Knowing how to boil pasta may seem like a no-brainer to some, but it can be tricky. Combining water and pasta in a pot isn’t always enough. Sometimes, the seemingly simple things turn out to be the most difficult.
It turns out that when boiling pasta, there are several factors to consider. Our guide comprises the easiest steps and best tips on how to boil pasta.
How To Boil Pasta
Learning how to boil pasta properly is the cornerstone of all cooking. We’ll go over our simple step-by-step method for perfectly boiling pasta below. Before you begin, gather the following items:
Key Ingredients
- Dried pasta
- Salt
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Measuring cup
- Wooden spoon
- Fork
- Colander
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Boil Pasta
Wondering how to boil pasta to obtain the right consistency? Follow the steps below to make the perfect pasta.
1. Grab A Large Pot
Use a large pot with ample room for your pasta to move around. You can also use your favorite 12-quart stockpot.
2. Fill The Pot Up With Water
Add roughly 1 cup of water for every ounce (about 30g) of dried pasta. When you’re hungry and want the pasta to boil quickly, you’ll be tempted to use less water. Avoid doing so. Just as pasta requires space to expand, it requires plenty of water to submerge every piece completely.
3. Add Salt to the Water
Salt is great. The salty water is essential for enhancing the flavor of the pasta. Don’t just shake the shaker once. Using a teaspoonful of salt for every 3 cups of water would be best. While most people recommend sea salt, it may leave your pasta tasting too salty. To avoid over-salting your pasta, use common table salt.
4. Bring The Water To A Boil
Make sure the water is rolling, not simmering. Remember that when you drop the pasta into hot water, it cools it down. So the water needs to be boiling.
5. Place The Pasta Into The Pot
Add your pasta to the pot and keep an eye on the pot. Ensure to stir it a few times throughout cooking to prevent the pasta from sticking together. It should swirl around unhindered.
You can reduce the heat a bit and leave the pot’s lid ajar. Allow your pasta to cook for approximately 10 minutes.
6. Test The Pasta
Check if the pasta is done at least two minutes before the expected cook time. To do so, take a piece of pasta using a fork and set it aside to cool before biting into it.
Is there still a little crunch? That’s when you know it’s ready. Of course, if you prefer it softer, you can allow the pasta to cook for a bit longer. But, regardless of your preference, it’s best to eat it al dente to ensure it maintains its shape.
7. Rinse The Pasta
Once the pasta is cooked, it’s time to drain it. You can pour the past into your colander to separate it from the water.
Pasta Boiling Tips To Remember
The following are a few tips to remember when boiling your pasta:
- Always season your pasta water with salt. It significantly impacts the end result, so don’t skip this step.
- Don’t add oil to the water. Some people assume that adding oil will prevent the pasta from sticking together. But that is far from the truth. Oil will make your pasta too slick for sauces to bind to it.
- Reduce wastage by measuring your portions. You should work with a measurement of around 2 ounces (57g) of pasta per person.
- Use a large pot to give your pasta enough space to expand and to allow for stirring.
- Cover your pot with a lid to let the water come to a boil faster.
- Place the pasta in the pot after the water has begun to boil, not before.
Conclusion
It turns out boiling pasta is a simple process. Now that you know how to boil pasta, you can make the perfect pasta for any dish.