How to cook pasta properly in a pot. Novice housewife: how to cook pasta

All pasta recipes are doomed to fail if you don't know how to cook pasta properly.

Cooking pasta is very easy, it is much more difficult to cook them well!

8 secrets to making perfect pasta:

The pot must be large. Even for a small portion of pasta, a pan should be taken capacious, high, preferably with thick walls.
There must be plenty of water. For every 100 gr. pasta you need to take at least 1 liter of water, but more is better. During the cooking process, pasta absorbs a significant part of the water and increases in volume, at the same time, starch is released from the pasta and if there is not enough water in the pan, they will stick together (remember what we make paste from).
Salt first, then pasta. We salt the boiling water before filling the pasta and in no case - during the cooking process. Salt take about 10-12 gr. for every liter of water.
Pour pasta into boiling water, stirring. Wait for the water to boil violently again after the salt and start pouring pasta, while stirring them with a spoon. After adding the pasta, the water will naturally stop boiling, immediately cover the pan with a lid and wait a few seconds until the water boils again. Now you can remove the lid, reduce the heat and mix them again.
Cook pasta "al dente". Any Italian will tell you that pasta should be cooked “al dente”, i.e. "by the tooth". What does this mean? During cooking, pasta should be periodically stirred and tasted. Perfectly cooked pasta should be almost done, but firm in taste, and may have a thin, white, chalk-like layer in the center. This is where you need to turn off the fire, cover with a lid and let them stand until cooked, about 1-2 minutes. (Just in time to prepare a colander).
Drain but do not rinse. Before throwing them in a colander, pour 100g into a glass. broth, drain the pasta in a colander, shake it and let the water drain. It is not recommended to rinse the pasta (unless you have prepared it for cold salads). Pour the pasta back into the pot or into a warmed dish. If the sauce is not served with them, pour them with 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil or broth that you poured into a glass and mix. After all, the pasta is still hot and continues to “cook”, which means it absorbs water, but if it is not there, they can dry out and stick together!
Don't leave the kitchen until the pasta is cooked. Even Fast Food takes longer to cook than pasta. By " probability theory» Nothing can happen in 5-7 minutes that could make you leave the kitchen. But if it does, then it takes effect "Sod's Law and you will definitely overcook the pasta!
Serve hot pasta! Therefore, any meat, cutlets, salads and sauces should be ready before you start cooking pasta. The only thing you can do while cooking pasta is to arrange the plates on the table (if it is in the kitchen!). As soon as you drained the water, all the households are already sitting at the table and waiting, they can’t wait, your MASTERPIECE!

Now you know how to cook pasta perfectly! Bon appetit!

But… do not rush to run to the kitchen!
You came to this page to find out the perfect way to cook pasta, and you know, Why do we know how to cook pasta properly?

Because we make them ourselves! Moreover, we make not just PASTA, but DIETARY PRODUCTS OF HEALTHY FOOD!
If your health is not indifferent to you, check out ours!

Take health from nature!

Pasta is the most popular food in the world. And if you count those dishes in the preparation of which pasta is used, you get a rather impressive figure. We can say that there is nothing easier. However, even in this simple matter, there are subtleties that make ordinary pasta even more appetizing.

Pasta appeared on the menu of people several centuries ago. In Russia, this product was brought by the Italians, who built ships in our country during the time of Peter I. The benefits from the production of pasta turned out to be tangible and therefore their production was established everywhere.

The biggest connoisseurs of this product - Italians - say that it is not difficult to cook pasta, but not just cook them deliciously. True chefs know how to cook delicious pasta, who adhere to certain rules when preparing them.

One of the tips on how to properly cook pasta is to take the required proportion of pasta and water. For every hundred grams of the product, one liter of liquid should be taken. Only in this case, the pasta will cook quickly and not stick together.

Cooking utensils also play an important role. It is better if you take a large pot with thick walls. Do not pour water to the very edges of the container. Even with pasta, it doesn't have to be full.

The water in the pan must be salted at the time of its boiling. It is very important to do this before pasta is dipped into it. They should be boiled already in salt water. For every liter of liquid, you need to take about 10 grams of salt. But after salting the water, it is better to taste it.

There is one more main rule. Don't put the pasta in the water until it boils. Otherwise, they can stick together, and then the dish will be spoiled.

Famous chefs recommend not to leave the kitchen during the cooking process. Pasta should be stirred from time to time, preferably with a wooden spoon. The water in the pan should boil throughout the entire time that the pasta is cooked. To do this, after they have been lowered into the water, you need to cover the pan with a lid to restore the boil. Then the cover should be removed.

