One of my favorite dishes is pasta carbonara. I actually like everything with pasta. You have so many pasta types. Whether it concerns spaghetti noodles, Fettuccini, linguine, pappardelle or tagliatelle, the different textures give so much more than just a bunch of strings. Cooking is one of the most important parts of pasta. Of course you want pasta to be cooked properly, but how do you actually do that? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how to cook pasta.
What is the definition of Cooking Pasta
The meaning of cooking pasta is:
”Before you can eat pasta, you have to cook it until it is done. You bring pasta to a boil in a pan with water and salt”.
Cooking Pasta
Cooking pasta is actually not that difficult. You just have to know exactly what to do and you will always cook the perfect pasta. However, when you are cooking pasta there are a few rules that will apply every time.
You may not have heard of these rules, but they should give you exactly the guidance you need. The rules are as follows:
- Always add salt to the water
- Use the measure of 75 grams of pasta per person
- To make the water boil faster, put a lid on the pan. Remove this afterwards if it has started cooking.
- Always use a large pan for the pasta with a lot of water
- Do not put the pasta in the pan until the water is boiling
These are the basic rules of pasta cooking. You will always have to apply these rules and you will be well on your way to making the perfect pasta.
Best Way to Cook Pasta
You now know the rules before cooking the pasta. Now I’m going to tell you the steps that you need to take for the perfect pasta every time:
- Place a large pan on the stove and fill it with water
- Add a good amount of salt and put a lid on the pan
- Bring the water to a boil
- Remove the lid from the pan and add the pasta
- How long you have to cook the pasta is indicated on the package. Try to taste the pasta 1 minute before the pasta can come out.
- Before you drain the pasta make sure to keep some pasta water aside for the sauce.
- Drain the pasta. You can now mix the pasta with the sauce
These steps probably sound quite logical. What you should not forget is step 6. Just think to yourself, how often have you kept pasta water aside for the sauce? If you make pasta carbonara, you need pasta water. It has happened to me a number of times that you quickly pour off all the pasta and then think: I needed that for the sauce. Usually some pasta water will remain in the pan. If you use a colander, you will of course lose everything.
Another important tip that I think will help you. Do you ever rinse your pasta with cold water if you want to use it for a salad? Never do that again. This is bad for the pasta. The pasta contains a starch layer. If you have a sauce, it will stick to the starch layer. Instead of rinsing the pasta, the best tip is to add olive oil and mix it together. Stop rinsing your pasta!
How to Cook Pasta
Equipment
- Large pan
- Lid
- Wooden spoon
Ingrediënten
- 150 grams Spaghetti
- Salt
- 2 liter Water
Instructies
- Place a large pan on the stove and fill it with water
- Add a good amount of salt and put a lid on the pan
- Bring the water to a boil
- Remove the lid from the pan and add the pasta
- How long you have to cook the pasta is indicated on the package. Try to taste the pasta 1 minute before the pasta can come out.
- Before you drain the pasta make sure to keep some pasta water aside for the sauce.
- Drain the pasta. You can now mix the pasta with the sauce
Nutrition
FAQ How to Cook Pasta
Below you can find the most frequently asked questions:
What is cooking pasta?
Before you can eat pasta, you have to cook it until it is done. You bring pasta to a boil in a pan with water and salt.
How long do you need to cook pasta?
Start by adding the pasta if the water is boiling with the lid off. Check the indication time on the pasta package. 1 minute before the end taste the pasta. The time of cooking depends really on the pasta type.
How much pasta is the guideline for 1 person?
I recommend to use 75 gram for each person.