How To Cook Pasta
- November 17, 2008
- 8,714 Views
Writer
Howcast
Music
Edison Music Corp
Voice Over Artist
Liv Rooth
Cooking perfect pasta isn’t hard. Then again, cooking mushy or crunchy noodles is dangerously easy
You Will Need
- A stove
- A large pot with lid
- Fresh cold water
- The pasta of your choice
- And a large colander
- Salt
Step 1: Pour water into pot
For each pound of pasta you want to cook, pour 6 quarts of fresh, cold water into a large pot.
Step 2: Put pot on burner
Put the pot on your stove’s largest burner to make sure the heat is evenly distributed, and turn the burner to “High.”
Add a few pinches of salt to the water and cover the pot to reach a faster boil.
Step 3: Boil water
Wait for the water to come to a full, rolling boil.
Step 4: Slide pasta into pot
Slide the pasta slowly into the pot to avoid splashing the scalding-hot water.
A bundle of dry spaghetti about the diameter of a quarter will yield one cup of cooked pasta.
Step 5: Cover pot
Cover the pot and wait for the water to return to a full boil.
Step 6: Lower heat
When the water is boiling again, remove the cover, lower the heat to “Medium-High,” and stir frequently. Cooking times vary for different types of pasta—consult your package.
Step 7: Taste
When your pasta is nearing the end of its cooking time, use a long-handled spoon to fish out a piece. Taste it to see whether it’s done—just be careful not to burn your mouth!
Most pasta should be served al dente, or “to the tooth” in Italian. It’s the point when the pasta offers a slight resistance at its center.
Step 8: Pour pasta into colander
When the pasta is ready, put a large colander in your sink and pour the contents of the pot into it. Shake the colander to remove excess water.
Do not rinse the pasta. It will bind better with the sauce if it hasn’t been cooled down before they meet.
Step 9: Serve
Serve your pasta as soon as possible after cooking it to capture the true glory of its flavor.
Dried pasta was likely introduced to Italy by Arabs in the 8th century.
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Comments (3)
Better add Salt after the water is boiling because Salt slow down this precess
over 3 years ago by ValentinoFly
I'm italian and is not the best way , actually pasta is been introduce by Marco Polo after visiting China .
over 2 years ago by alexvillani
better add some vegetable oil to prevent the broth from splling out of the pot
about 1 year ago by fasekun
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