To find out how many minutes to cook pasta, you need to read this information on the package. It is impossible to name a specific time. It depends on the quality of the pasta and on the cooking process itself. Therefore, following the manufacturer's recommendations on how to properly cook pasta, it is necessary to take a sample two or three minutes before the end. If the pasta is soft and does not leave a taste of flour when tasting, then feel free to turn off the heat and cover the pan with a lid. After three minutes, you can drain the liquid using a colander. If you are planning to make a sauce, leave a glass or less of the broth in which the pasta was cooked.

Good quality pasta does not require additional rinsing with water. But most importantly, never use cold water to rinse pasta. This has a detrimental effect on their nutritional value and structure.

When cooking spaghetti, the technology does not change. This one doesn't need to be broken. Put them in a pot of boiling water and after a while they will sink completely into it. Next, do not forget to constantly stir the pasta so that they do not stick together.

It must be served piping hot. Therefore, sauces for them must be prepared in advance. When the water is drained from the pasta, add the butter and some of the broth in which they were cooked.

Knowing how to cook pasta correctly, you can create many delicious and original dishes. Pasta goes well with vegetables, cheese, meat. They may well become a separate dish if you prepare a sauce for them.

About how to cook pasta, of course, you need to ask the Italians. Although dried dough products arrived in Europe from China, it was in Italy that they became a national dish. Our pasta is also popular, but to a greater extent because of the ease of preparation. It seems that it could be easier: boil water, throw in your favorite products, cook until done. But in practice, such a simple dish is not tasty for everyone. In order not to stick together, you need to be able to choose the right pasta and cook it using a special technology. We learned all the secrets from Italian chefs.

Pasta, vermicelli, spaghetti, noodles, pasta: what's the difference?

Pasta in our kitchen refers to all products (semi-finished products) from dried dough that need to be cooked. In Italy, maccheroni (macaroni) is a separate type of short, hollow product inside. To refer to all dry dough dishes, Italians use the term "pasta", which literally translates as "dough". At the same time, Italian pasta is always prepared from durum wheat.

It turns out that the shape and size of the pasta predetermine the cooking time and the serving of the sauce. Let's deal with the most basic concepts:

The Art of Italian Forms:

The secret of the Italian chef: in order for the sauce to “mix” better with the pasta, you need to leave a little liquid. This will help the ingredients to be evenly distributed - the pasta will be more juicy, their taste will be more fully revealed.

Cook pasta correctly: step by step instructions

Before cooking durum wheat noodles or other types of durum wheat pasta, prepare:

Instruction:

Pasta in a Pan: A Chef's Trick

How to cook horns correctly if you doubt their quality? Pre-cooking in a pan will help to successfully cook any small pasta. Even low-quality products made from soft flour will turn out crumbly and whole.

Pour a portion of pasta into a preheated dry frying pan. Stir while heating for 1-2 minutes. This will allow the starch molecules to condense and compress.
Add some water to the pan to completely cover the pasta. Salt and cook until tender without a lid. The water should almost completely evaporate.

How to cook pasta "by the tooth"

Pasta, which we are used to eating, Italians call overcooked. Real pasta in Italy is prepared aldente, which means “by the tooth”. These pasta are soft on the outside but firm on the inside. This cooking method is ideal for garnishing hot sauces and meat dressings. The main secret is to reduce the standard cooking time by 2-3 minutes.

The chef's secret: it is very difficult for a beginner to determine the degree of readiness of aldente pasta, so it is best to check the elasticity "by the tooth". Try pasta 3 minutes before shutdown. If the top is already soft, but there is still a little stiffness inside, you can turn it off. Hot pasta by itself will still “reach” to the desired state.

A rich assortment of pasta has long won the hearts of people all over the world who prefer to savor the exquisite taste of a variety of dishes prepared from them. However, not everyone knows that cooking pasta involves following certain rules. Treating this product solely as a side dish, our grandparents did not stand on ceremony in the process of their preparation, thoroughly washing the sticky boiled flour products with water. While the correct preparation of pasta requires an individual approach to all varieties of this product, which adorns the windows of most stores.

Why do they stick

Currently, there are more than seven hundred types of pasta, but there is no universal recipe for their preparation. Many people who cook them on their own often encounter sticking of these products during cooking. But why is this happening?

According to experts, sticking directly depends on the quality of the products themselves, which can be made from flour of various varieties. Before buying, you can independently verify which group the pasta you have chosen belongs to by carefully reading the information indicated on the pack:

Group A includes spaghetti and pasta made exclusively from durum wheat.
Group B - products made from soft and vitreous wheat.
To group B - pasta from baking wheat flour.

