For something so simple, it sure can go wrong!
If you want in on the secret, follow these easy tips for perfect pasta every time.
Tips for Cooking Perfect Pasta
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Preparing to Cook the Pasta
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Use a Big Enough Pot
Be sure to use a pot large enough to hold the pasta without crowding. Pasta needs to move around in boiling water.
- Keep in mind that most dried pasta doubles in volume when cooked.
- For 1 pound of pasta, use a pot that holds a minimum of 6 quarts of water.
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Don't Add Olive Oil
Don’t add olive oil to the cooking water. Oil coats pasta, and it prevents sauce from sticking.
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Bring Cold Water to a Full Boil
Use only cold or cool water for cooking pasta. Bring the water to a full, rolling boil.
- To bring the water to a boil more quickly, cover the pot with a lid.
- If the water's not at rolling boil, the noodles release natural starches that act like glue, causing them to stick together.
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Cooking the Pasta
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Stir Lightly with a Wooden Spoon
Stir the pasta two to three times during the cooking process with a long, wooden spoon.
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Don't Cover the Pot
While the pasta is cooking, do not cover the pot with a lid.
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Don't Overcook It
Pasta can easily overcook. The only way to know when it's ready taste it. Keep in mind that pasta continues to cook when you remove it from the stove, drain it, and coat it in sauce.
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Perfect al Dente
There should be a light resistance, or chewiness, when biting it. It should not be soft or overdone, or have a hard center.
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Stop the Cooking Process
To stop pasta from cooking once it’s reached the al dente stage, add 1/2 to 1 cup of cold water to the hot pasta water. This lowers the temperature and stops the cooking process. Drain as usual.
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After Cooking the Pasta
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Don't Rinse It
Never rinse pasta. Rinsing removes most of the starches and nutrients.
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Use the Cooking Water
Consider adding a small amount of reserved cooking water to pasta sauce for added flavor or to thin a thick sauce.
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