The content of the article
- How to cook pasta
- How much to cook
- Do I need to rinse after cooking
- How to cook pasta so that it does not stick together
- In a pan on the water
- In milk
- For frying or baking
- In a slow cooker
- In the microwave
This dish is perhaps the most popular in Russia, although it is not considered national. Mistresses cook it in different ways, but not everyone gets it tasty. Using the right methods of cooking pasta, you will delight yourself and loved ones with a quality, mouth-watering side dish. If you add a variety of sauces to it, each time you get an original dish.
How to cook pasta
Professionals recommend using a large-capacity pan. Then each pasta has enough space, they stick together less. It is better not to take tall dishes so that the heat is distributed evenly. Water is poured at the rate of a liter per hundred grams of products. 80-100 g of dry product are taken per serving.
After boiling, water is salted to taste. Then pasta is poured, mixed thoroughly to prevent the formation of starch paste and sticking to the walls, bottom of the pan. When the contents boil again, make the fire medium. The pasta is stirred occasionally. Do not cover the pan.
To cook spaghetti, you do not need to break them. This is done if another dish is planned, such as a casserole. Any long pasta, once in boiling water, goes down after 30 seconds, and if they resist, they are helped with a fork.
How much to cook
There is no specific length of time for cooking, since it depends on the quality and grade of the product: the finer the product, the faster they weld. Exact recommendations are indicated on the packaging. The countdown begins after the second boiling. Readiness is determined by the breakdown: you need to break one pasta. If you see white dough inside, then continue to cook until the pasta becomes elastic, with a slightly hard core.
Recommendation in minutes:
- horns, spirals, feathers – 3;
- stars, shells – 4;
- vermicelli – 2;
- nests – 4;
- scallops, snails – 8;
- noodles, bows – 9;
- spaghetti – 9.
Do I need to rinse after cooking
The finished dish should not be sprinkled with water, especially from the tap. After such processing, it sticks together, loses taste. Boiled pasta is thrown into a colander and returned to the pan. Add a little vegetable or 40-50 g of butter, mix thoroughly.
How to cook pasta so that it does not stick together
So that the side dish does not turn into a sticky mass, small tricks are used:
- Observe the ratio of the weight of the product and water – 100 g per liter.
- Salt is added in advance..
- Pour some sunflower oil.
- Slowly throw products into boiling water, but not all at once, so that the pasta does not stick together.
- Constantly stir.
- Discarded using a colander, returned to the pan.
- Season with oil, cover, shake vigorously.
- Stir twice – after 15 minutes and half an hour, if the dish is not served immediately.
A common way to cook spaghetti is Al dente (al dente), which means “on the tooth”. In this state, the products are ready, but still solid and do not boil. To achieve a similar effect, the cooking dish is constantly being tasted. When biting, resistance should be felt. So make pasta in Italy. For cooking using this method, only durum wheat pasta is suitable. They contain protein and gluten, a little starch, and flour – more dense in structure.
In a pan on the water
To prepare, you will need:
- 300 g of dry product;
- 3 l of water;
- 2 tbsp. tablespoons of salt;
- 40 g butter.
Step by step recipe:
- Pour water into a container, wait for boiling, salt.
- Paste pasta, immediately stir.
- Cover the pan for 20 seconds, make a strong flame.
- Remove the lid so that the contents do not run away. On a moderate flame, cook until tender. If the recommended time is 10 minutes, take a sample on the 9th.
- When everything is ready, lay back in a colander.
- Oil is added to the finished dish, stirred. Pre-melt the cream so that it is evenly distributed.
In milk
To prepare this tender dish, you will need:
- liter of milk;
- 200 g of any dried pasta;
- 30 g butter;
- 2 teaspoons of sugar;
- salt.
Step by step recipe:
- First boil the milk.
- Immediately injected salt, sugar, butter.
- Pour pasta, stir, wait for boiling.
- Weaken the fire, cook until tender. Spider line – 1-2 minutes; horns, stars – 7–18.
For frying or baking
For cooking you will need:
- 300 g of dry product;
- 3 l of water;
- salt;
- butter.
To prepare other pasta-based dishes, they must be undigested, keep in shape:
- When the water boils, inject salt, oil.
- Fall asleep products, stir.
- Reduce the fire, continue the process, but readiness does not wait. Macaroni “reach” during frying or baking.
In a slow cooker
Stages of preparation:
- Pour water (per 100 g – 500 ml), salt.
- Set the “Paste” mode, wait for the signal to sound boiling liquid. If there is no such function, use the options “Soup”, “Multipovar” or “Porridge”.
- Macaroni is introduced into boiling water. Add some oil.
- Cook, stir.
- If liquid is present, filter the contents.
In the microwave
Stages of preparation:
- Dry product is placed in a dish suitable for microwave.
- Pour hot boiled water in a ratio of 1: 2. The liquid should cover the product by 1 cm. Salt, add oil.
- Prepared at a power of 800 watts. Mix every 2-3 minutes.
- After the signal, the dish is kept in the microwave oven for another 4–5 minutes. If liquid remains, recline in a colander.
I’m a beginner in the kitchen and would love to learn how to cook pasta. Could you please share some tips or step-by-step instructions on the best way to cook pasta? Any suggestions on types of pasta or delicious sauces to pair with it would be greatly appreciated too! Thank you in advance for your guidance!