As a rule, durum wheat pasta sticks together much less than similar products made from other types of flour. Gluing during the cooking process most often leads to a violation of the elementary rules of cooking. The first thing to pay close attention to is the amount of water indicated in the recipe.. If the liquid is less than the specified proportions, the products will release too much starch, which contributes to the appearance of a paste in the pan. Under such conditions, the horns or spaghetti will not only stick together, but will also stick to the bottom and walls of the dish, burning and forming an excessive amount of foam.

In order for spaghetti to turn out elastic and tasty, it is recommended to take at least 1 liter of water for cooking them per 100 g of products.

Overcooked pasta looks unappetizing

Stir the pasta while cooking. If this is neglected, then the products can also stick together, turning from an appetizing dish into an inedible flour mass.

How long will it take

It is equally important to take into account the duration of the preparation of the product. If the pasta is digested, they will not only lose their elasticity and hardness, but also lose a number of taste qualities. Traditionally, the cooking time of these products depends on the components that make up their composition. For example, durum spaghetti keeps its shape perfectly even when cooked for a long time, and five minutes is enough to cook fresh homemade egg noodles. Horns and bows traditionally take longer to cook than regular vermicelli. Refer to the packaging of this product for recommended cooking times.

The average cooking time for a Group A product can be from 7 to 15 minutes, while for Group B, the optimal cooking time will be approximately 5–7 minutes. The same amount of time will have to be spent on cooking noodles. However, if you want to cook the horns, you need to cook them for 10-15 minutes. And the optimal time for cooking lasagna sheets is 5 minutes.

Rinse or not rinse?

There is an opinion that pasta must be washed after cooking. In fact, this step is sometimes recommended to be skipped. The reason is that water washes away the starch needed to better absorb the sauce, giving the dishes a richer flavor. After the cooking process is completed, it is enough to throw them in a colander and let the broth drain. So that the cooked pasta does not turn into one big lump, it is recommended to put a piece of butter in them, regardless of what kind of wheat they are made of.

However, there are varieties that require mandatory rinsing after cooking. These include lagman noodles, widely used in Asian cuisine.

But since there is no definite answer to the question of whether pasta should be washed, each housewife has the right to independently decide what to do with them after cooking is completed.

How to check the degree of readiness

Usually the degree of readiness is checked by sampling. Depending on personal preference, you can cook the pasta to al dente, which leaves the pasta slightly undercooked and firmer. Or boil them to a softer state.

The concept of al dente refers to the degree of readiness of various products. Especially often it can be found in the descriptions of the preparation of pasta. Al dente pasta is a slightly undercooked product, however, it is ready to eat and has a tangible elasticity when bitten. Al dente (al dente) from Italian is translated into Russian as "on the tooth."

If for some reason you don't want to taste the pasta while it's cooking, just place a few pasta on a clean, dry plate. If they stick to it, then the product can be considered ready. Giving preference to quality products, you will insure yourself against disappointment during their preparation.

Attention! When cooking pasta, there is a classic ratio of product, water and salt equal to 1000:100:10 (1 liter of water, 100 g of pasta and 10 g of salt).

How to cook pasta

Master class on cooking pasta from chef Ilya Lazerson - video

Spaghetti with chili, sardines and oregano from Gordon Ramsay - video

The secret to cooking soft wheat pasta without sticking

If for some reason you prefer to buy cheaper pasta made from soft wheat, you can also insure yourself against pasta sticking by using the following method:

How to cook soft wheat pasta - video

I found a simple way for myself how to cook pasta so that they do not stick together, just add a little sunflower oil at the beginning of cooking and stir occasionally. The husband claims that it is more effective to rinse with cold water after cooking.

Snezhana

God forbid washing pasta! This is exactly why they stick together - you sharply lower their temperature. You can't do that. Oil can also be omitted. If next you will add sauce or serve them with gravy. If without everything or just with cutlets, for example (that is, without a liquid component), then you can throw a small piece of butter into the ready-folded pasta. If you're okay with the smell of olive oil (some men don't), you can add 1/3 teaspoon (for two servings of boiled pasta).

Vanja-Vanjichka-Vanjusha
https://www.babyblog.ru/community/post/cookingbook/395994

Fry dry (not boiled) pasta in a frying pan with refined vegetable oil until golden brown (constantly stir !!!). Then, little by little, pour water into it (little by little) and simmer until cooked, like risotto. It turns out a completely different taste.

maria kipke
https://deti.mail.ru/forum/dosug/kulinarija/pomogite_spasti_makarony/?page=5

Using these recommendations, you can cook pasta correctly, while avoiding unwanted sticking. Compliance with the rules of cooking pasta will preserve the taste of these products, as well as delight your guests with delicious Italian dishes that have an impeccable appearance.

