12 Simple Pasta Cooking Tips Everyone Should Know
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Tips, tricks, and tweaks that'll take your pasta from good to great.
Pasta is the ultimate weeknight dinner. It's cheap, easy, and satisfying.
So we rounded up 12 basic pasta cooking tips to keep in mind the next time you make it — from how to properly salt the water to why you should never rinse it.
1. Pick the right pasta shape for the sauce you're serving it with.
4. Learn how to properly salt your pasta water.
5. And wait to add the salt until after the water is boiling.
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As soon as pasta is added to boiling water, it starts to release its starches. This is the time during the cooking process in which the pasta is most likely to stick together, so stir it constantly for the first two minutes.
As soon as pasta is added to boiling water, it starts to release its starches. This is the time during the cooking process in which the pasta is most likely to stick together, so stir it constantly for the first two minutes.
8. Reserve some cooking water to help make your sauces silky smooth and cling to the pasta.
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Many chefs refer to pasta water as liquid gold, and it can be used for everything from fettuccini Alfredo to cacio e pepe. Because pasta water contains starches, it is able to thicken sauces and make them glossy — so before you strain your pasta, reserve a cup or two of the cooking liquid just in case.
Many chefs refer to pasta water as liquid gold, and it can be used for everything from fettuccini Alfredo to cacio e pepe. Because pasta water contains starches, it is able to thicken sauces and make them glossy — so before you strain your pasta, reserve a cup or two of the cooking liquid just in case.
9. Keep in mind that rinsing your pasta is almost always a bad idea.
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Rinsing pasta washes off the starches — which is not usually a good thing. The only times rinsing pasta comes in handy is when you're trying to quickly cool it down to make pasta salad, or when you plan to stir-fry the pasta and don't want it to stick to the pan.
Rinsing pasta washes off the starches — which is not usually a good thing. The only times rinsing pasta comes in handy is when you're trying to quickly cool it down to make pasta salad, or when you plan to stir-fry the pasta and don't want it to stick to the pan.
10. Don't let your pasta hang out in the colander after you strain it.
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If you let your pasta sit in the colander after straining, chances are it'll stick together. Cooked pasta is coated in starch, so it will naturally glue together. To avoid this, add the strained pasta to your sauce right away or toss it in a bit of olive oil.
If you let your pasta sit in the colander after straining, chances are it'll stick together. Cooked pasta is coated in starch, so it will naturally glue together. To avoid this, add the strained pasta to your sauce right away or toss it in a bit of olive oil.
11. Add your pasta to the sauce, not your sauce to the pasta.
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By adding pasta to sauce (and not the other way around) it allows the pasta and sauce to meld together. If you're serious about your pasta, you should undercook it by one minute, add it to a hot pan with sauce, and let it cook in the sauce for the final minute. This will give the pasta a superior flavor and texture and marry the sauce and pasta together into one complete dish rather than two separate components.
By adding pasta to sauce (and not the other way around) it allows the pasta and sauce to meld together. If you're serious about your pasta, you should undercook it by one minute, add it to a hot pan with sauce, and let it cook in the sauce for the final minute. This will give the pasta a superior flavor and texture and marry the sauce and pasta together into one complete dish rather than two separate components.
12. Toss leftover pasta with olive oil to prevent it from sticking together — and learn how to reheat it properly.
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Leftover pasta that hasn’t been tossed in sauce should be coated in just enough olive oil to prevent it from sticking together — about one or two tablespoons.
Leftover pasta that hasn’t been tossed in sauce should be coated in just enough olive oil to prevent it from sticking together — about one or two tablespoons.
To reheat leftover sauced pasta, microwave it with a tablespoon or two of water or a bit of extra sauce so it doesn't dry out.
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