Pasta is the most basic of Italian dishes. It’s the most well-known and it’s available all over the world. However, it’s easy to get it wrong and end up with a soggy, uninspiring mess.
These are the 7 most common mistakes some people probably don’t realise:
1. Not using a large enough cooking pot
This is most likely the most common “Pasta cooking” mistake. The very minimum that the experts recommend is four quarts of water for one pound of pasta. But Italian chefs and pasta experts use more than that; between five and six quarts of water for each pound of pasta. This gets the very best results.
Why is all that water necessary?
Because pasta needs enough space to move around to cook properly. Not using enough water causes the pasta to stick to the side of the pan, which makes it thick, sticky and unpleasant. When you use enough water you will notice the difference in the taste and texture.
2. Adding oil to the cooking pot
It’s difficult to say where this idea originated but 44% of Americans say they add olive or other oil to their cooking water.
However, it makes the pasta too slick for any sauce to adhere to it properly. It will not stick together if you use enough water and remember to stir your pasta frequently while it is cooking. As a result – There is no need to add oil.
3. Not adding salt to the water
Because we are constantly warned about the dangers of salt in our diets, many cooks will add only a tiny pinch of salt or none at all.
This is a mistake. Pasta needs plenty of salt because salt “roughs up” the surface and keeps it from becoming slimy. Add about a teaspoon of salt per gallon of water.
4. Adding the pasta to the water before the water has boiled
Pasta must be cooked from the beginning in boiling water. When the water has reached a full rolling boil, add the pasta to the pot. When you add the pasta, the water will stop boiling, so make sure you get it back to a boil as soon as possible. Putting pasta in cold water and then heating it ensures that the pasta will not cook properly.
5. Not stirring the pasta once it is cooking
While the pasta is cooking, it must be stirred. This prevents it from sticking together (especially spaghetti and linguine). When pasta doesn’t stick together it all cooks consistently.
6. Overcooking the pasta
When it comes to cooking pasta, the key is to keep testing it as you go. Start testing the pasta about a minute before the recommended cooking time on the package expires. It’s done when it’s slightly firm to the bite, which the Italians refer to as “al dente” (firm but not crunchy).
7. Rinsing the pasta after cooking
51% of Americans say they rinse their pasta right after it’s cooked. This ruins perfectly good pasta. When pasta is al dente, it has just the right amount of starches on the surface to absorb the sauce you’ll serve with it, which is where pasta gets its flavour. These important starches are washed away when you rinse.
If you avoid the mistakes above, you will be cooking pasta correctly. Also, the key to perfect pasta is the ingredients.
Make sure you have the best pasta to cook! In Farmland Fruits & Veggies we only sell the best ingredients for you to have.
And the great news is we have 20% off for all kinds of pasta at our store.
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