How to cook pasta

How to Cook Pasta

So, you’re standing in the grocery store looking at an endless display of pasta noodles and you ask yourself, «How do you cook pasta?» The good news is, it’s not hard. In fact, it’s one of the easiest bits of cooking you can do. Still, there are a few simple tricks to master so your pasta turns out just right. We’ll show you how to cook pasta, including how long to cook pasta, and answer some frequently asked questions about how to cook pasta noodles.

How to Cook Pasta

Ingredients and Equipment

Directions

1. Bring the water to a full, rolling boil. Before adding the pasta, add salt to the boiling water. If you don’t season the cooking water, the pasta may taste flat — no matter how salty the sauce may be. The temperature of the water will drop once you add the pasta, so make sure the water’s at a full boil before adding the pasta noodles.

*Note: Be careful when you add the pasta to your boiling water; sometimes, the water can splash up and you don’t want to burn your hands.

2. Stir gently. Short pasta should be stirred immediately after adding it to water, but let spaghetti and long strands soften for a minute before stirring. Leave the pot uncovered while the pasta cooks.

3. Cook your pasta at a rapid boil until it’s tender but slightly firm to the bite. The longer you cook pasta, the mushier it gets. Don’t rely on the clock to evaluate doneness; bite a piece instead. If it’s done, it will be firm but tender and cooked through. If you’re using cooked pasta as an ingredient in a recipe — like baked ziti or lasagna — it can be even firmer, as the noodles will absorb liquid and cook more in the oven.

*Note: If you’re tossing the pasta with a sauce, reserve a cup or two of the cooking water before you drain the pot. The starch in the cooking water can thin a thick sauce and help sauces stick to the noodles.

4. Drain the pasta in a colander. Do not rinse the pasta with water unless your recipe specifically says to. For example, if you’re making a cold pasta salad, you would rinse the hot pasta with cool water to stop the cooking. Lasagna is another example of a pasta noodle that can be rinsed after cooking. Otherwise, return the drained pasta to the pot and cover to keep it warm, or toss it with sauce. Here’s where the reserved pasta water comes in handy to help thicken or thin the sauce, depending on the recipe you use.

5. Serve pasta immediately. We highly recommend using warm bowls!

How to Cook Pasta Like a Pro

Jessica Gavin
Published on August 5, 2020

Everyone thinks they know how to cook pasta. And no one here is doubting you. It is pretty straightforward. But you might be missing out on some cooking secrets that can sweeten the deal.

Carbonara. Spaghetti and meatballs. Macaroni and cheese. Pasta salad. These are just a few pasta dish hall-of-famers. Pasta is such a simple ingredient, pairing well with just about any spice, flavor, or protein you can name. There are so many possibilities; it’s no wonder so many 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, but a few simple tweaks could take your at-home pasta dishes to restaurant quality in a pinch.

Choose your vessel

You can cook it in just about anything. Small pot, large pot, dutch oven ⁠— it all depends on what you’re making and how much of it. Many chefs prefer an extra deep pot to boil pasta. It ensures long, thin noodles like spaghetti can submerge fully right away. But remember, the more water you have, the more salt you’ll need.

Salt the water

Have your salt handy. Add it to the boiling water — and not a second before it boils because salted water takes longer to reach a boil. Then get ready to add the noodles. The boiling process is your first and only opportunity to add flavor to the noodles themselves. Without it, you rely solely on the ingredients mixed into your pasta dish to bring the flavor.

And don’t worry about the sodium. The noodles absorb the flavor of the salt, not the sodium content. My starting rule of thumb is to add 1 tablespoon of salt for every 4 quarts (16 cups) of water. That’s for 1 pound of pasta.

Always bring the water to a complete boil

Pasta takes patience. While it seems harmless to add the noodles to the pot before the water reaches a boil, it can lead to mushy noodles. Always resist the urge to add the pasta to the pot too soon.

Why does it matter so much? The starches on the surface of the noodles will begin to fill with water right away. You can’t see it happening, but they’re being rehydrated and will eventually burst into the water.

When the water is boiling, the noodles’ surfaces will cook quicker and allow them to set. When the outside sets, the center of the noodle will absorb the water and rehydrate rather than burst and release like the surface starches. This helps the noodle maintain more structure and not get too soft and mushy.

