.
Why is that so? What difference does it make if it will be added to boiling water or cold water on the stove?
Best Answer
You don't really 'cook' cous-cous, it's already cooked - you just need to rehydrate it sufficiently, without getting it too wet & going sloppy.
Starting with boiling water give you a better time-reference - 5/10/15 minutes from that known start-point, depending on the specific cous-cous type. You switch off the heat as soon as you add [or in many cases just pour water onto it fresh from the kettle then let stand.]
Starting from cold would introduce an unknown variable - how long does it take to boil?
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Do you add couscous to boiling water?
After you bring your water or broth to a boil with a \xbd teaspoon of salt, add your couscous. To give it a smoother texture, add in butter or oil with the couscous. Stir, cover, and let stand for 5 minutes once you remove it from the heat. You can also enjoy couscous as a cereal.How do you make couscous less soggy?
With too much liquid, your couscous will go soggy. With not enough, it'll be hard. So, take the time to make all measurements accurately. For every 2/3 cup couscous, you should add 1 cup of boiling water or (preferably) stock.Do you just add water to couscous?
Just place the couscous in the serving dish, add boiled water and let it stand covered for 5 minutes. Open and fluff with a fork to separate the granules. That is it! Whenever I am short on time for cooking dinner, couscous is my grain savior.What is the general cooking technique for couscous?
Use a ratio of 1\xbd cups of water per 1 cup of couscous. Bring the water to a boil either on the stove or in the microwave. Pour the couscous into the boiling water, cover, and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. When the granules have absorbed all the liquid, fluff the cooked couscous with a fork and serve.How to Cook Couscous
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