How Do You Cook Pasta? 6 Easy Ways!

How Do You Cook Pasta? 6 Easy Ways!

For an avid pasta lover, this question might cross your mind: how do you cook pasta?

Well, pasta is a simple dish to cook, but there are secrets to making perfect pasta.

Pasta is a staple food of Italians, but it gains recognition worldwide due to its rich taste and quick preparation.

Many people think that they already know the ways of cooking this easy dish, and I'm not here to doubt your cooking skills. 

But you might be missing out on some cooking techniques that can improve the dish. 

If you're eager to know more, just keep on scrolling.

Ways On How You Cook Pasta

In the question, how do you cook pasta? Pasta is known to be an easy-to-cook meal, just boil some water and add the noodles. 

And voila! Dinner is served, but there are times that the supposed to be the simplest dish proves to be the trickiest one. 

We aim to cook pasta that sticks to the pan, neither hard nor too soft.

Boiling it for a few minutes, you'll get mushy noodles. Cooking it a few minutes less, you'll have tough and gooey pasta.

If you're confused and wondering, relax; you can still enjoy pasta in your way.

We'll give you some helpful tips to achieve the perfect pasta you wanted. 

To know more, just keep on scrolling, folks.

Step #1. Pick your cooking pot

You can use any type of pot for cooking, whether it's a small, large, or deeper pot. 

It depends on the quantity of pasta you are cooking.

Choose a spacious pot for your noodles to ensure there's enough space for your long and thin noodles.  

The too crowded pot will make the pasta stick and cook unevenly, and you don't want that to happen.

Know that the larger pot you'll use, the more water you'll need.

Step #2. Put a lot of cold water

Using plenty of water prevents the pasta from sticking to the pan.

Don't let the urge of putting a small amount of water to make it boil faster. 

Fight your hunger while cooking pasta because if you put less water, this might give you mushy noodles. 

So, for every 12 ounces of pasta, you must use four quarts of water. 

And the reason we use cold water is that hot water dissolves contaminants too quickly. Some home pipes contain minerals that leak in your water.  

If your water is mixed with some impurities, this can sometimes affect the flavour of your pasta. 

Step #3. Be generous in adding salt

Add a generous amount of salt to the boiling water. One tablespoon of salt for every sixteen cups of water must be added.

It doesn't matter if it tastes too salty for your liking; this helps boost the pasta's flavour. 

Don't be anxious about the high sodium level; the pasta does not absorb the sodium content. Most of the salt will drain with the water later on. 

Step #4. Bring the water to a complete boil

If you're one of the impatient cooks, know that preparing pasta takes patience. Just wait for a few minutes until there big bubbles when you're boiling the water.

The temperature is important because the texture and doneness of pasta depending on the right amount of heat.

And remember not to put pasta too soon even if you're in a hurry.

The pasta will cook quicker if the water is correctly boiled to a temperature. This will help in making the pasta not get too mushy.

This may sound obvious but do not forget to stir even if you're in a rush. 

It is a simple step, though. Without this, your pasta will surely stick to the pan.

Step #5. Do not add oil

Another factor to consider while cooking pasta is not to add oil. 

This might be one of the main misconceptions while cooking pasta.

Oil helps in preventing the pasta from sticking together and boiling over. 

Though it might be a good help, oil can keep the sauce from sticking to the pasta.

Even after you drain, there's still oil sticking to the noodles because oil does not mix with water.

Step #6. Cooking time

The important key in cooking perfect pasta is the proper timing. Start your timer the moment your water boils after putting the noodles on the water.

Do not just rely on the instruction from the packaging itself. But, the best tool is your mouth.

To test the pasta's doneness, you must check it through tasting after four minutes.

Most of the kinds of pasta can be cooked anywhere from eight to twelve minutes.

Note that pasta can overcook quickly; it should be firm and tender when tasted. 

Al dente is the term Italians used to describe the correct level of doneness when preparing pasta, vegetables, and risotto.

Most importantly, the pasta's cooking time still depends on its size, thickness, and type.

Final Words

I hope your query on how do you cook pasta has been answered.

Just remember that cooking pasta is not that hard. It only requires patience and proper execution of techniques mentioned earlier.

The process of preparation still depends on the amount and type of pasta you used.

So don't stop indulging in that delicious and rich pasta. There are so many unique ways you can enjoy this dish. 

Always note that eating healthy and in moderation is the key to live vigorously.

Speaking of health, I suggest you opt for 100% Italian organic pasta from Torre & Olive. 

Know that your dedication, reading the article up to this point, is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

As I end this article, may you ponder with this quote: "Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting." By Anonymous