Stir the water when you first add the noodles

Once you do add the pasta noodles to your pot, the water temperature will drop slightly. As long it reached a full boil prior, 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 noodles will begin to release immediately, noodles can stick together and to the sides of your pot if you don’t stir them.

Taste the noodles sooner than later

Plan on cooking your dry noodles anywhere from 8 to 10 minutes, depending on the type of pasta. However, start checking it after four minutes because it can vary based on the size of the noodle. If you’ve made fresh pasta noodles, you may only need to boil for a minute or two, sometimes three.

If you’re boiling the noodles to add them to a casserole like a classic lasagna that will continue cooking the oven, stop cooking when they’re al dente. Additionally, if you’re cooling the cooked pasta to make pasta salad, cook the noodle just past al dente status to soak up more of the dressing.

What is al dente?

The perfect al dente noodle should be mostly chewy but with a little resistance and be slightly firm in the center. If you cut it one half, you might see that’s it not as hydrated in the center. 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.

Serving size

Two ounces of dried pasta is about a 1/2 cup when still dry, but this can vary based on noodle shape. Sometimes it’s more like 2/3 cup and sometimes closer to 3/4 cup. Once cooked, this measurement doubles, give or take. Again, it depends on the noodle type. As a baseline: 2 ounces of dried pasta is 1/2 cup, which will turn into 1 cup cooked.

Now, you’re an expert in boiling pasta. But pasta’s cooking methods are just as versatile as the ingredient itself. It can also be microwaved, steamed, and cooked in the ever-popular Instant Pot. Or, as in this one-pot chicken cacciatore recipe, you’d add the uncooked noodles and water to a deep skillet that you’ve cooked your veggies in, skipping that whole pre-boiling step.

Reserve some water before you drain

Almost always reserve a cup or so of your pasta water before you drain it. All the starch that your noodles released into the water will help thicken any sauce you make to dress the noodles. Plus, it will be a little salty, so it adds flavor to homemade sauces as well.

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How to cook pasta

Learn how to cook pasta ‘al dente’ using our cookery team’s top tips and try our moreish pasta recipes with toppings and sauces that’ll liven up dinner time.

Cooking pasta is really simple, but like a lot of simple cooking, timing is crucial. Most dried pasta cooks in about 10 mins – a few minutes less and it will be chalky and tough, a few minutes more and you’ll end up with a slimy mush. The trick is to test it and stop cooking when it’s perfectly ‘al dente’ – which translates from Italian as ‘to the tooth’ but simply means you should need to use your teeth to chew it.

How much water do I need to cook pasta?

How do I season pasta?

Basic pasta recipe:

Boil the water (with salt and/or olive oil) in a large pan. Once boiling add the pasta and cook for 8-12 mins, depending on the shape – see above. Drain and leave to steam dry for a few mins, just until the surface of the pasta looks matte. Then add pasta sauce, pesto or simply a good drizzle of olive oil and seasoning. Mix really well to coat and allow some of the sauce or dressing to be absorbed into the pasta. Season with salt, pepper and a finely grated hard cheese like parmesan.

How do you cook ‘al dente’ pasta?

Pasta recipes

Cacio e pepe with runner beans

A simple, classic and tasty way to serve pasta dressed in (lots of) butter, cheese and black pepper, allowing the pasta to take centre stage. This basic recipe is a must-try, great for a no-fuss meal for two.

Homemade pesto ideas

Once you’ve perfected your pasta try swirling through a dollop of good homemade pesto. Start with the classic basil then go wild with our five new twists on this old favourite. Add different nuts and herbs to jazz up the traditional recipe and suit your taste.

Vincisgrassi (wild mushroom & prosciutto lasagne)

The most luxurious pasta bake we know for the most special of occasions. This recipe uses premium porcini and Portobello mushrooms in a silky, creamy sauce (maybe with a drizzle of truffle oil) to create the ultimate comfort food.

Garlicky mushroom penne

Pasta doesn’t always have to be heavy on the cheese to be satisfying and delicious. Try this punchy vegan recipe with dried wholemeal penne, fresh mushrooms and a drizzle of tahini.

