Pasta is a good-to-go dinner because it is so simple to prepare. Even if it is easy to prepare, you need to avoid some mistakes in order to have good pasta. Here are some pointers to help you in preparing your pasta.
#1 Use Enough Water
Pasta releases a lot of starch in the cooking process, so it is important to use enough water. If the water is not enough, the starches released will make the water thick and your pasta greasy. (Less water = more sticking)
The ratio of pasta to water should be: For every pound of pasta, 4 quarts/16 cups of water is required.
#2 Make sure the water is boiled before adding your pasta
The starch in the noodles will absorb the water as soon as they are added into the cooking water. Ensure the water is boiled so you won't cook your pasta for too long. Your pasta will get too soggy if they are added before the water boiled.
#3 Do not break your pasta
Long pasta is supposed to be eaten by turning your fork. If you break your pasta in half, you will have shorter strands to eat. The pasta will slip off and the sauce will drip easily. Use a bigger pot to cook your pasta and place one end of the pasta in boiling water. As the pasta softens, gently submerge the pasta.
#4 Stir your pasta constantly
When you add your pasta into the boiling water, be sure to stir them constantly so they won't stick together.
#5 Never add oil into your pasta water
Why not just add some oil so they won't stick together? The cooking oil added will coat your pasta and prevent your sauce from coating later on.
#6 Taste it as you cook
Don't follow exactly the cooking times stated on the packaging. Taste it as you cook instead to know when your pasta is done. This is because not all boiling water is the same, and they cook your pasta at a different speed. The best way to check the pasta is to get one noodle to taste.
#7 Use salt to flavor your pasta
Don't skip on adding salt to your cooking water. Add half a tbsp of salt to every pound of pasta you cook. This is to season the pasta.
#8 Strain your pasta as soon as it is done
Don't let your pasta sit in the pasta water and cool down. Even though the water is not boiling, but it will continue to cook the pasta. So the best practice is to strain the pasta as it is done.
#9 Adding your cooked pasta to your sauce
Instead of adding the sauce to your pasta, add your pasta to your hot sauce. This allows the pasta to cook in the sauce and absorb the flavor of the sauce. Once strained, add your pasta directly to your sauce and cook over low heat for 1-2 minutes.
#10 Save some pasta cooking water
Save some pasta water and add them to your sauce when you add the pasta. The starches of the cooking water can help the sauce to cling better to the pasta.
