How to Cook Pasta Like a Pro
Learning how to cook pasta is easy as long as you follow a few steps. Pasta is a staple food in many cultures around the world. It’s easy to make, versatile, and delicious. But if you want to cook pasta like a pro, there are a few things you need to know.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the steps on how to cook pasta perfectly every time. We’ll cover everything from choosing the right pasta to the perfect cooking method. By the end of this post, you’ll be a pasta-cooking pro!
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cook pasta perfectly:
1. Choose the right pasta
Many different types of pasta are available, so it’s important to choose the right one for your dish. Some factors to consider include the shape of the pasta, the size of the pasta, and the type of sauce you’ll be using.
For example, if you’re making a pasta salad, you’ll want to choose a small, bite-sized pasta like penne or rotini. If you’re making a pasta dish with a thick sauce, you’ll want to choose a larger pasta like fettuccine or spaghetti.
2. Bring the water to a boil
Once you’ve chosen your pasta, it’s time to start cooking. The first step is to boil a large pot of water. The water should be salted generously, about 1 tablespoon of salt per quart of water.
3. Add the pasta
Once the water is boiling, add the pasta to the pot. Stir the pasta to prevent it from sticking together. The pasta should cook for the amount of time specified on the package.
4. Test the pasta
Remove a noodle from the pot to test the pasta and taste it. The pasta should be cooked al dente, which means it should be firm to the bite but not hard. If the pasta is not al dente, cook it for a few minutes longer.
5. Drain the pasta
Once the pasta is cooked, drain it in a colander. If you’re not going to use the pasta immediately, rinse it with cold water to prevent it from sticking together.
6. Toss with your favorite sauce, vegetables, meat, poultry etc.
Now that your pasta is cooked, it’s time to toss it with your favorite tomato sauce, alfredo sauce or cheese sauce. There are endless possibilities when it comes to pasta sauces, so get creative!
Here are a few tips on how to cook pasta like a pro:
- Use a large pot of water. This will help the pasta cook evenly.
- Salt the water generously. This will add flavor to the pasta and help it cook al dente.
- Stir the pasta occasionally while it’s cooking. This will prevent it from sticking together.
- Test the pasta for doneness by tasting it. The pasta should be firm to the bite but not hard.
- Drain the pasta immediately after it’s cooked. This will prevent it from sticking together.
- Toss the pasta with your favorite sauce.
With these how to cook pasta tips, you’ll be cooking pasta like a pro in no time!
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when cooking pasta:
- Not using enough water. This will prevent the pasta from cooking evenly.
- Not salting the water. This will make the pasta bland.
- Not stirring the pasta occasionally. This will cause it to stick together.
- Overcooking the pasta. This will make the pasta mushy.
- Not draining the pasta immediately after it’s cooked. This will cause it to stick together.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll be sure to cook pasta perfectly every time!
More Tips on How to Cook Pasta like a pro
When mixing plain spaghetti or plain pasta noodles with tomato sauce, it is best to add minimal spices instead of leaving them to blend. Believe me. You will notice a huge difference.
Garlic, my secret ingredient, works wonders. Garlic and oil are the perfect pasta recipes. So far, I like olive oil and grape seed oil—the two best oils for pasta, in my opinion.
If you’ve never thought about cooking with grapeseed oil, now may be the time to start. Although there have been several biased opinions, Grapeseed oil has gained wide popularity among many people. I prefer adding grape seed oil from time to time to my pasta because I find the taste to be much lighter than olive oil.
Plain pasta cooked in grapeseed oil and fresh garlic. A delight! And by the way, no salt is added because salt is already added while the pasta is boiling. No need because if you add a tomato or meat sauce, it is best to omit the extra salt. Try to cook your pasta this way, and I guarantee you will notice a huge difference in taste.
Enjoy a simple on how to cook pasta!
How to cook pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- Pasta noodles
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or grape seed oil
- 1 – 2 garlic cloves minced or finely chopped
Instructions
- Follow packaging instructions on how to boil/cook pasta. Drain and reserve some of the pasta liquid, about 4 tablespoons or a 1/4 of a cup.
- In a large saucepan, heat oil (olive oil or grape seed oil), add garlic and let cook for a few seconds. be careful not to burn garlic.
- Add pasta noodles/spaghetti with reserved water. Stir to mix all ingredients. Cook for about 1 – 2 minutes while stirring. Remove from heat and serve with your favorite tomato or meat sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.
Nutrition info is automatically generated and provided as a courtesy and as an estimate only.
Corn Allergy:
Always choose ingredients without corn or corn derivatives.
Originally published on May 5, 2015. Revised and updated.