Avocado & smoked salmon spelt spaghetti

Ring the changes with nutty spelt pasta. It cooks in the same way as regular wheat pasta but it packs a stronger flavour and extra fibre. This wholesome recipe is great for getting a dose of omega-3, too, and you can throw it together in just 15 minutes.

Get more recipe inspiration.

What’s your favourite way to serve pasta? Leave a comment below.

As many countries urge populations to stay at home, many of us are paying more attention to our diets and how the food we eat can support our health. To help sort out the fact from the fiction, BBC Future is updating some of their most popular nutrition stories from their archive.

How to Cook Pasta (Perfectly)

Learn How to Cook Pasta “al dente”, every time. Cooking pasta is a simple task that often leads to frustration. These tips will hopefully lead to happy pasta dishes and eliminate future pasta disasters.

“So what is al dente anyway?”

Al dente is the optimal desired texture when cooking pasta and grains. It refers to a firm, but not hard consistency. The actual translation of the Italian phrase al dente, is “to the tooth” meaning there is an ever-so-slight resistance when you bite into it, but not a crunchy hardcore.

Cooking pasta seems like an easy chore, but often leads to mushy, slimy or sticky pasta if you’re not careful. It’s best not to throw the pasta in the water and forget about it, as so many of us do.

Me included, on occasion.

Today’s “How to Cook Pasta” tutorial will break down the causes of some classic pasta mishaps. For further ins-and-outs of pasta cooking, visit my friends at DeLallo.

They are the ninja masters of pasta.

How to Cook Pasta

The first step to perfect pasta cooking is to boil a lot of water. When you use a pot that is too small and doesn’t hold enough water, the pasta boils in the starch it releases, at concentrated levels. This makes your pasta slimy.

Slimy pasta is a bad thing.

When you pull out a pot for pasta cooking, GO BIG and fill’er up! 5-6 quarts of water is appropriate for one pound of pasta.

Thoroughly salt the water. Salting your pasta after you cook it doesn’t enhance the flavor. It just makes it taste, well… SALTY.

When pasta is cooked in salt water, it absorbs the salt and helps to bring forth it’s natural flavors.

Add enough salt to the water to make it taste like the ocean. In a large 5+ quart pot, that should be between 2-4 tablespoons. It seems like a lot of salt, but the pasta will absorb just enough.

Next, bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat. You can place the lid on the pot to get it to boil faster.

Side Note: For years I added a little oil to the water, so that it wouldn’t boil over. A clever trick, right? The problem with this, is it lubes down the strands of pasta so that nothing sticks to them, or absorbs in them. So when it’s time to sauce the pasta, you have a problem.

Restaurant quality pasta is finished in the sauce so that the pasta can absorb the flavors of the sauce. Therefore, it’s best to skip the oil.

Once the water is raging in the pot, add the pasta.

DO NOT add the pasta before you’ve got a serious boil going on. Letting your pasta sit in hot water, that’s not hot enough to actually cook it, makes it mushy.

Stir the pasta so it won’t stick together.

Then place the lid back on top for just a minute or two. Doing this will help bring the water back up to that essential boil as fast as possible.

Once you’ve got a rolling boil again, remove the lid.

Stir a second time and cook the pasta as directed on the package.

I like to check my pasta about two minutes before the package cooking time, just to be safe.

Now it’s time for the Bite Test.

(Remember when people use to throw pasta against the wall to check if it was cooked enough? Weren’t we crazy in the 90’s?)

Remove a strand of pasta from the pot and bite. How does it feel to the tooth?

Firm but not hard.

Look at the end of the pasta you just bit. If you see a light-colored circle, the pasta is not quite ready.

See how this strand has a white circle? Not quite ready.

If you see just a white dot the size of a pin-prick, the pasta is almost al dente.

The white dot signifies it’s time to strain the pasta.

Taking the pasta out of the boiling water, just before it reaches al dente, allows you to cook the pasta in the sauce for a few minutes longer. That way it can absorb all those wonderful saucy flavors without overcooking.

Strain the pasta in a colander, or quickly scoop it out with a pasta serving spoon.

DO NOT rinse the pasta. Ever.

You’ll wash away the starch that helps the sauce stick to the pasta. Place the pasta straight into the warm sauce you have ready-and-waiting and toss. Cook 1-2 minutes before turning off the heat.

When straining the pasta, make sure to reserve some of that salty-starchy pasta water. I usually save a cup or so.

