How To Cook Pasta Like A Pro - Jessica Gavin

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Do you want to learn how to cook pasta with restaurant-quality results? The method may seem straightforward, but doing these simple steps ensures the perfect al dente texture.

Jessica’s Recipe Science

• Adding pasta to boiling water sets surface starches quickly, preventing mushiness and maintaining texture and structure.
• Stirring the pasta initially and occasionally keeps them separate and helps them cook uniformly by distributing heat evenly.
• Reserving pasta water for sauces adds starch that helps thicken and bind the sauce to the noodles.

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“Thank you for the most informative description of how to pasta. Cooking noodles the proper way is something many people do not know, but you have made it crystal clear. You and Alton Brown are my favorite cooks.”—Ronald S.

Why It Works

Pasta is a staple ingredient that pairs well with just about any sauce, vegetable, or protein you can name. There are so many possibilities: carbonara, spaghetti and meatballs, macaroni and cheese, or a cool pasta salad. It’s no wonder so many side dishes and weeknight dinners start with noodles.

But for how simple it is, made of nothing more than eggs, flour, and sometimes water, there is an art to cooking it. For example, adjusting how much salt you add is a game-changer. You can certainly boil water and throw in the noodles without another thought. However, a few simple tweaks will take your homemade pasta dishes to the restaurant’s quality level.

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• Jessica’s Recipe Science
• Why It Works
• How to Cook Pasta
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Recipe Details

How to Cook Pasta

Step 1: Boil the Water

Use an extra-deep pot like a Dutch oven to boil pasta. It ensures that long types of pasta, like spaghetti, can be fully submerged. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat. Have your cooking salt handy; I prefer sea salt or kosher salt. Add the salt to the boiling water — and not a second before it boils.

Salt increases the boiling point of water, making it take slightly longer to reach a boil. The boiling process is your opportunity to add flavor from the cooking water to the noodles themselves. Without it, you rely solely on the ingredients mixed into your pasta dish to bring the flavor.

Tips for Perfect Execution: My rule of thumb is to add 1 tablespoon of salt for every 4 quarts of water (16 cups), which is enough for 1 pound of pasta. When cooked in this salted water, the pasta absorbs just ¼ teaspoon of sodium per pound, totaling around 575 milligrams.

Step 2: Stir the Pasta

Once you add the pasta to the pot, the water temperature will drop slightly. As long as it reaches a full boil before, it should quickly heat back up to a boil before your noodles are in danger of getting mushy. However, because some of those surface starches from the pasta will begin to release immediately, they can stick together and to the sides of the pot if you don’t stir them.

Ingredient Chemistry: Adding pasta to boiling water matters. When pasta hits cold water, its surface starches hydrate prematurely, leading to a mushy texture. Boiling water cooks the surface quickly, allowing it to set and preventing the noodles from becoming overly soft. This ensures a well-textured noodle that maintains its structure throughout cooking.

Step 3: Cook the Pasta

Plan on cooking dry noodles for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on the pasta type. Start checking them after four minutes because the time can vary depending on their size. If you’ve made a fresh homemade pasta recipe, it may take 2 to 10 minutes.

Expert Tip: If adding pasta to a pan for a casserole that will continue cooking in the oven, like a meat lasagna recipe, stop cooking when it’s al dente. If making a cold pasta dish, like an Italian pasta salad, cook until just past al dente to soak up more of the dressing.

Step 4: Drain, then Serve

Drain the pasta in a colander in the sink. Don’t let it sit too long, or they will begin to stick together due to the pasta starches released in the water. I like to reserve some of the starchy pasta water water to thicken and season the pasta sauce. I do this with my chicken alfredo recipe or when I make a light sauce for my kid’s favorite butter and parmesan pasta.

Pro Tip: If making a cold pasta salad, rinse the drained hot pasta with cool water to stop the cooking process. If not used right away, tossing the pasta in a small amount of olive oil can reduce sticking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a serving size of pasta?

As a baseline, 2 ounces of dried pasta is half a cup, which will turn into 1 cup cooked. This can vary based on the pasta shape. It can range up to ¾ cup for larger short-cut pasta. For long strands like spaghetti, when held together in a bundle, the bottom diameter is about ¾ inch or the size of a dime. Dried pasta about doubles in size when cooked.

What is al dente?

The perfect al dente pasta should be mostly chewy but with a little resistance and a slightly firm center. If you cut it in half, you might see that the center is less hydrated. That’s a good sign that it’s time to stop cooking. After all, al dente means “to the tooth” in Italian. Most pasta packages will provide cooking times for cooking al dente noodles. If not, turn off the heat about two or three minutes before the cooking duration it does provide.

How long to cook pasta?

It depends on the brand type of pasta you’re using. Start by following the instructions on the package. Typically, most dried pasta cooks in about 8 to 12 minutes in boiling water. Thinner pasta, like angel hair, takes half the time. Short-cut penne takes 9 to 11 minutes. Taste to ensure it’s cooked to your desired doneness. Al dente is the way to go for that perfect bite!

How long to cook fresh pasta?

Fresh pasta cooks much quicker than dried pasta, usually in just 1 to 3 minutes, or up to 10 minutes for thicker pasta once it’s added to boiling water. The key is to keep an eye on it and taste it for that perfect al dente texture. Fresh pasta cooks fast, so be ready to drain it as soon as it’s done to prevent overcooking.

Why should you reserve the pasta cooking water?

Reserve a few cups of pasta water before you drain. The starch in the noodles will help thicken any sauce. It will also be a little salty, adding flavor to homemade sauces.

What are other ways to cook pasta?

Instead of boiling pasta traditionally, it can also be microwaved, steamed, or cooked in an Instant Pot. To use less water and infuse more water into a dish, I like to use smaller volumes of water or broth to make one pot pasta.

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How to Cook Pasta

Pasta is such a simple ingredient, pairing well with just about any spice, flavor, or protein, no wonder so many weeknight dinners start with noodles. Pin Print SaveSaved! Review 4.89 from 76 votes Prep Time10 minutes minsCook Time15 minutes minsTotal Time25 minutes mins Servings 8 servingsCourse EntreeCuisine Italian

Ingredients USMetric 1x2x3x

• ▢ 4 quarts water
• ▢ 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• ▢ 1 pound dried pasta

Instructions

• Boil the Water – In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Stir in the salt until dissolved.
• Stir the Pasta – Add the pasta to the water and stir a few times to prevent the noodles from sticking together.
• Cook the Pasta – Cook the pasta according to package directions, stirring occasionally, until al dente or softer depending on the desired texture.
• To Serve – Drain the pasta. Some recipes call for saving the pasta water to add to the sauce. Toss the pasta with the desired sauce. Alternatively, if using the pasta in a salad, add iy to a colander and rinse with cold water for about 1 minute, stirring until cooled down.

Recipe Video

Notes

• Storing: Cool and store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Facts

Serves: 8 servings Calories 210kcal (11%)Carbohydrates 42g (14%)Protein 7g (14%)Fat 1g (2%)Saturated Fat 1g (5%)Sodium 3mgPotassium 126mg (4%)Fiber 2g (8%)Sugar 2g (2%)Calcium 12mg (1%)Iron 1mg (6%)

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.

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