Pasta is one of the easiest side dishes to make and goes well with just about any meal.

We will give practical advice on how to cook pasta so that it does not stick together and even describe how to cook pasta not only in a saucepan, but also in a microwave and a double boiler.

How to cook pasta?

Take a large pot, at least 2.25 liters. Then the water will not boil away, and the pasta will not turn into a sticky mass. Pour 0.5 liters of water into it and put it on the stove, turning on the maximum fire. Put about 10 grams of salt (optional).

After the water boils, lower the pasta. If you're using long pasta (like spaghetti), don't break it, just place it in the pot. After half a minute, the lowered ends will become soft, and you can lower them to the bottom completely.

After the water boils again, reduce the heat to a medium or minimum level. The water should only boil slightly. Do not cover the pan with a lid during cooking, otherwise the water will boil away and flood the stove, and the pasta will stick together. Better to leave it open. Be sure to stir the pasta during cooking so that it does not stick together and stick to the bottom of the pan.

After 8-9 minutes, check the pasta for doneness. They should not be too hard or too mushy. It is better to read the instructions on the package in advance, which indicate the cooking time, and follow it.

When the pasta is ready, drain it in a colander and let the water drain, placing the colander over the pot.

How to cook delicious pasta? Secrets of experienced chefs

While cooking, add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to the pasta. This will keep the pasta from sticking together while cooking.
Be sure to drain the water immediately after cooking the pasta. If you are using pasta that is not firm, rinse it in hot water. Some people advise rinsing pasta with cold water. In no case should this be done, as you will sharply lower their temperature, and they will rather stick together.

Dip the colander in boiling water first. This will prepare it for the hot pasta so it won't stick to the sides.
To give a special taste to the dish, put 50-70 grams of butter in the pan where the pasta was cooked and melt it. Then put the pasta back in and stir. Your creation will acquire a pleasant aroma, become tender, and will not stick together.
You can also mix the finished pasta with the sauce and reheat them for 1-2 minutes. So your dish will become even more juicy and rich.
Serve pasta fresh and hot. After drying, they will already become tasteless, and warming up will not help here. You should also preheat the plates on which the pasta will be served.

How to cook pasta?

If you are cooking spaghetti, you should put them on plates with special tongs, while raising them high. This way you can easily separate one portion from another.
Pasta is best served with sauce. Italian pasta is considered a classic of culinary art. Therefore, it would be wise to heed the advice from Italy. Italians choose the sauce before they start cooking. There is an unwritten rule according to which a thick sauce (for example, cheese or cream with herbs and vegetables) is served with short and thick pasta. Long and narrow pasta is traditionally served with a more delicate sauce and seafood.

How to choose the right pasta?

Group A (or higher grades) includes pasta made from durum wheat. Group B pasta is made from soft vitreous wheat flour. They are cheaper. To group B we include pasta made from wheat flour of the highest and first grades.

The most useful are pasta made from durum wheat. They have the highest level of insoluble fiber, which improves digestion. And they don’t get fat from such pasta, as they contain complex carbohydrates. This can be judged by looking at Italians who have been eating such pasta all their lives.

Recipe for spaghetti with broccoli sauce

The energy value of such a dish varies in the region of 327 - 351 kcal. Poor quality pasta boils quickly. Therefore, before purchasing a package of pasta, make sure that they are made from durum wheat. Their packaging should read "di grano duro", which means "hard grain" in Italian.

How long to cook pasta?

How to cook navy pasta?

You can catch one pasta and taste it. Pasta and Italian pasta lovers prefer slightly undercooked pasta “al dente” (by the tooth).

How to cook pasta in the microwave

To cook pasta, place pasta in a microwave-safe bowl, add water and salt. The volume of water should be twice the volume of the product. Set the timer to 10 minutes and wait. It is advisable to take the dishes higher so that the water does not actively boil away in the microwave.

Cooking pasta in a steamer

Pasta should be lowered into a container for rice and also pour water and salt. Usually, each steamer comes with instructions for preparing various dishes, where the cooking time is indicated. If it is not in the instructions, it should be indicated on the steamer itself. The optimal solution, as already noted, is to set a timer for 10 minutes. After cooking, be sure to also discard the pasta in a colander.

Many people think they know exactly how to cook pasta. However, as it turns out, there are many secrets of their preparation. You just need to follow them, and then pasta dishes will be healthy and tasty ..
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