Pasta water is a magic ingredient in many pasta dishes. Once you stir the pasta into the sauce, if it’s a little thick or lacking flavor, add a bit of pasta water. You’ll be surprised at the difference it will make.

How To Cook Pasta “Al Dente”

Published: Aug 16, 2021 · Modified: Aug 18, 2021 by Andrea

Learn how to cook pasta perfectly al dente, as the Italian tradition wants. Follow this easy step-by-step guide and all the best tips to start making pasta like a pro!

Pasta is a staple of Italian cuisine, and for all the good reasons. It’s inexpensive, quick to prepare, and easy to customize.

Cooking pasta is fairly easy, but how to cook it at the right point and make it have the right consistency?

Follow my best tricks and tips to make the pasta al dente every single time, as the Italian tradition wants.

This easy step-by-step guide will show you how to properly cook pasta without making mistakes, and to enhance its texture, taste, and flavor.

HOW TO MAKE AL DENTE PASTA

Taste, taste, taste. The common rule to achieve perfectly al dente pasta is to drain the pasta 2-3 minutes before the suggested cooking time on the packaging.

However, different quality of pasta gives different results, even after following this rule.

Most commercial pasta gets chewier easily, high-quality bronze-cut pasta (such as pasta from Gragnano) holds the cooking time better and will give you a better chance to achieve al dente pasta even if the pasta cooks a little longer than necessary.

My best tip is to avoid following the cooking time too religiously.

Taste the pasta every 2-3 minutes, when it’s almost ready, you will be able to see a little white dot at the center of the spaghetti or a white ring if you are cooking a tube-shaped pasta.

At this point, let the pasta cook for another minute, then drain.

Don’t forget that pasta will continue to cook after you drain it and return it to the pot.

HOW TO COOK PASTA STEP-BY-STEP

For 4 people you need about 300 g of pasta (75 g per person), 3 liters of water, and a generous tablespoon of sea salt.

Step 1. Fill ⅔ of a large saucepan with water, put the lid on, and bring to a boil over high heat.

Step 2. Remove the lid and add the sea salt.

Step 3. Stir in the pasta, then reduce the heat to medium heat.

Step 4. Stir the pasta with a wooden spoon every 3 minutes.

Step 5. Remove about 1 cup of pasta cooking water to emulsify the pasta sauce later.

Step 6. When the pasta is tender but still has a bite, drain the pasta in a colander over the sink or use a strainer to scoop the pasta from the water.

Return the pasta into the pot or transfer it into the pan with your favorite sauce, and mix by adding a little of the reserved pasta water until you reach the desired consistency.

BEST COOKING TIPS

COMMON QUESTIONS

Do you add oil to the pasta water?

Some people suggest adding olive oil to the pasta water, as it prevents the pasta from sticking together. However, you don’t need to add oil to the pasta water, simply mix the pasta every 2-3 minutes and it won’t stick.

Should you cook the pasta with the lid on or off?

Put a lid on the pot while you are waiting for the water to boil. However, when you add the pasta, you should take the lid off to prevent the water from bubbling over.

Do I keep the water boiling when cooking pasta?

Absolutely not. The water should be bubbling vigorously when the pasta is added, keep the heat high to return to full boil as rapidly as possible, then adjust the heat as necessary to prevent a boil-over.

Do you cook the pasta on high heat?

No, you shouldn’t cook it over high heat. Cook the pasta over medium heat to avoid the water from bubbling over.

Can you cook the pasta in the sauce?

Technically yes, but it depends. I like to cook the pasta in soup-kind of sauces such as pasta e ceci (pasta with chickpeas), where there’s plenty of liquid for the pasta to absorb.

To cook the pasta in tomato sauce, you need to thin the sauce with plenty of water, and the sauce will probably lose a lot of its flavour.

So I don’t typically recommend it, but if you do, try to swap water with veggie or chicken broth for extra flavour (some Italian chefs use this technique to make pasta risottata)

FAVOURITE PASTA SAUCE RECIPES:

Once your pasta is perfectly cooked, try one of these delicious sauces:

Or check out these delicious pasta recipes:

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

Please let me know how you liked it! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram tag @thepetitecook!

Looking at your pictures always makes me smile *and super hungry*!