Simmer on a stove usually means low heat just below a boil —enough for tiny bubbles, not a rolling boil.

What number it is

  • On many stoves with a 1–10 dial, simmer is often around 2 to 3 or 3 to 4 , depending on the stove.
  • On gas stoves, it often sits near the low-to-medium-low range rather than a specific exact number.
  • The safest way to judge it is by the food: you want small, gentle bubbles and light steam, not vigorous bubbling.

Easy rule

  • Boil: lots of fast bubbles.
  • Simmer: a few slow bubbles breaking the surface.
  • Too low: barely any movement at all.

For soups, sauces, and stews, start higher to get liquid hot, then turn it down until it just barely bubbles.

TL;DR: simmer is usually around 2–3 on many stoves , but the exact value depends on the stove model.