Cooking pasta is one of the basic culinary skills, but even with this seemingly simple process, fundamental mistakes can be made. The result is overcooked, stuck together or bland dishes. Here is an overview of the most common mistakes and proven tricks that will make your pasta taste like it came from a real Italian restaurant.
1. Lack of salt in the water
This is probably the biggest mistake when preparing this dish. If the cooking water is not salted enough, the pasta will be absolutely tasteless as a result. Experts advise not to be afraid to significantly salt the water. It is ideal to taste it before adding the pasta – if it tastes almost like salted sea water, it is perfect for the pasta.
2. Oil in water for cooking
In the past, it was often recommended to add a drop of good quality oil to the boiling water to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Today, however, this step he considers it not only a waste of oil, but also a culinary mistake. The oil will cause the sauce to not stick to the pasta later, which is crucial for quality food. To prevent sticking, just choose a large enough pot and stir the pasta regularly and gently during cooking.
3. Putting the pasta in cold water
The basic rule is: pasta they always belong in boiling water. If they are placed in cold water, they will soften, become mushy and may begin to fall apart. In addition, they stick together extremely and in no case will it be possible to achieve the desired “al dente” state.
4. Incorrect cooking time
It is always necessary to follow the recommendations on the packaging. Different types of pasta require different preparation times. As a general rule, pasta is cooked for an average of eight to ten minutes. In case of any uncertainty, it is recommended to take out one pasta and taste it. It shouldn’t be completely soft yet, because after draining and mixing with the hot sauce, it will still “run out” a little.
5. Pouring pasta water into the sink
After draining the pasta and moving it a few spoons of the water in which the pasta was cooked should always be added to the pan for the sauce. This step is the secret of the extraordinary creaminess. The starchy water will help the sauce to combine perfectly with the pasta without the food sticking together.
6. Rinsing the cooked pasta
Pasta should never be rinsed with cold water after cooking. This step will wash away the important starch from them and the sauce will not be able to stick to them properly. As in the previous point, they should be drained straight away and added to the pan with the prepared sauce with a little cooking water.
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